MJF says AEW boss Tony Khan has become ‘incredible leader’
MJF is proud of the evolution AEW founder Tony Khan has made as a boss in recent years.
To promote AEW Double or Nothing 2026, MJF returned to The Ariel Helwani Show for an interview on Tuesday. The conversation opened with MJF discussing the interview Helwani conducted with Khan in November 2025. There had previously been heat between Khan and Helwani, but that appearance marked a turning point where Khan has become more willing to answer questions and engage with outlets that may have been unfavorable to AEW.
“No interview is ever going to be as good when I’m not in the room. But for an interview that didn’t have me in it, it was a good watch,” MJF said about the Helwani-Khan interview. “And I also think it showed the evolution, frankly, of my boss as an interviewee. I think he faces questions head-on. I think that he took all your questions on the chin and answered them in a very professional manner. I think he continues to be incredibly professional, even when bullsh*t is happening around him and lies are being spread. So, yeah, I’m happy for him.”
MJF might be referring to the issues between AEW and TNA there, given that he has called out TNA President Carlos Silva for “lying” after Silva claimed that AEW had tried to come at TNA by airing against Impact and blocking TNA from some venues.
He also could be referencing last week’s report that WWE believes AEW won’t get a new TV deal from Paramount in 2027, which Khan said “could not be further from the truth.”
MJF says Tony Khan has leveled up as a leader —
Like with all interviews he does, MJF largely kept kayfabe while speaking with Helwani, taking most of the credit for the success AEW has had this year. But MJF also offered genuine praise for Khan, saying he’s become one of the best minds in wrestling and an incredible leader.
“Yeah, man,” MJF responded when asked if Khan has evolved as a boss. “The fact of the matter is, look, do I love the guy? No. But I love money. And I also love seeing my company do well, and we’re white hot right now. Now, is that all because of me? There’s an argument to be made there, there’s an argument to be made there. But I also am willing to say that Tony Khan — in case you’re unaware, he’s a billionaire — and for him to be a billionaire and to decide to, with his money and his time, when he could be sticking with the futbol thing or the other football thing that’s in America that’s the type of football that I prefer, and he could just be doing that. But he decided to start a professional wrestling company because he’s so passionate about professional wrestling and he loves professional wrestling.
“And he’s become one of the best minds in wrestling, man. And he’s been a great leader. You can talk all of the sh*t you want about him. Why? I don’t know. Because he gave you an alternative so you wouldn’t only be eating one type of food. You have options now. I don’t know why anybody would be mad about options…
“I think he’s become an incredible leader too, man. He always was, but I just think he is really, really just — as we all do, we level up, we evolve as we age.”
A two-time World Champion, MJF has the chance to reach the summit of AEW again when he challenges Darby Allin at Double or Nothing this Sunday. It’s a hair vs. title match where MJF will be forced to shave his head if he loses.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.