Every week, I find the kosher pickle joke less funny. Every week, I find less faith in MJF.

MJF and Mark Briscoe have been at each others’ throats since before All In, with Briscoe’s bodyshaming jabs towards his rival often being met with mumbles and bumbles from MJF before boom: dead brother mention. When Briscoe approached the ring to confront MJF on Wednesday’s episode of “AEW Dynamite,” I expected much of the same (what, like they had done anything remotely substantial in this feud so far). When Briscoe made yet another kosher pickle joke (play the laugh track), I found myself tuning in and out of the broadcast, resigned to the worst.

MJF began to bite back, and I mean bite. He downplayed Briscoe’s accomplishments, he labeled Briscoe as a bumpkin who was liked by everybody and loved by nobody. He dismissed Briscoe’s potential to be a “top guy” in AEW. With his heelish words, MJF was simultaneously putting Briscoe over as the underdog while also showing shades of his former promo glory. For a moment, it almost seemed that we were back to prime MJF — that MJF who would appear weekly to flame his championship contenders. MJF began to bite back, before he succumbed to the same played-out dead brother jab. The feeling of disappointment nearly crushed me.

Listen, I don’t like MJF. However, I can acknowledge that his reputation as an on-the-mic menace is well-deserved. I know that MJF’s character has enthralled people: I know that his commitment to kayfabe and his status as a heel is commendable. However, MJF has, recently, not had the same bite that he is revered for. He is not same scathing presence on the microphone that he used to have. He has been made into a joke — just a guy trying to fit in to whatever program will take him (Jeff Jarrett, Hurt Syndicate). Before, it felt like you had to work to have a program with MJF. Now, it feels like MJF has to work to have a program with you. MJF has fallen off.

MJF has fallen off, which is why I was excited to see glimpses of his old, ruthless self. I don’t like MJF, but I want him to do well, because it’s good for AEW. When MJF began to discredit Briscoe (a heel move to up both of their cred as the villain and underdog respectively), I was so ready to Love his mic work, up until he went back to the same dead brother playbook (the playbook we know is not working). You can have a feud with Mark without bringing up the late Jay. MJF is more creative than that. He has shown us that he is more creative than that. It was such a let-down to be teased with a return to MJF mic glory, only to be met with a return to sorry form.

I don’t like MJF, but I want to see him at his prime. This is far from MJF’s prime.

Written by Angeline Phu