When Big Sexy Got Worked by the Salt of the Earth

Pull up a barstool, grab a cold pint of cheap domestic light beer, and let's talk about the absolute state of the wrestling internet. If you spent any time on Reddit or Twitter today, you know the collective community is losing its mind. WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash just admitted he got completely worked by the master of modern kayfabe.

On the latest episode of his podcast, Big Sexy confessed that AEW's resident loudmouth, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, had him hook, line, and sinker. Nash recalled watching MJF scream at Tony Khan to fire him, only to realize he had been played like a cheap fiddle. For a guy who usually treats modern wrestling like a personal insult to his knees, this is a massive deal.

The segment in question is the infamous promo from June 1, 2022. That was the night MJF went on live television and screamed at his boss.

He wanted out of his contract, and he made sure the whole world knew it. The mic was cut off, the screen went black, and the internet exploded.

"F**king fire me! Fire me, Tony! F**king fire me!"

That is the line that did it. That is the line that made a veteran who has seen every trick in the book sit back and shake his head. Nash admitted on his podcast that he was watching it live and was completely fooled.

"You motherf**ker! You got me!"

That was Nash's reaction. It is a hilarious confession from a guy who literally helped orchestrate the New World Order. If you can fool the guy who helped jumpstart the Monday Night Wars, you are doing something right.

The Community Reacts: Praise, Grift, or Doom?

The Enthusiasts Take a Victory Lap

On the Reddit forums, the MJF loyalists are absolutely insufferable right now. They are treating Nash's podcast comments like a papal bull confirming MJF's status as a generational talent. One user on a popular forum thread posted that if a legend like Nash can be worked, then every critic of MJF needs to shut up.

The argument is that MJF is the only wrestler today who actually understands how to make people care. He does not just do flips; he makes you believe the hatred is real. Fans are also pointing back to when Kevin Nash previously claimed MJF would have fit right in with the Kliq.

The Kliq was the most notorious backstage group of the 1990s, known for their cutthroat business sense and political maneuvering. For MJF supporters, this comparison is the highest form of praise. It suggests that MJF has the old-school wrestling mind that is sorely lacking in today's locker rooms.

The enthusiasts also loved that Nash thanked MJF for acknowledging the past. MJF had previously praised Nash, Scott Hall, and agent Barry Bloom for their work in improving wrestler contracts.

For years, wrestlers were treated like disposable stuntmen. Nash and Hall changed that by playing WCW against WWE to get guaranteed money.

The Skeptics Call Out the Podcasting Grift

Naturally, the skeptics were quick to dump cold water on the parade. Over on the forums, a user named KayfabeSkeptik argued that Nash is just playing the algorithm.

They believe Nash knows that praising AEW's top star is an easy way to get clips shared on social media. In their eyes, Nash is a businessman first, and a compliment from him always has a price tag.

Skeptics also argue that MJF's shoot-style promos have become a tired gimmick. While the 2022 promo was great, AEW has run that same play too many times since.

Every time a wrestler has a contract dispute now, it becomes an on-screen storyline. This constant blurring of reality actually hurts the overall product by making the actual wrestling matches feel secondary.

Some fans even pointed to Scott Hall's WCW contract and the work of agent Barry Bloom to show how different the business is today. You can read about the details of Scott Hall's WCW contract and the work of agent Barry Bloom to see how they fought for real bargaining power. Skeptics feel that MJF is playing at being a locker room leader without actually taking the risks that Nash and Hall took.

The Contrarians Mourn the Death of the Business

Then we have the contrarians who hate both sides. A poster under the name OldSchoolPurist went on a long rant about how this entire conversation shows that the business is dead.

They hate that wrestlers are openly discussing who worked whom on podcasts. For this group, the entire conversation is a sign of a dying industry that cares more about backstage gossip than what happens in the ring.

They want their heels to be hated and their babyfaces to be loved, not trading compliments on YouTube. The contrarians also took issue with the locker room culture.

They hate that MJF approached Nash at an event to tell him he was a fan. In the old days, a heel would never walk up to a legend from another promotion and fanboy over him.

They argue that this backstage friendliness is why wrestling has lost its mainstream appeal. If the wrestlers themselves do not treat the characters as real, why should the fans? It is a fair point in a world where everyone knows the secrets.

My Take: Big Sexy is Right, but the Formula is Stale

Let's cut through the noise. Nash is absolutely right about MJF's talent, but the skeptics have a point about the booking.

That promo where MJF screamed for his release was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment. It worked because the fans genuinely did not know if it was real or a work. But you cannot run that play twice.

The problem with AEW is that they have tried to replicate that shoot-style energy too many times, and it has lost its edge. Also, let's be honest about Nash.

He is a guy who loves anyone who respects him. MJF was smart enough to praise Nash and Scott Hall for their efforts in improving wrestler pay. Of course Nash is going to like him after that.

But that does not mean MJF's current run is flawless. The recent matches have lacked the emotional depth of his early feuds, and some of the comedy segments have fallen flat. We are talking about the guy who can go 60 minutes in an Iron Man match with Bryan Danielson, but also spends ten minutes of TV time doing goofy dance routines with Adam Cole.

MJF is great, but he is not above criticism. Ultimately, the enthusiasts have the stronger case here.

MJF's ability to make a veteran like Nash suspend disbelief is rare in today's environment. Even if the booking is not always perfect, the talent is undeniable.

In an era where most wrestling feels highly choreographed, MJF still knows how to make you feel like anything can happen. That is why he is the champion, and that is why even the old guard has to respect him.