MJF has spent the past couple of years hyping up "the bidding war of 2024," suggesting AEW and WWE would need to compete for his services as a pro wrestler.
We don't know how interested WWE was but MJF re-signed with AEW earlier this year and the response to his latest run has been somewhat muted. It's unclear how long that new deal is for but, in a new interview, MJF declared himself the real winner of the so-called bidding war.
"I won. I’m f**king rich as shit. It’s f**king crazy dude. I literally...you don’t f**king understand...I have so much money. It’s hilarious," he declared. "The whole locker room f**king hates me because they all know how much I’m making, and they...it’s peanuts in comparison. And I’m only 28."
MJF added, "So you’ve got guys walking around in their 40s that have given their body to this industry, they’re like dying practically, and they aren’t even making a fraction of what I make. It’s f**king great. Tony, I mean, my god, my god, showed me the number – signed fast. Fast. Anyway, so yes, I won, to answer your question."
While we're sure AEW President Tony Khan did offer MJF the money he wanted to stick around, whether it was the best decision for his career remains to be seen. The heel has grown stale in a company which is on the decline in terms of ratings and ticket sales.
In a separate interview, MJF was asked for his thoughts on Khan's recent meeting with Shane McMahon.
"I think it would be bad for Shane McMahon’s mental health to get in a ring with me on a microphone or bell to bell," MJF stated. "So my answer is yes, because I would have the time of my life but my answer also just because I’m so salt to the earth is I think for the first time in my career maybe I’d feel bad."
"He’s a f**king mark. I mean, yeah, that was my reaction," he said of the photo leaking online. "I don’t respect either of them. I respect the fact that I am the highest-paid athlete in my company. Rightfully so. Outside of that, and the money stuff. I don’t know, man."
MJF will defend the International Title against Will Ospreay at All In at London's Wembley Stadium later this month. You can check out both of these interviews with the AEW star in the players below.