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MJF teased an impending bidding war in 2024 for his services. Now, it appears that he is off the AEW roster.
MJF’s AEW World Title Loss & Disappearance
At Worlds End, MJF lost of the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe. MJF was banged up, after suffering several injuries leading to the event, but he persevered and had the match anyway.
AEW made a notable move by removing MJF from their official roster page on January 1st, 2024. The Salt of the Earth is currently absent from the roster listing.
MJF After AEW Worlds End
In the aftermath of AEW Worlds End, MJF notably abstained from participating in the media scrum. Tony Khan, when questioned about MJF’s AEW contract, skillfully avoided providing any specific details.
It’s worth mentioning that both within AEW and WWE, there is a belief that MJF may have signed a new contract with AEW upon his return before AEW All Out 2022.
Exclusive Insight On MJF’s AEW Contract Situation
It was previously reported that MJF is likely to take time off from AEW. A hiatus was expected following Worlds End, because he has several injuries that mounted up on him. Now, it appears he is totally gone from the roster, which is a must different story from a simple hiatus.
I have spoken to people within WWE, who have confirmed with me that there was no talking with MJF about coming in. The lack of discussions led many to believe that he did re-sign with Tony Khan. Now, this recent development of his removal from the official roster page adds a layer of intrigue.
AEW Worlds End captured audiences’ attention for a few reasons. The closing moments of the pay-per-view saw The Devil reveal himself to be Adam Cole. That was a bit of a surprise, especially for MJF.
Adam Cole Is The Devil
Adam Cole has played a heel before, and he’s quite good at it. Now, the former NXT Champion will get to flex that villain muscle once again.
Adam Cole broke his silence after AEW Worlds End. This was not a prophetic statement, or any long address. He simply dropped a photo of himself during that big reveal at Worlds End, along with a succinct caption.
Adam Cole is still injured, because that surgery situation was a shoot. Still, as the leader of a heel faction, Cole can also get by without taking bumps for a while, which he may need to do so for a long time.
Tony Khan built toward The Devil’s reveal for a very long time. It finally went down at Worlds End. Love it or hate it, Adam Cole will be back on AEW television now, just as MJF starts an expected hiatus from the company.
After months of build, the reveal of the Devil has had the wrestling world talking. Taking to Twitter, Cole shared a snippet from the song ‘pride.is.the.devil. by J. Cole and Lil Baby.
Anthony Bowens has been aligned with MJF and was attacked by The Devil’s henchmen alongside the rest of the Acclaimed recently. The AEW Trios Champion had just two words for Cole and his allies.
Alex Hammerstone recently wrapped up his time with MLW and has teased joining AEW. The former MLW World Champion shared a photo of himself alongside MJF, and others during their time as The Dynasty and asked if MJF needs some help.
There have been some negative reactions to the closing moments of AEW Worlds End, but that hasn’t phased Samoa Joe. The new AEW World Champion made it clear he’s enjoying the ‘salty tears’ of fans.
Damn, ankles gonna swell all these salty tears I’m drinking.
MJF has made no secret about the number of injuries that he has raked up during his career, especially in recent memory. Now, the Salt of the Earth is expected to take some time off.
MJF Taking Time Off
MJF lost the AEW World Title to Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End. That was a hard-fought main event match in Long Island, MJF’s homestead, but he still lost to the Samoa Submission Machine via a chokehold.
After the match, Adam Cole revealed himself to be The Devil. The Kingdom, Roderick Strong, and Wardlow were also unveiled as his associates. That storyline will apparently carry on without MJF as a target, because Our Scumbag is taking time off.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on Fightful Select that many within AEW that he spoke to “immediately following AEW Worlds End said that they expect MJF to be off TV for a while immediately, if not almost immediately.”
MJF had sustained a plethora of injuries during his AEW Title reign, but was adamant that he wanted to see it through. As MJF is often influential in his own creative, there’s always a chance he could insist on an absence not happening, but it’s expected internally.
MJF has not brought up the Bidding War of 2024 in a while, and most believe that it is due to a contract resigning that was not publicly announced. There are also currently no talks between MJF and WWE at this time.
MJF also wants a dual career in Hollywood and pro wrestling. With The Iron Claw’s release, that possibility is certainly out there for the former AEW World Champion.
Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett and Wardlow were revealed as the Devils during AEW Worlds End. Despite MJF’s ongoing angle with that masked faction, it appears that he will be taking some time off.
AEW Worlds End will go down as one of the worst nights in the career of MJF, who lost his AEW World Championship and his best friend in one fell swoop.
For months, MJF has been targeted by somebody in his ‘Devil’ mask, who has been attacking anyone close to the scarf-wearing wrestler. Suspicion had been running rampant within AEW, with several wrestlers and even MJF himself being accused of being behind the attacks.
A New AEW World Champion
With his tag-team partner Adam Cole injured, MJF was until recently in an unlikely team with Samoa Joe. On this week’s Dynamite though, Joe betrayed MJF, who would lose the ROH World Tag Team Championships to two of the Devil’s henchmen. It was revealed on Dynamite that MJF had done ‘business’ with the Devil.
At Worlds End, MJF defended his AEW World Championship against Joe and a title change took place. The finish saw Samoa Joe lock MJF in the Coquina Clutch, and his arm fell three times, resulting in the submission victory and a title change.
Following the match, the Devil’s goons attacked MJF and Cole, who was at ringside for the match to ‘support’ his ‘friend.’ When one of the masked men was about to hit Cole with a chair, the lights went out. When they came back on, CVole was revealed as the Devil.
The masked men were also revealed as Roderick Strong, Wardlow, Mike Bennett, and Matt Taven. The four men beat down MJF and left him out cold to close the show.
All Elite Wrestling’s final pay-per-view of 2023 is in the books, but the show wasn’t short of headlines.
News, rumors, and more flew around the wrestling world just hours leading up to the event and once the main event closed, we were left with more questions than answers.
So, without further ado, here’s what you need to know coming out as AEW closed out their 2023:
Samoa Joe Heads Into 2024 as AEW World Champion
A legitimate injury, nearly everybody in the AEW locker room going after him, and the impending arrival of The Devil, it was very much a MJF vs. the world scenario in the now-former World Champion’s hometown of Long Island, New York. While everyone thought it would be the doing of The Devil that would be the ultimate undoing of MJF’s World Title reign, it was a Coquina Clutch from Samoa Joe that would put MJF out cold and leave referee, Bryce Remsburg with no choice but to call for the bell. Samoa Joe now sits at the top of the mountain in All Elite Wrestling.
Is MJF YOUR scumbag? MJF puts the #AEW World Title on the line against Samoa Joe in the main event of #AEWWorldsEnd.
