The rebirth of AEW is here, and a handful of superstars have already made their presence known, with Maxwell Jacob Friedman being one of them. After already proving to the world that he’s capable of carrying a company on his back, he plans on doing it all over again. The heated feud between Maxwell and Tony Kahn has been known for years, and after hearing the words from Friedman, you can expect it’s going to continue. The scene begins to open up inside the sold-out Petersen Events Center; the atmosphere is one like no other, knowing everybody is about to watch something special. With the open battle royal about a half hour away, the lights in the arena begin to fade, and BETTER THAN YOU begins to blast over the speakers. The arena quickly fills up with boo’s as the camera begins to move through it, heading toward the entrance ramp where MJF is seen standing. With a grin on his face, he begins to make his way down the ramp and inside the ring, where he’s given a mic.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: I know it’s pretty hard for you people to understand, but when the best wrestler in the world has something to say, you shut your mouths and listen.
Quickly, the arena fills up again with boo’s as Maxwell takes a second.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: You know I thought the worst part about tonight would be the fact that I’m going to be standing inside this ring to open Dynamite tonight against Jey Uso. Then I took a second and realized we’re in Pittsburgh, and it kind of made me throw up in my mouth a little bit, but you have a decent football team, so that makes everything okay, right? If we’re being honest here in Pittsburgh, I think we can all agree I’m the greatest thing that has come into this city in years. What I’m trying to say is that compared to a great city like Philadelphia, this place is dog shit, and so is everybody in it.
Once again, boo’s begin to fill the arena along with the chat of
ASSHOLE while Maxwell takes a second for the crowd to settle down.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: I take a look around at all of you tonight, and all I see is a bunch of welfare-living junkies, and yet you sit there and boo me? You all sit out there thinking like you actually know what it takes to be a professional wrestler, but the reality is none of you will ever get the opportunity to prove it. The reality is that you people will never be worth anything in your miserable lives, and you hate the fact that I’m going to be coming out here week after week. You know who’s going to be watching me inside this ring each and every single week? You know who’s going to watch me climb the ladder to the top step by step? Each and every single one of you, and as much as you’re all going to hate watching me climb the ladder, it’s only a matter of time until I’m standing where I deserve to be. I mean, lets be honest, Pittsburgh. I don’t think anybody wants to see Mandy Rose against Jordynne Grace in our main event here tonight, but some dipshit in the back though it would be a good idea.
Friedman takes a second while giving his chin a scratch.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: Speaking of main events, let's talk a little bit about my opponent tonight because that’s what you call yourself, right, Jey? That’s what you want everybody out here to believe—that you’re the main event material and you belong in the ring with somebody like me? That’s something you’ve been trying to prove for years, isn’t it, but every single time you get the chance to show everybody who you really are, you fail. Do you actually think tonight is going to be any different, Jey? I think it’s about time you opened up your eyes and realized that you’re not main event material, Jey, and tonight I’m going to prove it to the world. Let me make something perfectly clear to you, Jey, because I’m not just going to beat you tonight; I’m going to show the world that somebody like you doesn’t belong in
MY FUCKING RING! I’m going to make Tony realize that signing you was a big mistake and he should have gone after your brother instead because this is my ring, Jey. Given the fact that you’ve blown opportunity after opportunity over the years, I think it’s pretty safe to say your name shouldn’t be main event Jey Uso; it should be midcard Jey Uso. I say that because that’s exactly what you are, Jey; you’re MID, and that’s all you’re ever going to be. You can have everybody out here dancing with you all you want tonight, Jey, because at the end of the day it’s not going to make any kind of difference.
Maxwell looks into the crowd.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: That’s right, none of you uneducated morons are going to make any kind of difference tonight when I show Jey Uso what it truly means to be main event material. I look at the big picture, Jey, and the fact that you have been able to stick around in this industry for quite some time, but it’s what you’ve done with your time that matters. For you, you’ve made a name for yourself over the years, and some may even look at you as one of the best tag team wrestlers of our era. When I look at you, Jey, I see somebody who has been built up to be somebody you’re not, and tonight I’m going to expose you in front of the world. I look around the back and I see a lot of guys who are all going to be fighting for the same spot, but one guy I’m going to be keeping my eye on in particular is Cody Rhodes. You see Cody. I’ve watched what you’ve done over the last couple of years, and much like everybody else, I was actually happy about the fact that you finished your story. Of course that was before you decided to show your face here and think it’s going to happen all over again because that sounds like a beautiful story, Cody, but it’s not going to happen because...
