Huge AEW Star Eyeing Major Career Outside Wrestling

Changing the game comes naturally to Maxwell Jacob Friedman, who is now poised to chase stardom far beyond the AEW ring.

After dazzling wrestling fans as one of AEW’s most polarizing and accomplished competitors, MJF is officially taking on Hollywood. The wrestling star has secured a feature role in Netflix’s “Happy Gilmore 2,” playing Happy’s son alongside Adam Sandler, and he’s not stopping there.

Speaking with TMZ Sports amid the buzz for the new movie, The Wolf of Wrestling made clear that his acting ambitions are here to stay.

“Absolutely. I’m taking acting just as seriously as I do professional wrestling. I’m very excited about it,” Friedman affirmed, signaling a full-fledged leap into entertainment.

In “Happy Gilmore 2,” released this July on Netflix, MJF brings high energy as Gordie Gilmore, the ambitious, no-nonsense son of Sandler’s famous character. His blend of wrestling charisma and comedic timing already has industry insiders and fans singing his praises.

Adam Sandler himself recently raved about MJF’s performance, calling him “funny as hell” and a joy on set, even joking about The Salt of the Earth bruising himself in the ring between film days.

MJF Scheduled To Challenge Hangman Adam Page for AEW World Championship

Despite his new film endeavors, MJF remains an active force in AEW. At the massive AEW All In: Texas event, he clinched victory in the Men’s Casino Gauntlet Match, thus becoming the number one contender for the AEW World Championship. This sets him up for a showdown with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, who captured the AEW World Title in a brutal Texas Deathmatch main event.

Friedman has joined a growing lineage of wrestlers, like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Cena, who have successfully transitioned to acting while still leaving a mark on wrestling. While balancing acting and wrestling is no easy feat, he is clear about his determination to excel in both.