MJF out of AEW filming Violent Night 2, return date unclear

Maxwell Jacob Friedman, the former AEW World Champion known as MJF, has been absent from AEW television since early September while filming the holiday action sequel Violent Night 2 in Winnipeg, and reports indicate production is expected to wrap soon though no return date has been set. The wrestler-turned-actor had been traveling between wrestling tapings and movie sets for months before stepping away from AEW once filming intensified.

MJF’s move into film follows roles in The Iron Claw and Happy Gilmore 2, and an upcoming appearance in the comedy The Floaters. Industry accounts say his schedule grew increasingly demanding this year as his acting commitments multiplied, prompting the more sustained absence from the ring. Those close to the projects say he has spoken positively about the experience and appears to have embraced the work, a shift that insiders describe as him catching the acting bug.

The hiatus comes after a heated on-screen rivalry with Mark Briscoe that culminated in a Tables and Thumbtacks match at AEW All Out, which Briscoe won. In a promo aired after the loss, MJF addressed his absence directly, saying he would leave until he no longer felt like a fraud and...