He’s better than you and even Brian Myers knew it.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman has become one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling today, but according to Brian Myers, it didn’t take long to realize there was something special about MJF.

Speaking during a recent appearance on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet, Myers reflected on the first time he met the future AEW World Champion at Create A Pro Wrestling Academy. The former WWE and TNA star recalled that MJF arrived at the school during its infancy and was already showing signs of the charisma and confidence that would eventually make him one of wrestling’s premier performers.

Myers explained that MJF’s journey into wrestling mirrored his own in some ways, as both faced skepticism while pursuing a career in the industry.

“Yeah, I’ll never forget it. It was very early on, probably the first four months of Create A Pro. It’s kind of funny, because it’s a very similar mentality. He committed to something in college football, but he really had his heart set on wrestling. I think it kind of hit a wall with what he was doing and what his parents wanted him to do and what he wanted to do. I was in a very similar situation, because when you tell people you want to be a wrestler, it’s not really that believable. His dad came in with him, and it almost felt like, here he’s your problem now, this is what he wants to do. I was like, let’s go. So pretty early on, we did a promo class where he just murdered this kid, and I was like, okay, there’s something about this guy.”

The story offers an interesting glimpse into the early days of MJF’s wrestling career. Long before headlining major events and becoming one of the most talked-about names in the industry, he was already displaying the verbal ability that would later become a defining trait of his character.

Myers’ recollection highlights how quickly MJF stood out among his peers. While many aspiring wrestlers spend years trying to develop confidence on the microphone, MJF apparently made an immediate impression during one of his first promo classes.

Over the years, Create A Pro Wrestling Academy has produced several notable talents, but MJF’s rise to the top of the industry remains one of its greatest success stories. According to Myers, the signs were there almost immediately.

You can check out the full interview with Brian Myers on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet below.

(h/t Alex Hunt and Chris Van Vliet for the transcriptions.)