MJF made a striking return at last night’s AEW Holiday Bash: Dynamite, delivering his trademark sharp-edged promos, which notably included provocative references to WWE and rapper Diddy that sparked online debate. His character "Salt of the Earth" had been off AEW television for roughly three months due to Hollywood’s influence.
During the show, MJF prevented Swerve Strickland, Hangman Adam Page, and AEW World Champion Samoa Joe from signing contracts to challenge for the World Title, igniting a heated reaction from the audience at Co-op Live in Manchester, England. At 29 years old, MJF didn’t hold back his criticism, especially targeting Strickland. When recalling Strickland’s WWE tenure, MJF’s mention of AEW’s rival company drew loud boos from the crowd.
MJF mocked Strickland by saying, "You went to WWE, huh? (crowd boos) Slow down! Perfectly good company, gang! But your run there was… well, not great! Not great! But I gotta say, it was a lot of fun watching you twerk for Top Dollar."
More controversially, MJF compared Strickland to the disgraced rapper Diddy, saying, "You really remind me of this famous musician. You guys have a lot in common. You both call yourself moguls, you both rock chains, you both use too much baby oil, and you both are dog-loving rappers — oh, that’s right, P. Diddy."
MJF will join the AEW World Title match at the upcoming World’s End event on December 27th, competing in a fatal four-way. He aims to reclaim the championship belt he once held for 406 days, potentially becoming the youngest and longest-reigning titleholder in AEW history.
MJF’s presence in the World Title match generated significant buzz last night, though his continual references to WWE and Diddy were met with mixed reactions. Some fans expressed irritation over the frequent mentions of rival promotions, while others found humor in his comments.
One fan commented, "I like MJF, but I hate the cheesy pop he throws during promos. No need to bring up Diddy or WWE or anything else. It’s annoying." Another said, "MJF is back…to talk about WWE once again, and he always seems desperate to generate all the heat." Others expressed fatigue over WWE mentions, stating, "MJF’s promo would have been perfect if he didn’t mention WWE," and "The mention of WWE was expected, but Diddy’s mention of Swerve… sigh."
Conversely, some fans enjoyed the humor, with one writing, "MJF just mentioned P. Diddy and WWE, that’s a nefarious move (laughing)." Another sarcastically called WWE a "perfectly good company," joking, "At one point, MJF made a lot of jokes about someone’s deceased family member, but his comment about WWE being a good company is actually the worst thing he’s ever said." Supporters of MJF noted, "MJF is back. He’s already off-referenced Diddy, WWE, and Top Dollar. The haters are going to hate hard."
MJF is now focusing on winning the world title upon his AEW return. Though he lost to Mark Brisco in his final match before a three-month hiatus, the Casino Gauntlet contract he secured in July provides a clear route back to AEW’s main event spotlight.
Fan Take: This comeback by MJF is significant for WWE fans as it highlights the ongoing rivalry and tension between wrestling promotions, which can fuel compelling storylines and fan engagement. His controversial calls and sharp promos keep AEW’s landscape unpredictable, adding excitement and challenge to the sport’s evolving dynamics.
