MJF says WWE is still ‘very much so interested’ in him
According to MJF, WWE still has significant interest in him despite being under contract with AEW.
The AEW World Champion appeared on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet and reflected on the “bidding war of 2024” storyline where it was teased that he could be leaving AEW for WWE. MJF said WWE was very interested in him at the time and still remains interested to this day.
“You know the answer, there was a lot,” MJF responded when asked how interested WWE was in him. “I had some nice calls with some nice folks who are high up on the chain, and they were interested in me. They’re still very much so interested in me. And I understand why. But I am, for all my faults, one thing I am not is unprofessional. If you put a contract in front of me with the right amount of money, I’m going to do this. I’m going to broadcast how important those three letters [AEW] are. Those three letters are just as important as these. Because you’re paying me to say that. Now, do I believe it’s true? You’ll never know. And that’s the beauty of it. No matter what promotion I’m working for, I’m going to shamelessly shill what’s going on. That’s the beauty. Now, can I look in the camera and say, I really do believe everything I’ve said prior to this? Yes, I can. But they’ll never know.”
MJF sung the praises of AEW on Insight, calling it a great alternative that makes gourmet food. He pointed to himself, Hangman Page, Swerve Strickland, Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, Samoa Joe, Darby Allin, and Will Ospreay as AEW stars who are household names.
When MJF first decided to signed with AEW in 2019, he spent two hours on the phone with Tony Khan discussing their love of old-school territory wrestling. Choosing AEW over WWE was a “no-brainer” for MJF at the time.
“I know I would have been successful if I went over there. I know I’d be successful if I go over there now. That’s why they’re still interested in me,” MJF said about WWE. “I respect what they’re doing. I respect their product. I know that they respect our product because they’ve about a million times tried to counter-program us, slash us any way they can, hurt us any way they can, which, by the way, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. That’s smart business. Try to kill me. Try to kill me before I kill you. It’s f***ing smart. I’m not going to take that away from them.
“But I knew I would have a better opportunity and I would be given more of a leash [in AEW]. Now there’s no leash at all because I’m just stupidly over and I just do whatever the hell I want. But I know I’d be given more of a leash based on the way my now-boss was talking about what his vision is for professional wrestling.”
MJF said he’s proud to be part of AEW and, while he doesn’t know what the future will bring, he believes it is where he will stay. He views his job as AEW World Champion as being responsible for driving ticket sales, ratings, and ensuring TV deal renewals.
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.