A returning hero must face the consequences of his actions while dealing with an evil he helped create. Relive the grueling feud between CM Punk and Maxwell Jacob Friedman in this unique cinematic experience.
Genuinely, and I don’t want this to sound hyperbolic or exaggerated, this is the greatest RU-vid video I’ve ever seen covering professional wrestling. This is expertly done. Bravo.
AEW should hire you to do more video packages. They haven't put out anything close to this. Videos like this would help grow their fanbase and get people more invested in their stories and feuds.
You shrunk the feud to a little under an hour and even put the context of their pasts intertwined with this story they laid out for each others feud. This is impressive, if nobody knew a thing about these 2 this is probably the easiest way someone would be drawn into WANTING to fully watching this feud play out from beginning to end. Hats off to you! Very impressive way of covering this whole feud from head to toe with every little detail!
Honestly speaking,these kind of storytelling, editing and rivalry make me feel like a child again. Like a 11 year old kid who witnessed Punk's legendary 434 day title reign.
@@majorlazer2132 sheesh i feel like a baby. 11 years old for me was SmackDown 2016 era, AJ styles WWE debut, the golden age of nxt, you get the point lol
Wow. MJF a dastardly heel had the ability to make me feel sorry for him. His story about getting bullied genuinely made me tear up. This guy is gold and if AEW lets him walk, they'll regret it.
what makes this even better that everything that he said was a lie, his heel character is so good that he made up a fake origin story. His story about being the best at football, that was a lie too. All of that was revealed in "Making MJF" documentary MJF is one of the best heels ever! his character runs so deep and have so much detail!
A testament to how good MJF is at character work, when he comes out to Punk's "Just another Friday" dig (34:00) you can see in his eyes that something's different, he looks genuinely betrayed and heartbroken while trying to keep it contained. You see MJF and you either see the egotistical smirk of a winner or the furious rage of a loser, you so, so rarely get him looking upset
I love this so much because it showcases how complex MJF is. He's someone the people can rally behind, when he shared his story the fans repeat his catchphrase chant his name. Yet he chooses to lash out against the fans and anyone in the locker room. When he becomes so boiled over he shares those vulnerable stories of his life. And it makes you pause and wonder, is this the real MJF a scared insecure hurt kid who just doesn't wanna be seen as weak taken advantage of like that again. Or is he actually what he says he is, is he actually the devil concocting stories to get mess with his opponent. Because if it's the first then the entire bad guy shtick is all a facade a mask he portrays because he doesn't want anyone close enough to see the vulnerable real MJF. So it's just easier to be a dick and have everyone hate you, because then no one can ever be close. No one can ever betray him no one can embaress or hurt him like when he was a kid. In wrestling there's so many examples of one noted personalities. The rich guy, the pretty boy, the strong man, the grappler, etc. MJF is compelling to me because he has layers.
After the recent media scrum by Punk thrashing on the Elite and Hangman, this saying is golden.Mjf can be a top icon as long he doesn't piss off people at the wrong place and timing which Punk did just few days back.
@@jsgoodman because that match is enough spark someone's interest in wrestling. its intensity and brutality is great which portrays amazingly what wrestling should be.
This is "the" aew feud. Not omega hangman not nothing. This is the gold aew feud. Phenomenal storytelling, outstanding promos and captivating talents. Punk and mjf were fire
CM Punk was my childhood hero. As much as it pains me to say, MJF was 100% spot on when he was talking about Punk losing his fake smile whenever he didn’t get what he wanted.
@sarveshjalootharia1603 Wrestling promos often have a bit of truth behind them. Especially for a guy like MJF who takes them so seriously. They’re playing a character yes, but they’re not just spewing nonsense.
Wow. Watching this made me realize how deep this long term story telling existed. It almost like MJF was destined for this match since birth. Great work.
@@kenbeentrill sometimes 2 or 3 matches can impact long term storytelling than 12-15 matches (if they don't switch it up) another good example is Shawn vs Undertaker, they had 5 1 on 1 ppv matches and storytelling on those were epic
This rivalry was so cinematic and beautiful . A work of art! MJF really put his soul into this. Pro wrestling touched new heights when he started quoting punk's ring of honour speech , it struck a chord with me. I Literally cried there.
Something I never noticed until now. All the times MJF dodged fighting Punk, refusing to fight him, running away. Sure you can chalk it up to him being chicken shit, but with context you could reasonably say MJF still looks up to Punk and doesn't want to fight his hero. Even after Punk's match with Spears, with Punk's back being turned he hesitated. It's small details like that that makes me love wrestling.
Watching this again, nearly a year after the fued ended....it is definitely still one of the greatest fueds of all time in my opinion. It's so sad to look back at it and having to expect that we might never see anything with CM Punk again...
