MJF has spent the better part of the last two years hinting that, when his current AEW contract ends in 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.
However, it appears "the bidding war of 2024" is already over. According to Haus of Wrestling, sources within WWE believe the current AEW World Champion has quietly signed a new deal with AEW which will keep him in the company until 2027.
"This is a completely in his head storyline," one source says of the "false narrative" he's created about joining WWE. Another added, "1000%. I was told a while ago he is under a long-term deal, which is why they stopped pushing the 2024 stuff."
If MJF has decided to stick with AEW for three more years, 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.
Do you think MJF is wise to stay with AEW or should he take this chance to join WWE? As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments section.