MJF has commented on “The bidding war of 2024” and if there ever was a possibility that he might leave AEW.
Last year, the American Champion made it very clear that his contract would expire on January 1st 2024. Claiming to have no allegiance to AEW and was only interested in the money, Maxwell Jacob Friedman declared that he would go to the highest bidder when his contract had expired. Taking time away after dropping the World Championship to Samoa Joe at Worlds End at the end of 2023, Friedman was removed from the roster page to play into the storyline that he had “gone”, despite the fact that it was reported that MJF had in fact signed a new deal earlier in the year, which was why the “bidding war of 2024” line was subsequently dropped.
Returning at Double or Nothing 2024, the former World Champion declared that he wasn’t going anywhere and that he had signed a new deal, revealing an AEW tattoo in the process.
Speaking with Oli Davis and Luke Owen of WrestleTalk, the AEW star stated that he had “won” the war after receiving a big-money offer from Tony Khan:
“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. 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. 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.
Was MJF Ever Going To WWE?
Also in the interview, the topic of potential talks with WWE was addressed, which MJF effectively provided a no-comment on:
“I can’t answer that (if he had talks with WWE) for legal reasons, because if I did have conversations with WWE, that would be considered what? (Contract tampering.)”
MJF will defend the American Championship against Will Ospreay at AEW All In on August 25th inside Wembley Stadium. In a seperate interview, MJF commented on the recent incident with Britt Baker that it the headlines.