SUPER sad to see that we aren't going to be getting the rubber match of this series. I really wish his run didn't end the way it did, but I'm glad we at least got to see the magnum opus of his career with this feud.
To paraphrase a line from the movie "Man on Fire". A man can be an artist at anything. CM Punk and MJF's art is wrestling and they just painted their masterpiece.
This storyline is FAR from over. Just gonna point out a teaser. MJF referencing leaving AEW for WWE when his contract runs out in January 2024. Wonder what could happen.
This hits so much different after All Out. MJF's pipebomb, the two failed title runs, the media scrum, the fight with the EVPs, scooping Max's return heat, the missed title match rematch- there's so much for them to come back to if this was -to any extent- the plan.
@@c.s3369 so my wild Fan theory is that there was no way crowds would boo punk after His Return. So they Turn him heel against everything aew Stands for and so far its working. Also Heel Punk is Just Something else
This is better content than what any network or media department associated with an organizational has put out in 20 years. A masterpiece. And it makes me sad that these two can't continue the feud.
I watch this video every night when I get into bed, most nights I just close my eyes and listen to it, but I just wanted to thank you for the amount of effort and dedication you’ve put into not only making a video/short film but getting the history correct and finding music which absolutely compliments the storyline. I genuinely hope we get to see more videos from you in the future but understandably this must have taken a while to put together. Thanks again, your work is appreciated!
I haven’t watched wrestling in years but a friend sent this to me and I sat down and was absorbed for the full 45 minutes. This is truly a fantastic video, well done. I’ve never seen MJF on the mic or in a match before and you made me hate him, pity him, and then hate him again
@Jay Bee I have been watching wrestling since the 80's, I am not an expert in the business but I do know how heels are more important then the babyface IMO, I am sure a kid watching MJF now does not like him, but I am older and appreciate talent when i see it.
I love it, really well made, and that ending is the thing people seem to have missed from this feud. MJF swore that by the end Punk would show his true colours, and in the end, Punk won with the same dirty move MJF did. Some people called that revenge, but really it was that perfect baby face mask getting a little more broken.
Mjf is so dirty he is the last person that can accuse someone like punk of showing their true colors Mjf won lots of matches with that dirty move...it made lots of sense when cm punk turned that dirty move against him...i was happy to see that.
All the greatest villains started with something innocuous. Vigilante justice, hurting someone to save others, whatever it may be - the greatest monsters are always convinced that they act in service of a greater good. Whenever Punk turns, he'll put someone over to a degree we haven't seen since Eddie Guerrero won the world heavyweight belt.
Dude this is the 2nd time I've watched this and I can't tell you enough that you did a fucking banger of job. This is wrestling perfection, and documentary prefection. ANYBODY could watch this, wrestling fan or not, and be moved to the point of tears. That MJF jew boy promo hits so hard every time, and your editing around that part of the storyline is perfect.
You may have to go back a lot farther than that. The last time I cared this much about a wrestling feud, I was a kid watching Bret Hart and Steve Austin trying to kill each other.
I won't say the best.. gargano ciampa is a contender . Not trying to be a WWE suck up but you have to give credit where it's due you know. This and that both of them are my best storylines of this decade
I really appreciate how they planted the seeds of wardlows turn throughout this whole feud. It helped easily feed into the current storyline with them when this one finished.
Yeah some things aew does are hit and miss... but little things like subconsciously implementing a future storyline into a current storyline, that shit is gold tier writing.
@@kingjayearl7560 great point. They’re fantastic at running these great run off feuds that still feel big and not an afterthought. But sometimes they fuck it up like with Sammy and Scorpio. They’re not perfect at all but man when they hit, they fucking hit
@@kingjayearl7560 true... and if as I think what we saw last week (6.1.22) is a work, especially with Punk of all people being the one to come out first to try to calm down MJF during the commercial break, the seeds had been planted in that promo battle in which MJF compared Punk to Cena: in the summer of MJF, it is Punk the corporate champion representing the establishment.
I love how this feud changed both guys going forward even after it ended. CM Punk had to become a monster to end this, and a part of it stuck with him, getting more personal in his rivalries going forward. Hangman. Mox. These guys were faces, but CM Punk tore into them like they were heels. And of course, finally snapping and becoming full monster at All Out, with a potential heel return. MJF became an absolute menace. Not verbally, but physically. We saw him really get his hands dirty for the first time on that Jacksonville Dynamite, demolishing Punk hands-on, and now, he can really go and get violent when he wants/needs to. Go watch that iron man match again. Man looked like a lethal weapon.
