Adam Cole/MJF Bromance Discussion Thread

[Celexa Bliss]

So this team is OVER with live crowds. You heard it on TV last night, but the act is on fire. I will be legitimately disappointed if they split now, just because of his great they are together. The bonding skit got plenty of laughs and cheers in the arena and I don't think the TV truly does it justice how hot we were for the dancing, the suicide dive and the double clothesline. And when they teased tension over the belt, that hug it out chant was legit. They need to run with this as long as possible. They have something special here and it would suck to end it too soon.

[Feargus McReddit]

Jul 20, 2023 10:19:57 GMT -5 Celexa Bliss said:

So this team is OVER with live crowds. You heard it on TV last night, but the act is on fire. I will be legitimately disappointed if they split now, just because of his great they are together. The bonding skit got plenty of laughs and cheers in the arena and I don't think the TV truly does it justice how hot we were for the dancing, the suicide dive and the double clothesline. And when they teased tension over the belt, that hug it out chant was legit. They need to run with this as long as possible. They have something special here and it would suck to end it too soon.

I don't think the "Hug it Out!" chants during the story of Team Hell No were as passionate as they were at that staredown so I can completely believe it.

[Feargus McReddit]

Also to ask, Celexa Bliss, how loud was it when the mashup first played because I haven't heard a louder reaction for a music reveal that wasn't at a concert.

[Feargus McReddit]

Also, can’t believe I missed this. 😂

[mrbananagrabber]

I don’t really get how people can expect it to last. Like a month ago MJF called Cole every name under the sun before their match, and the only reason they’re tagging now is because they were made to.

MJF was/is a disingenuous asshole to Cole because of their forced partnership and really, it’s only a matter of time before something gives. If Cole turns heel with MJF then fair enough, but the idea that this is somehow babyface MJF is absurd. When he inevitably turns heel on Cole and Cole falls for it? He’s the dumbest face in wrestling.

[deezy]

Jul 20, 2023 10:10:00 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Jul 20, 2023 6:48:18 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

I mean, if Orton wasn't injured, we would have gotten him against Riddle at 'Mania this year because Orton would have turned and they were clearly setting up for it.

They weren’t clearly setting that up at all. There were no on-screen hints of tension. I’m sure they would’ve broken up eventually but they were together for over a year.

I was trying to rack my brain to remember when and how they were setting up an Orton heel turn. I legitimately thought I was forgetting something since it's been awhile but I believe you're right, They weren't setting it up. But like you said it was going to happen at some point. Hell I always thought it could of been Riddle that would turn.

Here, I would like to see Cole turn instead of MJF, Imo I think that would make this story much more interesting, ( even though it's very interesting right now ).

[firsttimelongtime]

Jul 20, 2023 10:38:38 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

I don’t really get how people can expect it to last. Like a month ago MJF called Cole every name under the sun before their match, and the only reason they’re tagging now is because they were made to.

MJF was/is a disingenuous asshole to Cole because of their forced partnership and really, it’s only a matter of time before something gives. If Cole turns heel with MJF then fair enough, but the idea that this is somehow babyface MJF is absurd. When he inevitably turns heel on Cole and Cole falls for it? He’s the dumbest face in wrestling.

I said at the time how stupid that face to face promo battle was, and it’s only dumber in retrospect. However, they were able to move past it and catch lightning in a bottle. Since AEW’s inception they’ve tried to position themselves as the company who listens to their fans. Well this is their biggest test.

[Celexa Bliss]

Jul 20, 2023 10:32:15 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

Also to ask, Celexa Bliss, how loud was it when the mashup first played because I haven't heard a louder reaction for a music reveal that wasn't at a concert.

Loud enough that I didn't actually realize it was a mashup until they were posing on the apron lol yeah, it got a huge reaction. Everything they did was over like rover, really.

[Dub H]

Jul 20, 2023 10:32:15 GMT -5 Feargus McReddit said:

Also to ask, Celexa Bliss, how loud was it when the mashup first played because I haven't heard a louder reaction for a music reveal that wasn't at a concert.

Why are you asking someon3 that wasnt there?

