Maxwell Jacob Friedman, perhaps the biggest rising star in professional wrestling, is engaged to his girlfriend, Naomi Rosenblum.
“I said yes :) …and yes, I forced him to smile for pics (after he told me I’m the luckiest girl in the world),” Rosenblum wrote in an Instagram caption announcing the news.
Friedman, who plays a character in All Elite Wrestling as as an entitled and cunning wealthy Long Island native, tweeted, “Ladies panicking on my TL [timeline] don’t worry. Just cuz there’s a goalie doesn’t mean you can’t score. Strive for greatness. #Saltoftheearth.”
The couple posted engagement photos from in front of El Parador Cafe in Manhattan.
Friedman, now 26, joined AEW around the time of its launch in early 2019. He had a prolonged story with Chris Jericho, during which they performed a musical duet that was so critically acclaimed that it was named one of the best performances of 2020 in the New York Times.
MJF and Naomi Rosenblum in front of El Parador Cafe in Manhattan after getting engaged.Instagram / Naomi Rosenblum
MJF and Naomi Rosenblum got engaged in Manhattan.Instagram / Naomi RosenblumThis past June, Friedman gave a “pipe bomb” promo in which he blasted AEW and its founder Tony Khan. He vanished from TV programming for several months, as the surreal genre of pro wrestling kept fans guessing as to whether his monologue represented his true frustrations with the company, or if it was all part of the story — or both.
MJF returned at “All Out” over Labor Day weekend. After henchmen cleared the ring of a battle royal where competitors fought to claim a large poker chip to cash in for a world title shot, he returned wearing a mask, to the song “Sympathy for the Devil” by the Rolling Stones. At the end of the show, he revealed himself.
MJF’s burgeoning feud with CM Punk appears to be put on hold as AEW deals with the fallout from Punk’s post-“All Out” theatrics.
Naomi Rosenblum’s engagement ring from wrestler MJF.Instagram / Naomi Rosenblum
Naomi Rosenblum painted a photo of her now-fiancee MJF.Instagram / Naomi RosenblumRosenblum graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 2022. While many of her classmates pursued careers in banking and consulting, she works as an artist.
“That has been really difficult to navigate, especially with all of the pressure and everyone interviewing for banks,” she said in an interview with “34th Street” last year. “Trying to do my own thing is very terrifying.”
She added: “Do what will make you happy, and then everything will fall into place and come with time.”
