Well, he showed that bulb's not completely burned out. When he tried the Soprano Macho act by going out and confronting the yewts, he sized up the situation and realized he couldn't handle that action. But instead of crying for Mommy or punking out, he stepped up to the line but with a different tack: offering them a taste of luxury in exchange for clearing out.

So maybe the Fredoesque AJ has a bit more Michael in him than we woulda suspected, hmm?...