‘The Devil’ Adam Cole Was Pulling The Strings All Along Against The Puppet Master Himself, MJF
Rewind all the way to the June 14, 2023 edition of AEW Dynamite…MJF and Adam Cole fought to a 30-minute time limit draw with MJF’s AEW World Championship up-for-grabs. Just weeks later, the pair were ‘randomly’ drawn together as teammates in the inaugural ‘Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament,’ a tournament the pair ending up winning, but ended up falling short in their bid for the AEW Tag Team Titles against then-champions, FTR. However, MJF and Adam Cole would gain something more valuable than gold (to some)…friendship. MJF and Cole put their differences to the side and respected one another after such a grueling rivalry. The pair would kick-off AEW’s biggest show in the company’s history ‘All In’ by defeating Aussie Open to become Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions in front of 70,000-plus fans inside of London, England’s historic Wembley Stadium. MJF and Cole would also close out the show with their long-awaited AEW World Title rematch, but this time, MJF would get the better of Cole, and retained his title.
After a string of injuries and health woes, Cole would be in-and-out of competition, leaving MJF to fend for himself and defend the titles by himself, which led to numbers being too much for the Long Island-native to handle, when he dropped the ROH Tag Titles to his newest rival ‘The Devil’s’ masked friends on the December 27 edition of Dynamite. With Samoa Joe lurking in the shadows for a rematch of his own, MJF accepted Joe’s challenge, for a helping hand leading up to tonight’s showdown…something Joe honored until the aforementioned 12/27 Dynamite, where Joe took out MJF following the latter’s title loss.
And on one fateful night in MJF’s hometown of Long Island, New York…his past finally caught up to him as he lost the AEW World Championship…and his best friend, Adam Cole. Following Joe’s victory over MJF, the vaunted masked men surrounded the ring before rushing inside and attacking both men…but the attack stopped and the masked assailants held MJF and Cole face-to-face before the lights would go out…and when they came up, Cole was standing side-by-side with the masked men, all facing MJF. By the time the now-former champion figured out what just happened, it was too late as Wardlow, Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, and Mike Bennett all removed their masks to reveal Cole’s newest creation…which closed out ‘Worlds End’ by taking out Cole’s now-former tag team partner…and The Devil was no longer MJF…but the man playing the strings all along, Adam Cole, Bay Bay.
‘The Mad King’ cemented his place in AEW history. During AEW’s inaugural Continental Classic tournament, Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley did exactly what they do best, brutalize their opponents and a collision course to the finals was exactly what many wanted and predicted. The Heart and Soul of AEW against the Ace of AEW was exactly what the doctor ordered for what was otherwise a somewhat lackluster pay-per-view event. Both Kingston and Moxley came with their best and after violent attack after violent attack, it was the pride and joy of Yonkers, New York who came out on top in front of his home state fans as the first-ever AEW Continental Classic Champion.
Take a look at All Elite Wrestling’s newest title belt, as well as some of the highlights of this brutal encounter, below:
The only person who may be able to handle these blows from Eddie Kingston is Jon Moxley.
In-ring wise, the best match on the card was Christian Cage’s (technically) unsuccessful TNT Championship defense against longtime friend and rival, Adam Copeland. After a beautifully violent 20-plus minute encounter, Copeland planted Cage’s protege, Nick Wayne through a table engulfed in flames before delivering a Killswitch of his own to Cage to secure the 1-2-3. Just moments after his victory, Copeland was celebrating with his first title in AEW, however, Cage’s sidekick and former TNT Champion, Killswitch (FKA Luchasaurus) attacked Copeland before getting ready to cash-in his TNT Title opportunity that he earned by outlasting 19 other competitors during the show’s ‘Zero Hour’ battle royale affair.
However, Cage would return to the ring and somehow convince Killswitch to hand him over the contract, which the then-former champion would sign and hand over to senior referee, Paul Turner. The bell would ring before Cage did what Copeland did to him…finish him off with his own signature move, the spear. The devastating spear would garner the three-count for Cage, and in doing so, make him a two-time TNT Champion, and now becoming the TRUE Ultimate Opportunist.
Miro Sends Andrade el Idolo Packing While Redeeming His Ultimate Prize
With rumors swirling that Andrade el Idolo would be departing AEW following tonight’s pay-per-view, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that Miro would have his hand raised following the pair’s match. While that was exactly the case, it was far more competitive than many previously thought after the news of Andrade’s impending departure came about, and while securing the 1-2-3 was the goal of the match, Miro gained something far, far more valuable…his wife CJ Perry, who assisted ‘The Redeemer’ and was reunited with her husband at long…long last.
As previously mentioned, many rumors and news surrounded tonight’s show. Throughout the first handful of matches, the damper of the earlier day’s news sure casted a dark cloud over AEW’s final pay-per-view offering of 2023, however the classic TNT Championship match between Christian Cage and Adam Copeland began a hot streak for the night as Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley’s Continental Classic Final before the ultimate reveal of Adam Cole as The Devil lea
ding to Samoa Joe’s World Championship victory over MJF closed out the night on a high note.
Who will Samoa Joe set his sights on for his first title defense? Will Adam Cole have answers for MJF after months and months of manipulation? Will MJF even be with AEW in 2024? We have a TON of loose ends to tie up as All Elite Wrestling opens up to a new chapter, starting this Wednesday night on Dynamite.
AEW begins their 2024 when the company returns to your screens this coming Wednesday, January, 3, when Dynamite takes place from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
All Elite Wrestling will be back on pay-per-view on Sunday, March 3, 2024 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. The show will feature the legendary Sting’s final match against a yet to be announced opponent.
MJF has a big weekend ahead of him and he knows it. The AEW World Champion will be defending his “Triple B” against Samoa Joe in the main event at World’s End, which so happens to be in MJF’s backyard of Uniondale, NY at the Nassau Colliseum.
In a new self-written article on the Player’s Tribune, MJF had a lot to reflect on and noted that he’s been with AEW since the company started in 2019.
January marks the five-year anniversary of AEW’s launch and in the feature, MJF credits Cody Rhodes for bringing him in and Tony Khan for signing him to a contract.
MJF leans into the notion that he’s becoming a free agent on January 1, but an educated guess would lead many to believe that he’s already signed a new deal with AEW. Either way, MJF closed out the piece by noting how big World’s End means to him, especially one aspect of the bout.
“Right now, though, as I’m writing this? It’s Wednesday morning. It’s three days before Worlds End. It’s five days from five years of MJF in AEW. I don’t know what comes next. Here’s what I do know. Wrestling in the main event of a card at Nassau Coliseum as AEW world champ? That sh*t means everything to me. Really. EVERYTHING.”
