Mark Henry‘s reflection on MJF’s segment with Jeff Jarrett on AEW Dynamite sheds light on the intricate dynamics at play in MJF’s current position in AEW. During the segment, MJF was knocked out by Jarrett after a heated verbal exchange, which notably included a controversial mention of the late Owen Hart. Henry, drawing from his personal experience with both Owen and Jarrett, immediately recognized the mistake when MJF crossed the line.
“I knew he was gonna get his ass kicked when he mentioned Owen [Hart],” Henry said, chuckling. The implication was clear—some topics in wrestling, particularly those involving deeply personal connections like family and friends, should be off-limits. Henry’s point emphasizes the boundaries of a promo battle, where some lines are never to be crossed if you don’t want to face the consequences. “You don’t talk about people’s kids, their momma, their best friend,” he noted. For MJF, mentioning Owen Hart was one of those rare, unforgivable moves in the wrestling world, which directly led to Jarrett’s retaliatory punch.
Beyond the incident itself, Henry delved deeper into the broader implications for MJF’s character. He pointed out that MJF’s trajectory has significantly shifted since his 2023 World Championship reign, and the promo with Jarrett illustrated this shift. “I thought it was good for Jeff to point out MJF being an ‘also-ran,'” Henry said. While Henry didn’t fully agree with Jarrett’s depiction of MJF as an “also-ran,” he acknowledged that the storyline was effective in highlighting MJF’s current positioning. Without a strong push to reignite his character, MJF could risk falling into a more routine role within AEW’s crowded roster.
Henry also made a comparison to WWE’s Roman Reigns, noting how Reigns has successfully maintained his dominant aura post-title reign. “Roman Reigns is still Roman Reigns, MJF is not,” Henry stated. The comparison served to underline the issue that while MJF once stood at the pinnacle of AEW, he hasn’t yet managed to keep that momentum going in the way that Reigns has in WWE. Henry emphasized that it wasn’t MJF’s fault per se, but rather a matter of how he has been booked following his championship run.
The success of the segment, according to Henry, was a result of the dynamic between MJF and Jeff Jarrett. Both men brought their unique qualities to the table, and the intensity of the promo exchange created an effective and memorable moment in AEW. However, Henry’s comments serve as a reminder that for MJF to maintain his position as a top star, the company will need to build him back up, just as Reigns was carefully built into the dominant force he is today.