AEW Star Says There’s ‘Change In The Air’ In Locker Room

Published: Jul 9, 2025 by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: Jul 9, 2025 by Dave Adamson

Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.

AEW

There has been a “change in the air” behind the scenes in the AEW locker room, according to a top star who has been there since the start.

Considered one of the pillars of AEW, MJF has been part of the company since its inception in 2019 and has recently spoken about the locker room atmosphere.

Speaking to TV Insider, the former AEW World Champion revealed that the current locker room believes in what the company stands for, saying:

“In all sincerity, there is a change in the air, and I’ll tell you why.

“Everybody that is in the AEW locker room right now wants to be in the AEW locker room right now, believes in what AEW stands for, believes that professional wrestling couldn’t be monopolized and believes in the spirit of what professional wrestling is supposed to look like.

“The spirit of professional wrestling isn’t supposed to be corporate. It’s a sport. Much like all the best American pastimes like football or baseball. I think the money aspect, while being important, it just can not supersede the beautiful, violent art that all sports are.

“That goes across the full spectrum. Not just pro wrestling.”

MJF would then cast his attention towards specific members of the roster, noting that he feels the roster are hungry and on the same page, explaining:

“The other thing I’ve noticed. I’ve been here for six years, and here are just the facts. Fans hate facts. They love feelings. I’m the fact guy.

“For six years I’ve been number one, with a bullet, the most consistent, highest drawing, minute-for-minute ratings draw that we have. There have been times where I really felt like I was pulling seven gigantic airplanes at the same time, all by myself.

“Now more than ever, while I don’t like any of these people, you have MJF but also Swerve Strickland, Will Ospreay, Hangman Page and Jon Moxley.

“Then you have so many characters that I wouldn’t ever call the supporting cast. You have your Kyle Fletcher, (Konosuke) Takeshita and the Hurt Syndicate, which I’m a part of. We have been the most consistent and biggest part of the show. You have your Adam Cole, Daniel Garcia, the list goes on and on.

“I don’t think this roster has ever been more hungry. This roster has never been more on the same page when it comes to just wanting to prove what AEW is all about and AEW stands for.”

While MJF is invested in his AEW career, he would also touch upon the possibility of working with WWE’s John Cena, either in wrestling or outside that particular space.

MJF will have another opportunity to shine in the Men’s Casino Gauntlet match at AEW All In: Texas on July 12, with the full show card available here.

Transcript from TV Insider.