[Celexa Bliss]

Jul 20, 2023 10:38:38 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

I don’t really get how people can expect it to last. Like a month ago MJF called Cole every name under the sun before their match, and the only reason they’re tagging now is because they were made to.

MJF was/is a disingenuous asshole to Cole because of their forced partnership and really, it’s only a matter of time before something gives. If Cole turns heel with MJF then fair enough, but the idea that this is somehow babyface MJF is absurd. When he inevitably turns heel on Cole and Cole falls for it? He’s the dumbest face in wrestling.

Nobody expects it to last, that's the thing. We're hoping AEW will pivot, because this is gold. I don't care if you keep MJF heel, or make Cole more heelish, but this team works. There were completely unironic MJF chants in that building last night.

[YAKMAN is ICHIBAN]

I care less about them staying together as a team than I do about MJF not pivoting back to the boring character he was.

[Pure Fusion Jesse Walsh]

They’ve really done an excellent job of getting this feud over. This is the most I’ve enjoyed Cole during his AEW tenure and certainly the most I’ve enjoyed MJF in awhile.

[spagett]

Jul 20, 2023 10:38:38 GMT -5 mrbananagrabber said:

I don’t really get how people can expect it to last. Like a month ago MJF called Cole every name under the sun before their match, and the only reason they’re tagging now is because they were made to.

MJF was/is a disingenuous asshole to Cole because of their forced partnership and really, it’s only a matter of time before something gives. If Cole turns heel with MJF then fair enough, but the idea that this is somehow babyface MJF is absurd. When he inevitably turns heel on Cole and Cole falls for it? He’s the dumbest face in wrestling.

You're not wrong and the plan clearly was for them to be tag partners for a little while and then one of them turns on the other, probably MJF being the one to attack Cole.

But in wrestling if something gets over then nothing else really matters, you should go with it. And it's clear MJF/Cole are OVER.

I'm not sure what the workaround would be but Tony needs to change the plans and keep this story going. The people are clearly into it.

[salz4life]

I'm wondering if Roderick is a red herring or if he is the one that is actually going to turn joining with MJF.

[polarbearpete]

Jul 20, 2023 11:14:19 GMT -5 YAKMAN is ICHIBAN said:

I care less about them staying together as a team than I do about MJF not pivoting back to the boring character he was.

Yeah, the MJF portion is what I’m most interested in seeing continue, though keeping the team together for a few more months would be fun too. But if they need MJF/Cole at All In/All Out, at least have Cole turn heel on a face MJF.

[KME]

Loved everything they did again last night, I usually hate most dancing in wrestling and mash up themes and yet absolutely adored both last night, everything they do just makes me smile. It doesn't have a long shelf life perhaps but there are ways around just having one turn on the other and having Max go back to being a guy without any friends. They keep showing Roddy out in the cold every week so I think there's a chance he costs them their tag title match, either inadvertently or otherwise, which would give them a little longer to still be friends, doubling down that both guys were being genuine and it wasn't just about winning the tag titles, could also buy Tony some time to figure out what to do if he decides to move away from his original plan. That'd be what I would do...that or just have them actually win.

Quite incredible that they had a phenomenal half an hour draw and have been involved in some of the most fun, compelling TV in AEW almost every week since and yet the result is nobody really wants to see the rematch yet 🤣

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

[The Legendary Ring Troll {BLM}]

Jul 19, 2023 21:14:49 GMT -5 Instant Classic said:

This was the first segment they had that wasn’t that funny being at a restaurant.

I felt it was kind of off, too, and after going back and rewatching it, I’m confident it’s because of Adam Cole. The “maybe if I breathe through my mouth” part and the “I want the pineapple” were VERY BTEish, reminded me of Matt Jackson a lot. That’s not to say that’s a bad thing, I like BTE, but it was out of place here.

[Bo Rida]

Poor FTR, they're meant to the ones with old school approach but Cole and particularly MJF are getting the biggest pops with the most basic wrestling 101 stuff.

I wonder if MJF will actually bring that up in a promo.

