The MJF-Hangman promo:
I was very happy like in the middle of that promo, because Max started saying some of the stuff I was hoping they'd get into when they first started feuding, which never materialised.
"If God was all-powerful and all-knowing, he couldn't be all good", that is some Lex Luthor from Man of Steel shit, a Superman film I personally enjoyed and don't care who knows it. Maybe it's a sentiment that's been in a lot of films, but I don't care, I know it's in that one and if it's a reference I appreciate it, and I also think it's fun when Max was doing a promo with the Lex Luthor in the new Superman film recently, but I also think it might bode ill for Max's chances of winning this feud, if he's supposed to be the Lex Luthor to Adam's Superman
I just think Adam should tell Max he was VERY BRAVE, for taking a chance and opening up to Adam Cole.
The bullying :(
But then like...I don't know, maybe they've had to change things from what was planned and this is the best bridge they can make for it. But Adam being the best at winning in the ring and the best at mindgames, of the two of them, is just...like, he's the best physically and the best mentally and the best psychologically and the best morally and has the support of the audience, and it's just a) not much fun for me as a Max fan, b) doesn't make for a particularly interesting feud or dynamic, in my opinion, and c) is all a bit Gary Stu-ish, which can be fine sometimes, but not done in a particularly interesting way here, to me. But maybe they're building to something, and I'm just being worked, in which case I'll be annoyed now and hopefully soooooooo happy and relieved later.
Because like...maybe they do just know Adam is super popular with the audience, and they're building him up A LOT because they want good ratings and for their company to do well. I don't know.
What I could see, as potentially interesting, is if Max is having a mirror of Adam's storyline earlier in the year - he's off his game, mentally, he can't win mindgames any more than Adam could win matches, earlier, and he won't be back at his prior level until he deals with his unfinished issues. In the form of Adam Cole and/or Joe - which obviously can't happen in-ring with Cole now, or not anytime soon. But he could have a stand-in, like Roddy, I suppose. So like, he's off his game now, and can't beat Hangman, but maybe he goes off and does some other stuff and then ends up with a match again for World's End or something, and then he like has his Final Form back and can beat Hangman. Idk. But I'm just spinning out possible future storylines now - what's onscreen is onscreen.
If not, Max is back in essentially the same position as he was when he challenged Moxley for the belt in 2022 - being told he doesn't deserve respect, actually, and he won't unless he does the things Hangman/faces do to get respect. So - he will have to change to get respect. He, as he is, can't have respect. Which is an odd double-bind - a fair attitude for people to take (although it can be a bit patronising from someone already 'on top of the mountain'), but doesn't always feel super fair from the perspective of their opponent. And if you actually like someone like Max's character, and don't think he should have to transform into a different character you don't like as much to be valued - not a very attractive prospect? Max got out of it in 2022 by pretending to be noble and rule-abiding then seducing Regal to help him kill Moxley, and went right back to being a heel again. Which I loved. But they don't seem to want to repeat the earlier storylines again, and obviously that might be a bit boring. Anyway. I liked him attacking Hangman in the car park. At this point I'm so annoyed with Hangman and this schtick I kind of just want Max to kill him. Maybe that's exactly how I'm supposed to feel, to build heat for this match.
"I'm real" YES I KNOW YOU ARE BOY I KNOW THAT WAS BULLSHIT I KNOW HE DESERVED TO HAVE YOU THROW THAT BACK IN HIS FACE
'I know all my flaws' yes of course he knows more than youuuuuuu Maxxxxxxx
Hanger did change from 'I've never run from my problems' to 'I don't run from my problems', though, iirc 👀
Are they doing some "what's a mob to a king (Moxley), what's a king to a god (Hangman), what's a god to a non-believer (Max)?" :D I hope Max gets to win if so.
Imagine if Max just gets to win next Sunday. Imagine if he comes to my country and just wins.
I don't hate Hangman by the way, he's not my Main Character, but I like him fine, I'm just not enjoying this take on things much.