Friedman takes a second before looking into the crowd again with a cocky grin.
MAXWELL Jacob Friedman: I'm better than you. AND YOU KNO...
Before he can finish, he’s cut off by another theme blasting over the speakers.
USSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! It appears Jey Uso isn’t going to sit in the back and listen to Maxwell anymore as the camera starts to focus on him quickly making his way down the ramp and into the ring. Neither superstar looks very impressed as Jey grabs a mic from somebody who’s outside of the ring.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: I wasn’t expecting to see you until later tonight, Jey, but if you want, I can kick your ass right now and we can get all of that out of the way.
JEY USO: Ay, you know what Uce? I don’t think these people out here want to hear you running your mouth anymore; they want to see a
YEETdown, and that’s what they are about to see.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: That’s the difference between you and me, Jey; you care what these idiots think. You actually care whether these people leave happy or not, but for me, I only care about one thing, Jey, and that’s Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
JEY USO: I care what these people think because these people have been behind me my whole career, and for that I can’t thank them enough, but it’s people like you that give the rest of us a bad name.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: Why because I tell the truth, Jey? You say these morons have been behind you your whole career, and I believe you because I see them all dancing out here when you make your way to the ring. It must make you feel good, but how does it feel knowing that’s the best feeling you’ll ever have in this industry? How does it feel knowing you’ll never reach the level I’m standing on right now, Jey? How doe…
Once again, Jey cuts him off.
JEY USO: You can say whatever you want because in just a little while I’m about to show you what I”m about UCE. I’m about to show you what it means when you step into the USO Penitentiary, and you know what UCE? That ain't a place you've ever been before, and after tonight you're not going to want to come back again. Do yall want to see a
YEETdown come early tonight?
The crowd explodes with cheers, but as a grin comes over the face of Maxwell, he begins to make his way out of the ring.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: No, no, it’s not going to happen like that, Jey, because unlike you, I actually deserve the money these people pay to see me. Unlike you, Jey, I can actually say these people don’t deserve any more of my time because I’ve actually proven I’m worth something in this industry. Tonight, I prove I’m worth a hell of a lot more than you’ll ever dream of being Jey because...
I”M BETTER THAN YOU... AND YOU KNOW IT With the same cocky grin on his face, Maxwell exits the ring, leaving Jey Uso standing in the center of it looking like he’s ready to throw down early. The two continue to say words to each other while Maxwell walks up the ramp. Once he reaches the end, he takes one last look at Jey still inside the ring before heading into the backstage area. The camera follows Maxwell into the backstage area, where none other than Mandy Rose is seen standing in front of his door.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: You know I usually have to order ladies that look as good as you.
A smirk comes over the face of Mandy.
MANDY ROSE: Well, I came by to see you, Maxwell. I would think you would want a pretty woman like me to come by.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: Don't get me wrong, I don't mind it at all, but I would think on a big night like this you'd be getting ready for your match.
MANDY ROSE: I know what Jordynne's all about, and I'm not scared of her. I've been NXT women's champion in the past. I've already been training, so I thought I would come see you.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: I'm sure you'll have no problem taking care of Jordynne tonight. So you're just scoping the roster, are you?
Mandy grins as she looks Maxwell up and down.
MANDY ROSE: I guess you could say that.
As Mandy begins to move aside, Maxwell brushes by her to enter his room.
MAXWELL JACOB FRIEDMAN: I guess it's pretty safe to say you'll be watching me tonight, but believe me, I'll have my eyes locked on that main event.
Mandy Rose: I’m sure you will.
It seems Maxwell has already started to make some friends in the back, and judging by his attitude, it’s somebody he wouldn’t mind having by his side. With that said, the scene begins to fade out with the sound of Mandy chuckling as she walks out of the room, leaving Maxwell with a lot to think about. With his match opening Dynamite, you can only think Maxwell will be looking to not only impress but also make an impact and make an example out of Jey Uso
OOC: Good luck buddy.