Watch this like 10 times and it still blow me away how this storyline was sooo good!!! The editor just made it even better, you can show almost anybody who doesn't follow wrestling anymore and they'll be able to appreciate it!! 🤟
Can we just appreciate how well put together the montage is? It tells their whole backstory in a short amount of time but it feels just right, and as it gets clsoer and closer to present day, the aspect ratio gets bigger and bigger. It's just so well made
This video popped up when I decided to get back into watching wrestling because of AEW. I got burned out after WWE sanitized practically every corner of its franchise and missed that oomph factor from the old days. This video crafted with the utmost of care, it summarized a story that spanned several months as it unraveled and left me with a loss of words in a good way. You have an editing craft that many channels wish they had. Keep it up.
I started clapping in front of my laptop like an idiot when this video ended. Absolutely brilliant editing. This feud has also been hands down one of the most intense ones in history of Pro Wrestling. Hail CM punk. Hail MJF.
I've only recently just got back into the Pro Wrestling Fiasco. But my god it brings a tear to my eye to see how far CM Punk has come from the WWE. I remember watching his UFC Debut with a couple buddy's of mine and staying up all night watching his early wrestling matches. This brings CHILLS. As i remember the good old days of being youthful and excited over another mans success. My God I love CM Punk and by God did MJF fit the role he needed to bring back that love for the Scene. Bravo Gentlemen. Bravo.
Yeah its not over either if you recall MJF no showed a signing the same as Punk did, and FTR is with Punk now I bet thats where they're headed when Punk is healthy.
@@theitfactorjameswheezer2852 they just sold out Wembly? It aged fine. Sure the punk drama exists. But it doesn't devalue any of the pure unadulterated storytelling that they put together in this feud. Get a life.
I only started watching AEW about a month after this feud ended, and honestly I am truly upset about that. The visual of MJF hugging punk almost made me cry for the first time watching anything wrestling related. I knew deep down that he was gonna betray him but it just felt real. Almost like a movie where for a moment, The hero sees a spark of hope in the villian. Punk extending his hand, only for MJF to hug him and eventually betray him hurt so bad because the promo he gave about idolizing Punk truly makes you feel bad for him. You want Punk and MJF to be friends, for Punk to finally make up for it, and he was so close but MJF was just too far gone. Incredible.
I watched the promo the week before that led to that moment live. 3am, was ironing clothes and watching Dynamite but not focalising. In a minute I stopped the iron and watched that moment unfold and left me speachless. The week after I was so happy with the hug that I made a post in joy, and like 10 seconds later MJF destroyed my soul. This video shows this perfectly
you missed the peak of aew. lol. maybe starks feud with mjf can get to this level though unless twinkletoes and jericoup sabotage it like they sabotaged punk.
Fantastic edit and compilation of one of the best ever stories in wrestling. Thanks so much for putting this together. My only little wish is that you could have intercut the CM Punk ROH footage of "You stupid old man... Greatest trick the devil..." with the MJF line. But otherwise great stuff!
This video made me return to watch wrestling. The greatest feud of CM Punk. The greatest feud of MJF. Probably one of the greatest stories in the wrestling history. And this video is definitely the greatest video in wrestling RU-vid.
I have to give respect to MJF, because he is one of the best heels in recent years. If I ever meet him, I'm going to tell him how important he is to the wrestling business. Much love to both MJF and CM Punk.
Man, you are amazing. Not only you bring more eyes on the amazing stories AEW is capable of telling, you edit them in the most beautiful ways. Seriously, thank you.
I haven't watched wrestling in over 10 years and fell down a RU-vid rabbit hole but damn I'm glad I did! 2 unbelievable talkers, great to see wrestling is alive and thriving
For someone who grew up in the Attitude Era who completely lost interest in Pro-Wrestling because of the Benoit Tragedy and WWE becoming PG in 2006, this montage is the stuff of legends and brought my love back to Pro-Wrestling. Well Done !!!
This was probably the best 47 minutes of a wrestling story I ever watched. You are indeed special for this. You made me interested in a feud that I only heard about because of a decent promo battle. Amazing video compilation
This video is insanely good. MJF & Punk will forever be my favorite pairing, favorite feud, favorite wrestling experience. They were my intro into AEW and my love for wrestling, and I'll never ever forget that.
wwe here we go.comaring to wwe even though Noone mentioned anything about wwe.afterall that is the benchmark. story telling...think about how long it has been telling...the years they have been relevant AEW let's see how long.
@@binayshrestha7132 yes wwe is the benchmark. They have been the monopoly for so long. You compete with the best in the business and you grow better than them that's the rule of competition brother
@@manaspratimchakraborty2200 oh really..and the Way to achieve is calling out wwe when it has nothing to do. monopoly so I m supposed to believe that AEW is the first one competing against WWE.AEW is in early stage to be compared with them.and not to mention AEW is running on the stars left by WWE and the main player returned back.
