MJF says he will make over $15 million in current AEW contract, addresses John Cena heel turn
Image: AEW
MJF is already teasing another bidding war with his next contract.
In a largely in-character interview to promote this Sunday’s AEW Revolution pay-per-view, the former AEW World Champion did reveal some details of his new contract and future to Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated.
While denying he is getting $15 million per year as Traina said had been reported somewhere, he said the “amount of money I get by the time (the contract) is over far surpasses $15 million,” adding that he is making “top guy money” in either AEW or WWE.
He also addressed fans that are “panicked” they might never see him outside of AEW.
“I am 28. Every single top act besides me is in their late-30’s, late 40’s or early 50’s,” he said, adding “By the time the contract is up, I will be absurdly young and make an absurd amount of money.”
Leading up to 2024, MJF was leaning heavily into a “bidding war of 2024” angle between AEW and WWE that dissipated over time and wasn’t brought up when he returned from a lengthy absence after his December 2023 World title loss to Samoa Joe. It was reported last year that he had signed a long-term, multi-million dollar deal at some point.
He said he does have “an age that’s a definite out, a good age, a solid age” when it comes to being a full-time wrestler. While declining to reveal what that is, he clarified that would mean he wouldn’t be on weekly TV.
“It doesn’t mean I can’t come back to pop a crowd, pop the boys, sell some tickets sell some merch. That, I don’t think, ever goes away if you love this,” he said.
MJF was asked by John Cena’s heel turn at WWE Elimination Chamber and said “it was an awesome moment.” He added that he gets annoyed when wrestlers from either company say they don’t watch what the other is doing or are sheepish on answering, questioning how someone can say they are a student of the game or claim to be the best if they don’t.
“If you ask a WWE star ‘Have you been watching AEW?’ and they say no, one of two things is happening. One: they are lying through their f**king teeth or two: they don’t care enough about this industry to study what’s going on in it,” he said.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.