Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Acting · b. 1996 · New York City, New York, USA

Maxwell Tyler Friedman, better known by the ring name Maxwell Jacob Friedman (often shortened to the initials MJF), is an American professional wrestler who made his professional wrestling debut in 2015 for Create A Pro Wrestling. He signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in 2019 and is a three-time AEW World Champion, including a record-setting first reign of 406 days, and is also a one-time AEW International Champion.

Full biography

In addition to wrestling, Friedman has pursued acting roles, appearing in The Iron Claw (2023), where he portrayed Lance Von Erich, and in Happy Gilmore 2 (2025) alongside Adam Sandler. He was also featured on Impractical Jokers, a hidden-camera comedy series centered on four lifelong friends who challenge one another to complete embarrassing public dares.

Friedman previously worked for Major League Wrestling (MLW), where he became a one-time MLW World Tag Team Champion and the inaugural MLW World Middleweight Champion. He has also competed on the American independent circuit, including Combat Zone Wrestling (CZW), where he became a one-time CZW World Heavyweight Champion and a one-time CZW Wired Champion.

Ranked No. 6 in the Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI 500 in 2023, Friedman won Feud of the Year in back-to-back years for his rivalries with Chris Jericho in 2021 and CM Punk in 2022, while also being voted Most Hated Wrestler of the Year in both years. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter named him Best on Interviews in 2021 and 2022 and Most Charismatic in 2020, 2022, and 2023.