MJF has spent the better part of the last two years hinting that, when his current AEW contract ends in early 2024, he'll jump ship to WWE. While his comments are obviously meant to rile up AEW's anti-WWE contingent, the expectation has been for a while that he'd legitimately be open to signing a WWE contract.
After all, he's seen first-hand how well his real-life friend Cody Rhodes has been treated by WWE since leaving AEW and is a Superstar in the making.
Last month, it was reported that MJF has already signed a new deal with AEW that's expected to keep him there for at least another three years, However, the man himself has now chimed in and maintains that he's exploring his options beyond Tony Khan's struggling promotion.
Talking on the SI Media with Jimmy Traina podcast, the AEW World Champion and ROH World Tag Team Champion said, "I’ve never lied. January 1, 2024. When stuff like that gets leaked out, it makes me laugh because I remember something got leaked out about Cody having secretly re-signed, and then he showed up. Somebody got leaked out about, you know, CM Punk and Tony Khan, you know, actually fine, everything. You know?"
"I think fans leak out things that they want to be true. I love AEW," MJF continued. "I want to stay in AEW. After this pay-per-view, it’s time to assess the situation from a professional setting."
Asked directly whether or not he's signed a new deal with AEW, he responded, "Not yet."
If MJF has signed another lengthy contract with AEW, it's a baffling decision. He's currently one of the top stars in a small promotion that's getting smaller week by week. AEW Dynamite's audience isn't growing, Rampage and Collision have dropped off a cliff, and attendance at shows is down across the board.
Yes, AEW sold out Wembley Stadium back in August, but there are already very real concerns that they'll fail to do the same for the second year in a row.
MJF stands a very real chance of being pushed as a top star in WWE, becoming a household name in the process. He's received widespread acclaim for his work in the ring and on the mic in AEW, but appears to have been drinking a little too much of Tony Khan's Kool-Aid if the plan is to remain there.
It may come down to money, of course, and if Khan has given MJF whatever he wants to ensure he doesn't lose another top star to WWE, the champion may well just be planning to ride this sinking ship until the opportunity to make the leap to WWE finally arises.
Stay tuned for updates.