Maxwell Jacob Friedman stirred the pot once again on the February 25 episode of AEW Dynamite. This time, his words reached beyond the AEW roster.
Following Kevin Knight’s win over Mansoor via UFO Splash, Tony Schiavone welcomed MJF and “Hangman” Adam Page to the ring to determine the stipulation for their AEW World Championship match at Revolution.
What followed was a tense exchange, a loaded coin flip, and a pointed line that longtime fans immediately recognized.
MJF Revives History With Cody Rhodes During Hangman Confrontation
During his promo, MJF told Page, “You’re about to be the second man whose AEW career I ended by making sure they never challenge for the World Championship again.”
The remark was a clear callback to Cody Rhodes. The then-AEW star’s title aspirations ended at Full Gear 2019 when MJF threw in the towel during Rhodes’ match with Chris Jericho.
Due to the stipulation, Cody Rhodes could never challenge for the AEW World Championship again. MJF later defeated Rhodes at Revolution 2020, cementing himself as the company’s top heel.
On Dynamite, Friedman proposed a coin flip to decide the stipulation — Texas Death Match or a “one-way no disqualification” match in which only he could use weapons. The coin landed heads, seemingly giving MJF his preferred match. However, Page demanded to inspect the coin and revealed it was double-sided.
After Schiavone received word from Tony Khan, the ruling was reversed — Hangman Page gets his Texas Death Match.
The segment blended history with present tension. MJF’s reference to ending Rhodes’ AEW career added weight to his threat against Page, reminding fans that he has backed up similar claims before.
With Revolution approaching, Page now has the stipulation he wanted. And if history is any guide, when MJF brings up the past, it’s rarely just for nostalgia — it’s usually a warning shot.
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