Another solid indication that MJF is not leaving AEW is the simple fact that he’s the World Champ and involved in the major over-arching storyline that involves him and the mysterious identity of “The Devil.” AEW colleague Ric Flair believes MJF should stay with AEW, stating he could be the next Randy Orton.
Posted December 29th, 2023 in AEW, News. Tagged: MJF.
MJF is one of AEW’s biggest breakout stars at this point, and that’s impossible to deny. He has gone by a few nicknames throughout his career so far, but one moniker he didn’t think would come so soon was that of a babyface.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman broke into the scene as AEW’s most ruthless heel. He captured mainstream attention by giving the middle finger and throwing an alcoholic drink on children, not one to garner cheers. Now, as we wrap up 2023, he’s changed his ways and fans have fully embraced him as a hero.
Following his recent induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, ‘Our Scumbag’ spoke with SEScoops correspondent The Solomonster Jason Solomon about this evolution. The ‘Salt of the Earth’ admitted that he resisted that change a bit, because he was afraid of rejection from fans.
“[I get] the loudest reaction every single week is when my music hits. That’s a fact. A lot of people like to talk about feelings. That’s a fact. How did that happen? I think anybody can relate to my story. The reason I was afraid is because I was afraid of rejection. And it’s a lot easier walking through that curtain not caring how people think about you than it is walking through that curtain and it’s your job to care.
Now, it’s my job to make sure that everybody in that arena cares about me. It’s my job to make sure that everybody in that arena feels represented by me and I take that job very seriously. Is it fun? No. Not really, but I feel like put my own twist on it and I’ve been able to be myself unapologetically. I think the fans love me for that. I’m their scumbag.
I’m not your ‘Wheaties-eating, run-of-the-mill, blue-eyed baby face.’ I’m your friend in your friend group that deep down, you love, but God am I problematic. But we put up with it because I’m funny, you know?”
When Does MJF’s AEW contract expire?
MJF has been touting the Bidding War of 2024 for years now. As the wrestling war between AEW and WWE heats up, Friedman has boasted about his plan to play the two companies off each other in hopes of securing ‘life changing’ money from whoever he works for next.
It’s been speculated that MJF signed a contract extension prior to All Out 2022, but the AEW World Champion denies that he-signed with AEW.
MJF started sharing his real story, one that included everything he had to go through as a child. That journey to the top of pro wrestling wasn’t always the easiest path for MJF, but he made it through everything in his way to reach AEW.
Now, as AEW World Champion, MJF is a babyface character, but it didn’t come without trepidation. After all, it’s much simpler to get someone to hate you than it is to get them to cheer whenever your music hits. In some strange way, MJF was able to accomplish both.
MJF is set to defend the AEW World Title against Samoa Joe at Worlds End on December 30th. Considering the fact that MJF is going into that match hurt, we have to wonder how much longer he will sit on top of Tony Khan’s company.
Posted December 28th, 2023 in AEW, News. Tagged: MJF.
Friedman played the role of the fake Von Erich cousin, “Lance Von Erich,” but you only just saw his face briefly in a tag match with Zac Efron, who was Kevin Von Erich in the film.
Wrestling fans were shocked that so little was used of MJF, but speaking with
ComicBook.com, the champ kept a good perspective on it, primarily hoping for the film to be successful.
“I want this film to succeed, and the film needed to be about the brothers. As fun as I had shooting that scene, realistically, it didn’t add to the overarching story and the importance of the story between the brothers and what they were going through in dealing with the pressures that their father put on them. It didn’t fit in the pieces of the puzzle.”
MJF actually was an executive producer on the production as “The Iron Claw” released everywhere on December 22. There were several other wrestlers involved in the film. Ryan Nemeth of AEW actually played Gino Hernandez while Chavo Guerrero Jr. portrayed The Original Sheik. Other popular independent names like Will Allday, Luke Hawx and even Shane Taylor helped do stunts for the film.
According to Dave Meltzer, “The Iron Claw” is estimated to make $5.06 million the first weekend at the box office, and was estimated to finish at $7.5 million after Christmas evening. Overall for theaters nationwide, the movie came in sixth place overall with the breadwinner being Aquaman.
From a ratings standpoint, “Iron Claw” got 87% positive reviews and an audience score of 93% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Everyone knows what that means. Whether it’s sitting across the desk from an obnoxious salesperson for hours on end trying to buy a car, negotiating a new salary at work, or hammering out expectations in an “eat this and you can get that,” battle of wits with your children, it’s the pesky details that get in the way of a smooth operation.
AEW knows this better than anyone right now. The Devil storyline that has been a regular episodic feature of AEW programming for the better part of three months is still running rampant and seemingly will come to a head at the company’s upcoming World’s End PPV event on December 30. The details in this devil story, well, they’re as pesky as ever and it’s imperative AEW pay attention to them in order to put a bow on their biggest story of the year.
The Mystery of The Devil
This is the situation. A rogue star with an inside track on the happenings in AEW has commandeered MJF’s devil mask and has been threatening and physically harming various members of the AEW roster with a gang of masked thugs.
The Devil was the alter ego of MJF and he famously appeared wearing the mask when he made his return to AEW at All Out in 2022 after a summer vacation hiatus. MJF went full “devil” that night, dressing up as the villain, but also walking out to a specialty entrance song, Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones. The presentation got him cheered in Chicago opposite CM Punk, who had just won the AEW World Championship.
The AEW Devil and his masked assailants have left a who’s who of top AEW talent dropped and hurt including former number one contender to the AEW World Championship, Jay White, former champion Adam Page, The Acclaimed, and presumably MJF in a vicious backstage assault — one that nobody saw.
So, the mystery at hand here is, just who the heck is The Devil and what the heck do they want? The conspiracy theories are out there among fans and media. Hidden clues have populated discussion around AEW programming and within AEW programming itself. Even AEW stars have made public comments that allude to involvement with the angle.
The Devil story in AEW is the biggest of the year and the most important long term arc they’ve attempted in their four years on national television. With the finish line in sight, they have to get it right and it means shoring up the devil’s details in the story.
Who is The Devil?
There are names that make sense as the AEW Devil and potential names that make you want to bash your head into a door. Let’s start with the good ones.
Adam Cole is guilty party A. Cole and MJF had a budding friendship prior to The Devil making an appearance and he only did once Cole was sidelined with a serious ankle injury. Or, was it a fake injury? Cole and MJF are friends, but have done battle on two different occasions for MJF’s AEW World Championship. The two wrestled to a time limit draw on AEW Dynamite and MJF defeated Cole at AEW All In late in August.
Cole failed twice to secure the world championship from MJF. Is that a good enough reason to stalk your best friend and turn on the entire company? Maybe it is. Cole as The Devil is the least sexy choice of everyone possible, but is the most logical given the history he has with MJF and the fact that the devil has centered his attention him.