Dude the promo that MJF did explaining his past. It really made me tear up I might not know about the being Jew and being bullied but learning disabilities and feeling like school was absolute hell it made me relate to MJF in some way. I already loved his character but now he’s one of my favorite wrestlers
I was the shy fat kid in school, I had a learning disability (didn’t know that til years later) I was on the football team but still bullied relentlessly, I can identify with a story like this, even if it was made up, because it speaks to all of us who felt invisible and looked down on.
I've been having similar thoughts, I'm trying not to be too reactionary, but I also am not sure what else I could put above it. Perfect long-term storytelling.
This is amazing I thought this was just another fan made vid with commentary but THIS is pure quality and I’m so grateful that someone understood how important this feud was for modern day wrestling. You captured what is the standard for the greatest feud in wrestling in over a decade. This feud made me love wrestling again and I became a fan of Mjf because of it. Now my souls crying inside cuz I know the chances of 2 wrestlers remembering that you need to also BUILD the story with great promos instead of just doing super atheletic moves every week is the most important part before the actual match that ACTUALLY MATTERS. MAKE THE MATCH MATTER!
This is all phenomenal, but I think my favorite part of it is the signature out of tune piano that Hans Zimmerman used for the Sherlock Holmes soundtrack fading in and out. That is such a good small detail, amazing job.
I just had to come back and leave a comment on this and thank you. This video singlehandedly got me back into wrestling. Just in time too because although I didn't watch much AEW after Punk left, WWE just finished their masterpiece that was WrestleMania 40 and without this video, I probably wouldn't have watched
As a person who went on a wrestling hiatus the past 2 years and to come back at the tail end of this feud, I'm very happy and very fortunate to have been able to experience this story in its entirety like this. Thank you Outside Interference for making these awesome videos!
This was a perfectly planned, booked, and executed series. This is the definition of an actual professional wrestling program circa any year before about 2002 or so. I miss this.
By far, the absolute best feud AEW has ever produced to date!!!! The emotions, the story, the realness, the history, the matches, the turn by Wardlow, everything has been put together so perfectly and with such immense detail, and honestly it's probably my favorite feud in professional wrestling ever. And to think that CM Punk (in kayfabe) is the reason that MJF is the biggest heel in all of professional wrestling today is amazing. I honestly hope that AEW continues this feud, maybe if CM Punk beats Hangman for the AEW title, then they can fight for the title and then MJF can FINALLY win the world title!!!! He deserves it after all of the excellent content that man has produced, and to think that this young man is only 1 year old than me. I can definitely see a very bright future for him, and I hope he gets everything that he wants in life.
I don’t think him loving Punk was kayfabe, the backstory stuff was all real. He was definitely inspired by other wrestlers along with Punk but I’m sure Punk was one of his favorites as a kid.
I grew up on WWE but AEW is the real deal now. This was easily one of the best rivalries in the history of professional wrestling and this video makes it even better!
@@hughjazz6300 he's almost there I can see him improving. Most of his matches are somehow believable. He just gotta stop klling himself and get some meat on them bones for some of the extreme stuff he does.
@@LadyB_miniatures lol we found the wwe fan girl. You talk about Tony's issue been that he talks too much? But I bet you have no issue with the vince sex scandal
42:14 it took me a moment to realize how terrifying MJF was on this part. The dude broke open Punk's forehead and had his guys choke him with a collar, all while wearing a shirt with nothing but his childhood photo of him and Punk together. He almost looked like a damn mafia boss dealing with his rivals.
I've always loved wrestling. I've ever considered writing stories about it as a filmmaker myself. But I've always found it hard to capture the appeal of wrestling, and how it FEELS to watch a long form story unfold. Especially when trying to explain wrestling to non-fans. This video is brilliant. Legitimately a cinematic experience. One of the best RU-vid videos. Bravo!
It breaks my fucking heart to watch this after his injury I just cant wait for his return, imagine how motivated he'll be. Look at this as a gain, cause he literally will be better once he's back, it's not that serious of an injury (in perspective), and it broke his heart as well. There's no man alive that would't be driven by such events. We'll rejoice once more, see ya Punk
This was FCKN AMAZING!!! The literal BEST storyline i have ever seen in any wrestling promotion over the almost 35years ive been alive!!! It was deeper than ego or whose tougher this shit had emotions and a genuine history! And whoever put this video together THANKYOU! 10/10
This is what i will show all my friends who are asking why i love wrestling. Perfect summary and highlights the personal conflict with szenes from over 20 years ago. AEW should hire you to produce this kind of videos.
I randomly stumbled upon this. I mildly know of CM Punk. Never heard of MJF. Now I have to go back and watch these matches. Incredible job putting this together!