[HMARK Center]

To reiterate, I think the key here is that even if we do end up with face Cole vs. heel MJF for the title at one of the upcoming PPVs (and, let's face it, a bit more of this build and that will be a big money match, I don't see them passing it up for too long) they have to make sure they get there without it just boiling down to Max playing Cole for a patsy all along. Whatever brings them to the match needs to be something where, again, one of Max's character flaws just keeps him from being fully happy, and he does something in the heat of the moment that he passes off as "oh, yeah, I was gonna do that all along!", but we should be able to tell that he's actually gutted about it (something that MJF the actor is fully capable of expressing, I think). Having him react so strongly to Cole touching the belt was a sign of that; this man isn't always some evil schemer, he's also just incredibly insecure and has major trust issues that can cause him to fly off the handle and ruin a good thing, and Cole got a glimpse of that.

Thinking about it, when he's played the crowd before it was first pretending he was Cody's buddy (though it was pretty obvious he was still heel in all of that), then it was playing the crowd before beating Moxley. In both cases that was him manipulating and lying about his intentions as a means of getting himself up the ranks, first by using an EVP to get his foot into the upper card, and then by riding the crowd's reaction to the world title, itself. But now he's at the top of the mountain, and maybe he began this thinking he'd play the crowd again before sticking the knife in Cole, but maybe he's also realizing that it actually is lonely at the top, and maybe this time, if he does sink the dagger in the back, it won't be anything that pulls him any higher, because where else is there for him to go? He might still end up attacking Cole, might cut a promo swearing that was his plan all along, but something will have spurred it on not because he's just a dick, but because he's damaged and hasn't worked through his issues yet.

Basically, the friendship has to have turned into something genuine, Max can still screw it all up, but this has to be the one where it takes him some place new. Losing this friendship (or at least temporarily suspending it, can always reunite later, right?) can be the impetus to really make him dive deeper into being "the Devil" and to give in to that self-loathing that's always been right beneath the surface with this character, rather than always being able to uphold the spoiled rich kid facade. Send him to his lowest, and you ironically open the door to giving him an actual redemption arc once someone (Eddie Kingston in NYC, pls and thnx) knocks him off the throne.

Jul 20, 2023 13:12:32 GMT -5 KME said:

Loved everything they did again last night, I usually hate most dancing in wrestling and mash up themes and yet absolutely adored both last night, everything they do just makes me smile. It doesn't have a long shelf life perhaps but there are ways around just having one turn on the other and having Max go back to being a guy without any friends. They keep showing Roddy out in the cold every week so I think there's a chance he costs them their tag title match, either inadvertently or otherwise, which would give them a little longer to still be friends, doubling down that both guys were being genuine and it wasn't just about winning the tag titles, could also buy Tony some time to figure out what to do if he decides to move away from his original plan. That'd be what I would do...that or just have them actually win.

Quite incredible that they had a phenomenal half an hour draw and have been involved in some of the most fun, compelling TV in AEW almost every week since and yet the result is nobody really wants to see the rematch yet 🤣

Ooh, I think you might've nailed it; Roddy doesn't trust Max, still cares about Cole, does something (probably) inadvertently that costs them the titles, Max is justifiably furious, Cole wants to defend his longtime friend...and he inadvertently ends up breaking Max's heart, because he sees Cole's and Strong's friendship and can't help but think "I thought we were friends, but he doesn't care about ME the same way he does Roddy. He must hate me, he's been faking this whole thing; after all I'm terrible, aren't I? @#$% him for making me think like this!"

Then a later potential MJF beatdown of Cole isn't him smirking and acting like he had the great plan all along; a potential MJF beatdown of Cole is instead an act of sadness, heartbreak, and self-loathing. Can even have Cole later point it out in some way, that the good friend is in there, that Max just has to be willing to accept other people...while still vowing to beat the shit out of him, of course.

Again, I'm saying all this because I don't see any way they just don't book MJF vs. Cole for the title at some point; it basically has to happen, and the more heat going into the match the hotter ticket it'll be. I'm just looking at a way you can book it without things immediately reverting to status quo, and in a way that opens the door to MJF finally growing past his worst demons somewhere in the near future. Just keeping him and Cole together for good likely doesn't fully work; feels like one of those moments where you have to break the audience's heart at some point, even if the intention down the road is to mend it.