Guilty party B? Kyle O’Reilly. O’Reilly has been away from AEW for months nursing an injury, but reports indicate he’s potentially ready to rejoin the company soon. What a better way to make an impact upon returning than to forcibly threaten your way back in as a masked maniac? O’Reilly has history with Adam Cole, which makes him a viable candidate. Cole would stay an MJF ally in this scenario, but O’Reilly would feel betrayed by his former best friend and want to take out the man who stole him away.
Could it be Britt Baker? Sure it could. Baker has obvious ties to Adam Cole as his better half and she’s posted scud missiles on social media that rail on the company for neutralizing her talents. A bit of a longer shot with her, but it makes sense.
Cole, O’Reilly, and Baker all work as the identity of the devil, but there are details that don’t add up around each of them.
If it’s Adam Cole, why would he attack Jay White? White was an MJF opponent at the Full Gear PPV. If Cole wanted to get to MJF, he wouldn’t help him out by attacking his opponent would he?
As for Kyle O’Reilly, the devil’s detail is more of a gargantuan issue and that is he simply just isn’t a big enough star in AEW to be the reveal of such a major storyline. The reveal has to be a home run and O’Reilly isn’t that at this point.
Baker checks the star box and the logic box as being a devil character that just wants to watch AEW burn. The missing detail with her is the payoff. Because of being terrorized by The Devil like he has, MJF has vowed revenge in the form of violence. AEW isn’t going to run with Baker vs. MJF. If not, what’s the point? The business of this angle is a match between MJF and whoever the devil is. It’s immediately off the table if Baker is revealed in the end.
Other theories about AEW’s Devil
Who are some bad choices, but options that AEW potentially has on the table? Well, Jack Perry comes to mind. Perry was suspended because of a backstage incident with CM Punk at All In and hasn’t been seen on AEW TV since. A return as the AEW Devil would immediately put him into the top tier of AEW, but he’s not ready for that. His character isn’t either. Bottom line? Nobody would buy it.
Dolph Ziggler? A long shot, but it has to be put out there. AEW loves nothing more than overhyping sub-par talent acquisitions and this would certainly fall in that bucket. Ziggler becomes a free agent as of Thursday December 21 after being released from WWE earlier this year.
The worst of the bad choices is MJF himself. Yeah, it could be ‘ol MJF just up to his mean tricks again and he was the one that set everything up, attacked everyone, and made it all look like it wasn’t him. He’d certainly be a heel if that was the reveal, but it would be a nauseating one. AEW cooled off it’s biggest star with a babyface turn this summer and the smart play isn’t to turn him back until he’s hot again — if ever. Too much effort has been put into MJF working as a babyface and this would derail all that effort. Plus, what, MJF took himself out backstage? He recorded promo videos on his own to interrupt his own promos in the ring? It’s just too much and too cute to believe.
It was the devil, in the parking lot, with the pipe
Now, mysteries in wrestling are always fun because of the clues at hand. They are there to analyze with The Devil story as well with more pouring in week after week, day after day, and show after show. How about this one?
Last week on AEW Dynamite, The Devil appeared from a car as his henchmen attacked Adam Page. With one nod he demanded that they put Page through the windshield of a car. Sound familiar? It should. Jack Perry is synonymous with car wind shields for better or worse — it was a spot on a car during his match with Hook at All In that sparked the backstage incident with CM Punk and his indefinite suspension from the company. Coincidence?
How about
this one? A giant devil henchman has been spotted by fans throughout the last month and some hat hair possibly gave the surprise away. In one segment, the giant man threatened in the ring with a mask on and in the next segment Wardlow appeared with messy hair that could only come from wearing a mask and pulling it off fast perhaps? Coincidence?
More nuggets and clues are sure to drop prior to the reveal, but the reality is AEW is juggling a lot with this angle. The details will either make this a memorable moment and story for the company or a giant eye roll for a company that consistently is weak at telling week to week stories on their episodic television show.
Regardless of whoever the devil ends up being, the reveal has to tie the loose ends and teases together so that everything that has happened to this point makes sense. Did The Devil have a reason to attack heel and babyface talent? Did The Devil have enough of a connection to MJF to make the stalking of him believable? Same thing with Samoa Joe. Joe is the challenger to MJF’s world title at World’s End, but is in the mix with The Devil now because of his relationship with MJF. AEW has to make those details blend together with logic.
Final Dynamite before AEW World’s End
Next week on AEW Dynamite, Joe and MJF will team up to take on some of The Devil’s henchmen in a tag team match for the ROH World Tag Team Championship. The match was made official on this week’s Dynamite after Joe and MJF destroyed a large contingent of devil supporters in black outfits. Will there be more clues dropped next week? Likely.
The bottom line with this is angle is that AEW has to hit on it. Not only has the company driven some fan interest with the mystery, but a hot story is a smart way to enter the new year with some momentum. Plus, the company hasn’t proven it cares to or can effectively execute week to week stories that engage an audience to watch the show. Hitting here with The Devil would alleviate that criticism.
To hit, AEW has to have key answers to major questions. Does the reveal make sense? Can it connect back to the history of the story? Is the revealed devil a big enough star to command the time the story has gotten and the interest its generated?
The devil is in the details, remember? It’s imperative AEW gets these right.
MJF took over the pro wrestling scene since AEW broke barriers in 2019, proving that the landscape can handle more than one mainstream company. Now, as the Bidding War of 2024 is still allegedly looming, MJF has a bright future ahead of him.
MJF’s Transition into Hollywood
The 27-year-old AEW World Champion is also featured as Lance Von Erich in The Iron Claw film. He was credited as executive producer on the film as well.
During an interview with Comicbook, MJF outlined his future aspirations in acting. He expressed his belief that in five years, he envisions being a familiar face in television and film.
MJF also stated that his desire is to balance both professional wrestling and acting as full-time pursuits simultaneously. Additionally, he mentioned his goal of releasing a music album in the future.
“I genuinely think in five years from now, I’m going to be a guy that people see regularly on their TV screen outside of the professional wrestling landscape.”
“Trust me, I love wrestling too much to not still be involved in it. I will most likely still be full-time, but I want to be acting full-time as well by then. I would also like to put out an album by then. I would like to be a well distinguished actor that is recognized as being a great actor that transitioned from wrestling like these greats that did it before me. Like Dwayne [The Rock], like Batista. Like Cena.”
MJF claimed that he has not inked a new deal with AEW. His current contract was said to be up in 2024. This led to many promos that hinted about the possibility of MJF seeking employment elsewhere.
Those in WWE I have spoken with believe that MJF actually inked a new deal with AEW prior to his 2022 return. That would mean his deal is not really up in 2024 as he previously stated.
