A prominent wrestling star recently shared insights about his choice to join AEW instead of WWE back in 2019, describing the move as a “natural” decision. Since AEW’s inception seven years ago, MJF has emerged as one of its standout talents. Hailing from Long Island, he joined AEW in his early twenties and has since become a two-time AEW World Champion as well as a rising actor in Hollywood.
Before signing with AEW, MJF had a WWE tryout and even worked as an extra for the company. However, at 29 years old, he revealed he declined a WWE contract offer prior to joining AEW. During an interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, MJF explained that he felt more restricted by WWE’s environment. He recalled a two-hour phone conversation with AEW president Tony Khan, where they bonded over their shared passion for Territory wrestling, making AEW the obvious choice.
MJF expressed respect for WWE and acknowledged that he would likely find success there, but he believed that signing with WWE would limit his opportunities. Currently, MJF enjoys great creative freedom under AEW’s leadership, though he acknowledged that could change as AEW evolves.
This Saturday, MJF is set to defend the AEW World Championship against Brody King at AEW Grand Slam Australia, with the winner moving on to face either “Hangman” Adam Page or Andrade El Hídrido. For those interested in more of MJF’s thoughts on WWE’s ongoing interest in him, additional comments are available via a linked source.
Fan Take:
This update is significant for WWE fans because it highlights how AEW’s creative environment is attracting top talent, posing a real challenge to WWE’s dominance. As stars like MJF flourish outside WWE, it signals a potential shift in the wrestling landscape that could push both promotions to innovate for the fans’ benefit.
