MJF returned to AEW during the recent Double Or Nothing PPV, confirming he'll remain with the company for the foreseeable future. That came as a surprise to many fans, particularly with so much online chatter about him potentially signing with WWE.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, the former AEW World Champion admitted that there was a very real possibility of him heading to the sports entertainment giant.
"Of course there was," he tells the site. "Am I going to get into the weeds? No. At this point in time, this move made the most sense for me. I’m making a ton of f***ing money. As far as when the contract ends, that’s nobody’s business but my own."
When it was put to MJF that wrestling fans want him in WWE (they were even chanting his name at the WrestleMania Kickoff), he responded, "Cody Rhodes is a mentor of mine. I f***ing love the guy. I love the Rhodes-a-coaster. But when Triple H is doing an interview on one of the biggest sports shows, whose name were they cheering in the background? My name."
"I’m not just the biggest star in AEW. I’m one of the biggest stars in the history of the f***ing business."
MJF isn't lacking in confidence and believes that, regardless of the fact he's yet to head to the big leagues (WWE), his career is already Hall of Fame-worthy.
"This is just a fact - I’ve created some of the greatest moments in the history of the business, and I’ve only been on national television for an extraordinarily short period of time. I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again because it’s true - I’m 28 years old and I’ve already had a Hall of Fame career."
"There’s nobody you can compare or contrast me to, there’s never been anyone like me before."
Love or hate him, MJF is undoubtedly one of the biggest names in pro wrestling today. The AEW star also said this about paying homage to Triple H at AEW Double or Nothing:
"The jean jacket was over what I feel is my leather jacket, but that jean jacket was certainly an homage to a return that meant something to me when I was a kid in Madison Square Garden. I’m sure people can connect the dots. Outside of that, the video of me walking through one of my palatial estates in the most magical place on earth–Long Island, New York–looking at that trophy room, it allows people to remember all the moments I created in a very short period of time."
Do you think MJF made the right decision by remaining in AEW?