The world seems open for MJF as he keeps going. He is also 1/2 of the ROH Tag Team Titles. The Salt of the Earth will team with Samoa Joe to defend those titles against The Devil’s minions on AEW Dynamite this week.
MJF could have a career as impactful as Randy Orton if two-time WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair is to be believed.
Speaking in a recent interview with The Wrestling Classic, Flair praised the efforts of MJF and compared the AEW World Champion to WWE’s Apex Predator.
“He’s got a great interview, he’s got a great look, he’s worked hard. I think he has the confidence in real life that he portrays on TV and I think the future is unlimited for him. He’s really good. He could be the next Randy Orton. That’s about as high of praise as I can give him.”
Flair also recalled meeting MJF and sharing his positive take on the young wrestler face-to-face, not that the AEW World Champion needed to hear it.
“He’s pretty confident in himself. He doesn’t need a pat on the back and that’s what makes him a little bit different.”
MJF’s next high-profile match will take place this week on AEW Dynamite. During the New Year’s Smash show, MJF and unlikely ally Samoa Joe will defend MJF & Adam Cole’s ROH World Tag Team Championships against two of the Devil’s minions. MJF and Joe will face off at AEW Worlds End with MJF’s AEW World Championship on the line. Current betting odds from Bet Online state that MJF is the favorite to retain in his native Long Island, New York.
The Iron Claw finally arrived after decades of pro wrestling fans proclaiming that the Von Erich Family’s incredible story deserves their own feature film. Now, we are getting the numbers after the film’s first few days in the theaters.
The Iron Claw Opening Weekend Box Office
The Iron Claw dropped on December 22nd, but their opening weekend box office did not deliver as many expected. The R-Rated film also received a ton of promotion, with trailers playing during commercial breaks for weeks.
According to Dave Meltzer’s update on FW Daily Update, The Iron Claw is estimated to bring in $5.06 million in 2,774 theaters in week one. That number equals out to around $1,824 per screen.
About The Iron Claw
The Iron Claw tells the story of the Von Erich brothers in the fiercely competitive world of professional wrestling during the early 1980s. Amidst moments of tragedy and triumph, the brothers strive for larger-than-life recognition on the grand stage of pro wrestling. All the while, they must navigate the influence of their authoritative father and coach.
MJF was an executive producer on The Iron Claw, and he also played Lance Von Erich in the film. He didn’t have a ton of screen time, which some fans commented on as well.
The Iron Claw’s Competition
According to The Numbers, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom brought in $28,100,000 and Wonka earned $17,700,000. Also, Migration brought in younger fans as well, with $12,310,000.
The Iron Claw isn’t finished making money yet. There is still streaming and DVD release market after its theatrical run. Still, it didn’t pull in a ton of money in its opening weekend.
MJF was recently honored with an induction into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. SEScoops correspondent Jason Solomon was on hand and spoke with the reigning AEW World Champion.
During their interview, MJF addressed his transition to a babyface persona, admitting he initially hesitated to embrace the transformation due to concerns about rejection from the audience. The Solomonster brought up Tony Khan’s labeling AEW as a “challenger brand” (to WWE) which opened up the idea of so many wrestling fans rooting against AEW online.
MJF has seen a lot of the negativity levied at AEW on social media. AEW has been required to chart a unique path in the wrestling landscape, and MJF sees some similarities to his Jewish faith.
Why do some fans hate AEW?
“Yeah, well, here’s why. I’m actually going to relate this to Judaism, because I’m very good at my job. When you think about why people hate us and why we constantly get attacked, it’s because we’re different and being different makes people uncomfortable.
I genuinely feel the reason that a lot of the time you’ll find a lot of.. and don’t get me wrong, there was most certainly constructive criticism online, genuinely.. but you’ll find a lot of non-constructive criticism online. Just wild irredeemably messed up sh*t that people are saying that is either untrue Or just mean, you know? And I think the reason that’s happening is Monday Night Raw is the longest reigning episodic television show of all time. We have only been around for what, four and a half years? That’s new, that’s different, and what’s different.. different scares people.
So I actually do agree for once with Tony Khan’s assessment [AEW being the ‘challenger brand’ to WWE] and I think that’s the issue. I think the issue is that we’re fresh. We’re new. We feel dangerous to people – and I kind of get off on that, because I get to be the World Champion of that danger and that change, just like I get to be a champion of the Jewish people.”
AEW has a legion of die-hard fans who will defend the company’s decisions, but a vocal portion of the fan base does not make it easy for Tony Khan’s company to thrive in this setting. No matter how the fans feel, MJF appears to be in AEW’s corner 100% as their longest-reigning champion with the most title defenses under his belt as well.
MJF on Meeting John Cena
The Solomonster also asked MJF about his recent meeting with John Cena earlier this month at the movie premiere for The Iron Claw.
MJF has had bad things to say about virtually everybody, but not John Cena. MJF told Cena to his face that he’s an inspiration and raved about Cena’s work ethic to people everywhere:
Currently, as AEW World Champion title, MJF has transitioned into a babyface character, a shift not without its concerns. He is a complex character, but he is also not one to give up when he hits an obstacle in his way.
MJF is currently scheduled to defend the AEW World Title against Samoa Joe at Worlds End on December 30th. This is a tricky situation, because MJF will enter the match with a nagging injury. Either way, he is going to fulfill is obligations with Tony Khan’s company.
Posted December 20th, 2023 in AEW, News. Tagged: MJF.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) received a huge honor on Monday as he was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. SEScoops correspondent Jason ‘The Solomonster’ Solomon was on hand for the ceremony and conducted an exclusive interview with the AEW World Champion.
MJF spoke about what it was like to meet Cena, what sets the 16-time world champion apart from everybody else and Cena’s advice for him.
“He is a tremendous role model. Not just for me as a professional wrestler, but for everybody around the world, because he teaches you how important hard work is.” – MJF on John Cena
“You’re an Inspiration”
The ‘Salt of the Earth’ said it meant the world to him that John Cena approached him at the event and paid him a compliment he’ll never forget.
“I don’t think it’s unprofessional for me to discuss what we talked about. He didn’t have to do this, and it meant the world to me. [John Cena] walked over to me, and he said he’s a fan of my work, and he respected my professionalism.
MJF had another chance to talk with John Cena when they were spotted together on the red carpet. MJF reveals he told John Cena that he’s an inspiration and says Cena’s work ethic puts him lightyears ahead so many people in wrestling who ‘phone it in’ and don’t go the extra 10 miles that Cena goes.
“Once we were on the red carpet, we talked some more and I told him straight up, I said, ‘You’re an inspiration’ because he is, you know?
