MJF reportedly leaning towards leaving AEW when contract is up in 2024

[Chris]

Source: f4wonline.com

According to a Fightful report Thursday afternoon, there are still some hard feelings between MJF and AEW that may be leading the young star to look elsewhere in less than two years.

In the report, they said he is "leaning towards leaving AEW as of now when his deal is up." The same website reported that during a "heated" April discussion with AEW head Tony Khan, MJF "wasn’t happy about his contract situation and the pay scale as of that conversation, and we’re told the situation left him soured on many things."

The impetus for that talk was a March interview MJF did with Ariel Helwani that wasn't cleared through AEW PR. Dave Meltzer reported at the time that there was a conversation between both sides and any issues were cleared.

It should be noted that MJF still has nearly two years left on a five-year deal which he signed in 2019. That leaves time for feelings to change, the industry to change, and negotiations on a new deal -- the financials of which may be different in two years depending on the next AEW TV contract and situation at that time.

Fightful reported there has been "at least some progress" on a potential extension with AEW.

It also should be noted that MJF hasn't been shy about going public regarding his potential 2024 free agency in promos (including this week's Dynamite) and interviews, making it part of his AEW storylines without it being the central focus.

He has generated headlines about both wanting to be the highest-paid star in wrestling and alluding to a possible future with WWE with his mutual respect for both WWE's Bruce Prichard and free agent signee Cody Rhodes.

In December, Andrew Zarian reported that both Fox and NBCUniversal became interested in MJF during his promos during the CM Punk angle.

 

[Roy Mustang]

Miz is better anyway



Being serious Khan though should pay MJF whatever he wants within reason (aka big money). But also makes sure he locks him in tight.

Also in before MJF is working us like CODY WAS AND STILL IS

 

[Dale]

This shit is gonna be the worst fucking "news" article to keep coming up. Wake me up in 18 months if he hasn't signed a new deal, then it might be interesting.

 

[Hidden Blaze]

MJF working us is more believable at least than Cody, since MJF always stays in character honestly. So with him it’s really hard to tell what’s real and what’s not.

 

[Cwalker]

When he said he was telling the truth that his deal was up January 1st 2024, I had a feeling he’d send feelers out to other companies. Could just be pulling an Orton and trying to drive his price up.

He’ll be what 26-27 when he’s a free agent so I’m sure everyone will be throwing money at him.

 

[Cwalker]

This shit is gonna be the worst fucking "news" article to keep coming up. Wake me up in 18 months if he hasn't signed a new deal, then it might be interesting.

He’s said before he’s not re-upping with AEW until 2024 so enjoy your nap. We’ll be hearing tons of stories until January 1st of that year.

 

[Chris]

When he said he was telling the truth that his deal was up January 1st 2024, I had a feeling he’d send feelers out to other companies. Could just be pulling an Orton and trying to drive his price up.

He’ll be what 26-27 when he’s a free agent so I’m sure everyone will be throwing money at him.

He'd be a fool not to try and play both sides whether he's actually unhappy or not tbh its a very deserving bidding war thats bound to happen IMO

 

[Cwalker]

He'd be a fool not to try and play both sides whether he's actually unhappy or not tbh its a very deserving bidding war thats bound to happen IMO

I agree. Dude’s gonna get paid. Only downside for him going to WWE as opposed to AEW would be he would have to tone it down a lot. Obviously he wouldn’t be able to go on television and say “shit” or they probably wouldn’t let him give people the finger.

But he’s a lot better than 99% of that roster that has to do those things to get heat so he could still make it work.

 

[Chris]

I'm 100% convinced that MJF is good enough he doesn't need to be all that edgy and would thrive in WWE, even last year he was leaning into it too much just for shock value i thought and it wasn't as good. During his mini Pillman feud and stuff.

He wouldn't be BETTER in WWE necessarily so I wouldn't want him to go, but I don't buy that a PG rating would shackle him to the point he can't succeed. And a part of me wants him to prove me right also

 

[Cwalker]

I’m with you. He doesn’t need it. Most of the rest of AEW does. He can get heat the same way Miz does.

Dude works safe, so injuries shouldn’t be much of a concern. He’s gonna get paid either way.

 

[Jimmy King]

AEW would be foolish to let him go so hopefully they can work something out, but at the same time I wouldn’t mind him in WWE as long as they don’t change a thing about him and let him be him.

 

[Dale]

People were also saying Steen wouldn't work out in the WWE in part due to his promo style and clearly that was totally wrong. If he's as good as people say he is then he would be able to find a way to tinker what he does.

He’s said before he’s not re-upping with AEW until 2024 so enjoy your nap. We’ll be hearing tons of stories until January 1st of that year.

I'm aware of that but I don't fully buy it. I'm sure he is unhappy with his contract right now as I assume what he originally signed for is way, way under what his current value is. I'm just not sure that if they came back with a number he was actually happy with, that he would turn it down and do the whole free agent stuff.

I have no clue what the top paid guys are allegedly getting in AEW but we know that Owens/Sami/AJ are around the $2 to $3m mark and I believe Orton and Reigns were upwards of $5m? Genuinely curious what sort of number people think he will get

 

[Cwalker]

I could see him getting the $2.5-$3million range. Taking his age into account, it might be a steal

 

[Chris]

The Steen comparison is a good one, I def remember people saying the same thing. Some I think were just trying to find other reasons to slam him instead of HE'S FAT though

 

[Chris]

But yeah realistically, I'd be shocked if he left and wouldn't bet on that....but the comparison for literally every situation like this is now Cody and there's next to no roster members I think would shock me more than the Codester if they left, even if Cody's situation makes a lot of sense in hindsight now