MJF has grown weary of insincere admiration and holds fans accountable for their sudden affection toward him after he chose not to sign with WWE. In a February 11, 2026 interview with Chris Van Vleet, the AEW World Champion addressed the backlash he faced following his decision to re-sign with AEW in 2024 rather than joining WWE. MJF acknowledged the bitterness from fans but remained unfazed.
He explained, “I still encounter WWE fans who, in 2023, were excitedly saying, ‘He’s going to jump ship, he’ll be huge, I can’t wait.’ Then when I stayed with AEW, those same fans said, ‘We didn’t need him anyway. We don’t even like MJF.’ It’s amusing. It’s like asking the most popular girl to prom, she says no, and you get mad about it.”
This stance echoes statements he made in a March 2025 Sports Illustrated interview, where he criticized wrestlers who avoid watching AEW, calling it either dishonest or lazy to ignore major developments in the industry.
He said, “If you’re a professional wrestler and a top athlete but don’t watch or absorb as much wrestling as possible, can you really call yourself a student of the sport? Can you claim to be giving your best? In my view, absolutely not.”
MJF went further by accusing some WWE wrestlers of pretending they don’t follow AEW while secretly keeping tabs on it. He suggested that big AEW events like Revolution are likely drawing attention even from WWE locker rooms.
He noted, “When you ask a WWE star if they’ve watched AEW and they say no, one of two things is happening: either they’re outright lying, or they don’t care enough about the industry to understand what’s going on. I’m confident many WWE wrestlers will be watching Revolution. If you’re a real professional wrestler and not aware of your own industry, that means you’re not serious about your job—and that frustrates me.”
Whether it’s fans rewriting history or wrestlers feigning ignorance, MJF keeps his composure. The Salt of the Earth has made his decision clear—and he’s paying attention to who is paying attention to him.
What are your thoughts on MJF’s remarks? Do you believe WWE fans and talent are quietly watching AEW? Share your opinion in the comments; we’re eager to hear from you.
Fan Take: MJF’s comments highlight the competitive tension between AEW and WWE, revealing underlying respect mixed with rivalry. For WWE fans, this serves as a reminder that the wrestling world is interconnected, and ignoring rival promotions could mean missing key industry shifts that shape the future of the sport.