There are a lot of people in my industry who phone it in. I cannot recall one time in the over a decade of John Cena’s career where he phoned it in even once. He’s incapable, just like I’m incapable.
He is a tremendous role model. Not just for me as a professional wrestler, but for everybody around the world, because he teaches you how important hard work is.”
Cena was one of MJF’s wrestling heroes growing up, along with CM Punk. “… and for crying out loud, my two guys, I make no bones about it, everybody knows that one of my guys was CM Punk, but my other guy was John Cena. As I got older, it became Punk, you know, because I was trying to rebel a little bit, you know, I had a John Cena Fathead on my bedroom wall. You know, it’s John Cena!
We also discussed transitioning from pro wrestling to acting. He’s just an incredible person and I don’t have one negative thing to say about him.”
What’s Next For MJF?
MJF recently confirmed that he has not signed a new deal with AEW. He also believes that WWE wouldn’t put him in a corner, or prohibit his creativity. The Bidding War of 2024 could still be on, and someone like John Cena may be able to help grease the wheels in a big way.
Although original plans for MJF in “The Iron Claw” were initially cut, that film still gave him a great platform. He is also listed as an Executive Producer on the film, thanks to the contributions he made.
Without “The Iron Claw” film, fans wouldn’t have seen that meeting between MJF and John Cena. It’s anyone’s guess if that meeting will just be the first of many down the line.
MJF is one of the most charismatic people in the pro wrestling business, and he’s been on WWE’s radar for a while. That doesn’t mean he’s jumping ship from AEW any time soon. Despite MJF’s recent claims, there is a belief within WWE that he is working the pro wrestling community regarding his contract status.
Earlier today, AEW World Champion MJF participated in The SI Media Podcast and responded to a report about his contract status. He claimed that no new deal has been signed at this time.
Report Contradicting MJF’s Claim
A new report has confirmed our previous reporting that MJF has not engaged in discussions with WWE. Additionally, WWE internally holds the belief that Maxwell Jacob Friedman quietly renewed his contract with AEW some time ago.
Haus of Wrestling is now reporting that “One higher-up WWE source responded simply with ‘storyline.'” The report elaborated to say that word within the company is that MJF inked a new deal with AEW before he even returned to the company after his 2022 hiatus.
Another higher-up source at WWE reiterated that they heard Friedman had re-signed last year and believe it happened before his return at AEW All Out 2022 as The Devil. They went on to say that Friedman is “locked in” and got a huge deal when he re-negotiated his contract with Tony Khan last year.
There are many reasons why MJF might not deluge his actual contract status with Tony Khan’s company. With his contract supposedly running up in 2024, along with AEW’s television rights, one has to assume that AEW wouldn’t want to hide the fact that they locked down their World Champion for years to come.
SE Scoops’ Previous Reporting
This falls in line to what I have been told, and previously reported. There is no talk about the Great Bidding War of 2024 anymore for a reason. The internal belief within WWE is that a new deal between Tony Khan and MJF was signed a long time ago.
It’s uncertain why MJF would work his contract situation, but that is his story right now. We will have to see if his contract status creeps its way back into AEW’s storyline sometime next year.
AEW World Champion MJF recently confirmed that he hasn’t inked a new deal with AEW.
‘The Salt of The Earth’ has been quite candid about his contract status and heavily spoke about the “bidding war of 2024.” He is set to become a free agent on January 1st, 2024. He hasn’t mentioned the Bidding War of 2024 in a while, and fans have wondered about his future.
There have been rumors that MJF signed a new AEW deal that will keep him around for years. However, while speaking with SI Media, MJF said that fans leak things that they want to be true and gave examples of rumors about Cody Rhodes re-signing with AEW and CM Punk having a cordial relationship with Tony Khan, which weren’t true. He said that after AEW Worlds End pay-per-view later this month, he’ll assess his contract situation. He said:
“When stuff like that gets leaked out it makes me laugh because I remember something like Cody having secretly re-signed, then he showed up (in WWE). Something got leaked out about CM Punk or Tony Khan…I think fans leak out things that they want to be true. I love AEW, I wanna stay in AEW. for professional setting.”
When asked if he re-signed with AEW, MJF said:
“Not yet”
MJF could join WWE
Cody Rhodes transitioned from AEW to WWE last year and many believed that several other stars would follow the suit. Soon, Jade Cargill also made a similar move this year and fans are still waiting for her official in-ring debut. It seems we can’t rule out MJF joining WWE. Even ‘The American Nightmare’ believes the same.
The AEW World Champion has teased signing with WWE from time to time. However, these teases have stopped since he turned babyface.
In the past, MJF had a tryout for WWE as part of 2011’s Tough Enough. He also appeared as a security guard during a segment with Samoa Joe, which has been referenced several times.
We will now have to wait and see what the future holds for MJF.
Posted December 19th, 2023 in AEW, News. Tagged: MJF.
AEW World Champion MJF doesn’t believe that his persona could be watered-down in WWE, despite the PG nature of the Stamford promotion.
MJF has often teased leaving AEW for WWE, though these references on TV have dried up with Friedman’s face turn. Speaking on the SI Media podcast, MJF was asked about whether he feels his character would be toned down in the event of a WWE move.
“I just don’t know how the f*** you put a leash on me. And I swear to God that’s my honest opinion… I don’t know, I don’t think anybody can hold me back from being the monster that I am. I think my career trajectory in any company is going to be exactly the same.
“Do I think in some aspects AEW fits me more like a glove than anywhere else? Yeah, I do. Could an argument be made the other way around? Yeah, sure. These are all things that I have to think about. But I do know whatever company I pick, it will be because it feels right and it means the most to me.
WWE has reportedly had its eye on MJF for some time, in addition to other AEW talent. Cody Rhodes recently said that he predicts MJF will join WWE one day, but stopped short of saying what day he believes that will be. In the interview, MJF wasn’t surprised that those in WWE are showing great interest in him.
“It’s normal. Of course, you want MJF in your company. Who the f*** wouldn’t want me in their company? I’m the best thing going today. I’m the AEW World Champion. Nobody dresses like me. Nobody talks like me. Nobody looks like me. Nobody walks like me and nobody wrestles like me.
“I take it as a compliment and I think the AEW fans should take it as a compliment too. Because that means that their World Champion, the face of their company, is a hot commodity.”
Whatever the future holds, MJF’s next title defense will come at AEW Worlds End next week against Samoa Joe. The show will take place on December 30, from the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
MJF was recently inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Click here to find out more.
For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.
Posted December 19th, 2023 in AEW, News, WWE. Tagged: MJF.
AEW World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman is a Hall of Famer at just 27 years old. On Monday, Dec. 18, the wrestling champion best known as MJF was inducted into The National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, in Commack, New York at the Suffolk Y JCC.
