MJF has been under contract with AEW since the company was founded in 2019. He'd previously competed for MLW and has since held the AEW World Championship twice, the AEW International Championship once, and the AEW Dynamite Diamond Ring a record six times.
There's been a lot of chatter about MJF signing with WWE, but he ultimately chose to remain in AEW. Many fans have argued that he did so to his detriment, especially as the company has cooled off in a big way over the past few years.
Talking to Chris Van Vliet, MJF was asked about how much interest WWE had in him when his last AEW contract was nearing its end.
"You know the answer, there was a lot. I had some nice calls with some nice folks who are high up on the chain, and they were interested in me," he confirmed. "They’re still very much so interested in me, and I understand why. But for all my faults, one thing I am not is unprofessional. If you put a contract in front of me with the right amount of money, I’m going to do this."
"I’m going to broadcast how important those three letters are. Those three letters are just as important as these, because you’re paying me to say that," MJF continued. "Now, do I believe it’s true? You’ll never know, and that’s the beauty of it. No matter what promotion I’m working for, I’m going to shamelessly shill what’s going on."
"Now, can I look in the camera and say I really do believe everything I’ve said prior to this? Yes, I can, but they’ll never know."
MJF went on to share his unfiltered thoughts on former rival, CM Punk, though how much of this is real or in character is up for debate!
"I mean, watch the tape. You tell me who got the better of who verbally during that entire rivalry. I hope he’s able to enjoy what he’s accomplishing over there. I have no idea, because the things that he said in my company do go against the things that he’s saying now. Some people might say that’s hypocritical. That’s not my place."
"All I know is since I’ve jumped into pro wrestling, I’ve been saying the same thing since the jump, my tune has not changed. I’m Maxwell, Jacob Friedman, and I’m better than you, and you know it. I also won’t sit here and lie to you and tell you that I didn’t learn so much through my hatred of that man. I learned the difference between good and great. That’s what I learned. Now, do I like him? I’ll reiterate, no, I wouldn’t piss on him if he was on fire to put that fire out. But I’m not going to sit here and pretend I didn’t learn from him."
Asked if he keeps in touch with another WWE Superstar he's gone head-to-head with in AEW, Cody Rhodes, MJF revealed, "Absolutely. Look, I’m not sitting here without Cody Rhodes. Cody Rhodes booked me for All In, which got me in front of Tony Khan, which got me signed to a contract. Like Punk, I hope whatever he’s doing, he’s happy right now. I mean, you would think he would be."
You can hear more from MJF in the player below.