MJF Not Committed To Re-Signing With AEW, Says WWE Has ‘Extreme Interest’ In Him

AEW and WWE could engage in a huge bidding war for MJF in 2024.

While speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show (h/t F4WOnline), homegrown AEW star MJF said he would not re-sign with AEW until his contract expires less than two years from now “unless the money offered was ‘absolutely astronomical.’”

Widely considered to be one of the best all-around performers and brightest up-and-coming stars in all of pro wrestling, the 26-year-old MJF is a prodigy of sorts inside the square circle, with an in-ring skill set that is well beyond his years and a natural gift of gab that is nearly unprecedented for a star of his age. Although WWE has made a habit out of gutting its roster in recent years, the expected upcoming return of AEW founding father Cody Rhodes could be the start of a seismic shift in pro wrestling free agency and roster development.

Rhodes appears to be the first major ex-AEW talent to jump ship to WWE, and the latter would be absolutely foolish not to make a play for MJF in early 2024. After all, one of the biggest issues plaguing WWE over the past decade-plus has been its inability to consistently churn out new stars. While the likes of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Alexa Bliss and a number of others have remained cornerstones of WWE during that span, WWE has been unable to frequently take young performers in their early-to-mid-20s and turn them into main event stars for much of the past two decades.

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That’s why WrestleMania 38 is going to rely so heavily on part-time stars and celebrities, like Brock Lesnar and Ronda Rousey. And it’s also why MJF is wise to keep his options up and let WWE and AEW go at it in financial combat in an effort to sign him.

Perhaps some of MJF’s past comments about being open to jumping to WWE are his way of playing up his line-blurring heel persona, but there is undoubtedly some truth to them as well. The two highest paid stars in AEW are reportedly Bryan Danielson and CM Punk, and while AEW President Tony Khan didn’t pony up when Rhodes wanted that type of money, MJF is a rare superstar who is essentially in his own category in AEW. He’s probably worth what he thinks he’s worth.

There isn’t, after all, another star who’s all of the above: Great in the ring, has tremendous character work, is an elite talker and is not even close to hitting his prime. Many stars check in both AEW and WWE check three out of those four boxes, but MJF—you could argue—is the only superstar in either company who checks all four.

MJF has also made it clear that he would entertain the idea of crossing the line to WWE, even though there are serious questions—and rightfully so—about how WWE would use him. He also let it be known (h/t Cageside Seats) that WWE has “extreme interest” in signing him when he’s available: ““I didn’t get into this business to hit moves. I got into this business to make money…So that’s why I’m not afraid to talk about when my contract is up, January 1st, 2024. And I’m not afraid to stir that pot. Because it’s a constant reminder of Tony Khan, okay, I need to step my game up. And it’s a constant reminder for WWE, who has extreme interest in me, okay, we’re gonna need to make him a serious offer that he can’t refuse.”

AEW gives MJF the ability to walk the line between the acceptable and the controversial in a way that WWE likely never would, as WWE has watered down a number of acts both in the ring and on the microphone in order for them to “fit” the notorious WWE style. There are pros and cons to that, but someone like MJF would more likely than not have the rug pulled from underneath him in WWE.

Likewise, there are questions about whether WWE would truly back up the Brinks truck for MJF, especially given the way the company has unceremoniously dumped money-making acts like Bray Wyatt in the past due to perceived budget cuts. Of course, WWE makes exceptions for legendary all-time performers, like Lesnar, Edge or The Undertaker, and has paid them handsomely in recent years for limited workloads.

But will MJF, at not even 30, be considered in that same stratosphere in just two years time? That’s nearly impossible to predict.

MJF’s career trajectory up to this point suggests that he is well on his way to becoming a first ballot Hall of Famer and the type of do-it-all performer who fans remember for decades, but he’s reached that level pretty much exclusively in AEW. And as any pro wrestling star who’s worked for WWE can attest to, WWE is a whole different animal, one with tricky waters to navigate and a certain head of creative who has stripped down many acts that once seemed like sure things.

So, while MJF may not be closing the door on WWE just yet, maybe he will come January 2024.