MJF’s Induction Speech for the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
When accepting his induction, MJF spoke about his pride in his religion and the significance of being honored by the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He encouraged children to chase after their dreams no matter what and to never listen to people who doubt them.
“I’m so proud to be a Jew. Growing up, there was not a lot of people to look up to, as far as it went to the professional wrestling landscape,” said MJF.
He added that he did look up to the likes of Paul Heyman and Goldberg, who are also Jewish. However, he joked that Heyman wasn’t an athlete and the former WCW World Heavyweight Champion never discussed being Jewish on TV and just made “Growling noises.”
He added, “…So it’s really important to me that there’s going to be a crop of kids that are going to have somebody that they get to look up to.”
Friedman joins his family member in the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, NFL player Benny Friedman.
MJF Year In Wrestling
It has been a memorable year for MJF, as he has held the AEW World Championship throughout 2023. He won the title by defeating Jon Moxley at AEW Full Gear on November 19, 2022. While fans weren’t sure what to expect from him as a champion, MJF has had one of the best reigns in the company’s history.
He’s successfully defended the title in high-profile matches against Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, and Kenny Omega. The AEW World Champion also had the honor of main eventing the company’s biggest event, AEW All In, on August 27 in a sold-out crowd in Wembley Stadium in London, England.
MJF defends the AEW World Championship against Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End on December 30 from Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum.
The latest achievement of getting inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall Of Fame is another great highlight for MJF this year.
Posted December 18th, 2023 in AEW, News. Tagged: MJF.
If you have a brother or a sister you’re close to, get ready to text them after you see “The Iron Claw.” I was fortunate enough to have mine sitting right beside me to catch an advance screening of the film, and both of us being ardent wrestling fans, it hit several different notes.
The looming tragedy of the Von Erich’s is immediately set in the first scene of the film with Holt McCallany as Fritz Von Erich, battling in “Raging Bull” black and white, showing the raw brutality that pro wrestling fanatics of yesteryear yearned for. The punishment wrestlers put on their bodies is a lingering backdrop to the sad story that’s on tap. Director Sean Durkin does a beautiful job at making it a visual necessity, giving the viewers the feeling that they’re the ones taking the elbows and backdrops. The cinematography is foreboding and immersive throughout the majority of the film.
Dominic DeAngelo of SEScoops is joined by his wrestling podcast brother, Marcus DeAngelo, to give their advanced (spoiler-free) review of “The Iron Claw” – including if it hits with wrestling fans, if it hits with the non-wrestling fans, the standout performances and what was missing.
The Acting ‘Does The Work’ In “Iron Claw”
From a performance standpoint, there isn’t a weak link in “The Iron Claw.” McCallany (from “Mindhunters” the amazing short-lived FX boxing series “Lights Out”) is prideful, blunt and frustratingly cold as patriarch Fritz. Zac Efron will surprise people with the range he shows playing the title role of Kevin Von Erich, bringing a caring naivety to a person who ultimately endures so much. Jeremy Allen White delivers as Kerry, so much that it feels like he doesn’t get enough screen time. However, the low-key stars of the Von Erich brothers are the portrayals of David and Mike.
Harris Dickinson gives the role of David his just due, the Von Erich brother who really defined the familial identity that so many World Class fans were drawn to. He’s positioned in a supporting role, but his efforts are imperative to displaying the loving kinship the brothers have with one another, making his passing all the more devastating.
Stanley Simons is spot-on at portraying the unnecessary loss that became Mike Von Erich. Due to his lack of desire to wrestle, Mike was a lighting rod for the cruelty of Fritz. Simons is excellent as the funny, sweet son who could have been an invaluable asset to the family’s success without ever having to step inside the ring. He, for many reasons, defines the tragedy as a whole.
Familiar Faces & Heels
When it comes to the wrestler cameos, they are there, but they don’t necessarily stand out to the un “mark”-ed eye. Ryan Nemeth has brief dialogue as Gino Hernandez and you see Chavo Guerrero Jr. working smoothly against Efron as The Original Sheik. “Iron Claw” executive producer MJF gets just a sip rather than a full “cup of coffee” as Lance Von Erich. The fake family cousin has literally a second of screen time (but the AEW Champ does makes the most of that).
Two legends do get their promo time in the film. We have a full monologue from Ric Flair, portrayed by Aaron Dean Eisenberg. His mannerisms, cadence and body type are pretty accurate to that of The Nature Boy’s and it’s likely the closest you can get without grabbing a time machine. It’s hard to nail Ric Flair without actually having Ric Flair.
The other talent to get a spotlight was Harley Race and it’s with good reason. Kevin Anton nails it as “The Greatest on God’s Green Earth.” Fans will also enjoy seeing the Fabulous Freebirds get their screen time, but may also come away not being fully satisfied considering how big that rivalry was for WCCW. The late Jerry Jarrett gets a hat-tip with a portrayal near the end of the film.
Music Puts You In A “Stranglehold”
Music in “The Iron Claw” is, quite simply, great. You want those 1979 vibes? The film delivers and Von Erich fans will absolutely eat up the “Tom Sawyer”-fueled montage mid-film (I know I did). It should be a sought-after playlist on Spotify. Coinciding with this vibe, is the film’s first showing of Allen White as Kerry. In true pro wrestling fashion, Durkin makes you wait in anticipation for your first sight of the late great Texas Tornado.
Significant Differences From The Full Story Down In Denton, TX
From a historically accurate standpoint, “The Iron Claw” takes its fair share liberties; primarily its biggest one is not including the youngest brother, Chris Von Erich, at all in the film. Like Kerry and Mike, the smaller Chris also committed suicide in 1991 after not being able to compete in the ring due to health issues.
In addition to that glaring omission, timelines are shifted and occurrences are substituted in an effort to streamline the story for the masses. Fans super in tune with the Von Erich history may come away frustrated, but local Pittsburgh wrestler, Shawn Blanchard, a WCCW diehard, didn’t let that deter his overall enjoyment of the film. In turn, fellow wrestling journalist Tom Letergy noted it may be difficult for the regular movie goer to keep track of all the “who, where, and when” (Note: We were watching it on a Dolby surround screen and the bottom part of the film was cut off, so there could have been significant notations us viewers didn’t see.)
While it’s touched upon, the wild lifestyle of all the Von Erich brothers was mostly burdened onto Kerry in an effort to show his own unraveling. Like Kerry, Kevin also had the tendency to get crazy and miss shows. More of an effort could have been made to embrace the fun (yet ultimately destructive) side of the business that the brothers were known for, simply to give viewers a break from all that heartache.
Family Comes First In “The Iron Claw”
As expected, the overall story of the film is drastically sobering. That’s all the more accentuated if you grew up in a family of siblings, have experienced loss, or are concerned with losing someone. There were several moments where I wanted to turn to my own brother and tell him how much I love him, but I followed the unhealthy method of the callous Fritz by expressing no feelings. It’s certainly moving for a wrestling fan looking through such a prism. Therefore, the ending of the film makes a very unique choice to lighten all the sadness the family endured and if you loved the Von Erichs, you’ll be grateful for the effort made.
If you’re an old school wrestling fan, you’ll have plenty to appreciate. If you have a brother you can talk to afterwards, you’ll have even more.
“The Iron Claw” releases everywhere on December 22. Follow Dominic DeAngelo on X @DominicDeAngelo.
All Elite Wrestling superstar MJF is having the best year of his career. He started the year as the AEW World Champion and may potentially hold the title heading into 2024. MJF has also received acclaim for his matches against Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, and Kenny Omega.
While MJF has achieved accolades in wrestling, he will soon be honored by the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
The AEW World Champion shared on social media a poster announcing that he will be inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on December 18. MJF is open about his religion and has also been referenced in AEW, notably the MJF Re-Bar Mitzvah segment.
In the post on Twitter, MJF said that getting inducted was “An incredible honor.” The induction ceremony will occur at Suffolk YJCC in Commack, New York. It’s unclear if the event will be recorded or streamed live. However, the poster shared that fans can attend the ceremony.
The event is interesting as MJF prepares for his upcoming title defense against Samoa Joe in a rematch at AEW Worlds Collide on December 30.
His last appearance for the company was on the December 6 episode of AEW Dynamite. The company did an angle where he was taken out backstage by “The Devil.” Since his attack, he hasn’t been seen on TV.
He is still slated to defend his title against Joe at the upcoming pay-per-view, but it’s unclear if he will appear ahead of the event. He’s currently not advertised for the December 20 episode of AEW Dynamite, but it’s possible that could change.
Although it’s unclear when he’ll appear for AEW, fans can see MJF get inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall Of Fame next week.
Posted December 17th, 2023 in AEW, News. Tagged: MJF.
MJF may be the top name in All Elite Wrestling, but the resident Scumbag of wrestling hasn’t forgotten where he came from.
The reigning AEW World Champion began training to be a wrestler in 2014 as part of the Create A Pro Wrestling Academy run by Brian Myers and Pat Buck. This week, Create a Pro’s Wrestling promotion held its Frostbite 2 event. MJF decided to make a surprise appearance at the show and earned a thunderous response from the fans. MJF even got a cheer after simply saying “hello” to the crowd as seen in the clip below.
After his time training with Create a Pro, MJF would compete for CZW and later make his name in MLW. He signed with AEW in 2019 and captured the AEW World Championship at Full Gear 2022.
Cody Rhodes transitioning from AEW to WWE in 2022 sparked speculation among fans that anyone, including a company co-founder, could depart AEW for WWE. It seems that nobody is off the table, either.
Jade Cargill also made a similar move in 2023, and fans are still waiting for her official in-ring debut. Considering MJF’s willingness to discuss WWE, and the great Bidding War of 2024, fans have pondered whether he might eventually follow his friend and mentor Cody Rhodes to WWE as well.
“I think one day you will see MJF in WWE. I’m really proud of him. For those that don’t know, MJF was one of my recruits and probably the one I’m most excited about because of potential and personality and overall professionalism. One thing I’m proud of him for doing is, if you notice, he’s put on a lot of muscle and he’s put it on safely over the last year and a half. When he does make that jump, I don’t know when that is, if he makes the jump. If he comes to WWE, you have to stand across from guys like Drew McIntyre, like Omos, Brock Lesnar. I’m not shaming anyone who is not hitting the gym and clanging and banging with the weights, like The Rock would say, but it is part of what we do now. You have to be able to swing a bat with the big boys. Watching him grow physically, it seems like maybe he knows where his future lies. Really, your guess is as good as mine. I never bother him about it because I want to remain the friends we’ve become today.”
Recent speculation has stated that MJF may have already inked a new deal with AEW. He hasn’t brought up the Bidding War of 2024 in a while, and that caused some to wonder what his next move is.
Exclusive Insight on WWE and MJF’s Current Standing
I have asked around on several occasions about WWE’s interest in MJF, and whether there is any talk about bringing him in. There have never been any talks within the creative team about MJF, because a deal hasn’t been signed.
As I have previously stated, WWE creative team members are usually only approached once someone is actually signed. On a very rare occasion, they will be asked if they have any ideas for someone that the company is considering, but it doesn’t seem that there are any discussions with MJF.
I was also told that the general thought within WWE is that MJF already inked a new deal with Tony Khan. AEW just hasn’t publicly announced that yet for some reason.
MJF may stay with AEW for another contract cycle, and that could work out just fine for him. At 27-years-old, MJF still has plenty of time with WWE if he waited another three or four years.
It’s anyone’s guess how different the pro wrestling world would be today if WWE scooped up MJF after his Tough Enough audition tape. On that note, you may check out that amazing piece of pro wrestling history below.
MJF will one day be known as a WWE Superstar, at least according to current WWE top star and AEW alum Cody Rhodes.
The reigning AEW World Champion has often teased moving to WWE, though these teases have stopped ever since he became an on-screen babyface. MJF did try out for WWE as part of 2011’s Tough Enough, and his video application is suspiciously still online on WWE’s YouTube channel. MJF also appeared as a security guard during a segment with Samoa Joe, which has been referenced as part of their AEW feud.
Cody Rhodes on MJF
Though they are no longer in the same company, Cody Rhodes is keeping a close eye on the career of the AEW World Champion. During an interview with Peter Rosenburg, the American Nightmare was asked about MJF possibly joining WWE.
“I think one day you will see MJF in WWE. I think, one thing I’m really proud of him for is, for those who don’t know, MJF was one of my recruits. Probably the one I’m the most excited about just because [of] his potential, his personality; his overall professionalism is beaming. One thing I’m proud of him doing is, if you notice he’s put on a lot of muscle and he’s put it on safely over the last year and a half. And when he does make that jump, and I don’t know when that is, if he makes the jump. But if he comes to WWE he’ll have to stand across from guys like Drew McIntyre, you have to stand across from guys like Omos. Or, gosh, Brock Lesnar.”
What’s Next?
While MJF could one day be a WWE Superstar, it isn’t likely to happen anytime soon. For all his teases of leaving, MJF reportedly signed a new AEW deal that will keep him around for years to come. One WWE source described MJF’s potential bidding war as “a completely in his head storyline.” His next AEW World Championship defense will come on December 30, against Samoa Joe at AEW Worlds End.
