MJF / AEW Contract

[Patriot]

So apparently, Tony Khan is willing to give MJF a raise, he just wants to him to sign a new contract for "more years." Which MJF, supposedly, doesn't want to do.

I can see both sides, and don't think you can fault either.

MJF made a name for himself in MLW; big fish, small pond. Was making peanuts in MLW though.

Signed with AEW when it was getting off the ground. Seems like a five year deal. Went from making practically nothing to $300,000 a year, give or take some.

He's been a big part of building the company up and a "homegrown" star. Always gets TV time, big feuds since around the start of Dynamite. He's worth more than ~$300,000 to the company, and can certainly understand his frustration when he sees former NXT guys come in and make substantial more. Hell, Big Show makes substantially more doing commentary for the YouTube show.

I can see why he wouldn't be happy, given the work he's put in. I can also see why he doesn't want to re-sign for more years. He knows WWE will be able to offer more money for him, knows that WWE would offer up more opportunities post wrestling too.

At the same time, Tony's position is certainly reasonable and the expected one for any half way decent business person. No real reason to give someone more money for the remaining time they're contracted when they've made it perfectly clear that they're open/looking to leave when the contract is up. Sign a new contract to make more money, makes sense.


Current deal is up in 2024. What's "more years?" That going be 2026, 2027 or beyond? If so, I wouldn't sign either. We're not quite to the half way point of 2022 yet. He's smart enough to know WWE will soon be getting even more money for their television shows. No sense handcuffing himself by extending a contract now. Also smart enough to realize that he's the biggest of the home grown stars for AEW, and for that reason alone WWE would be willing to pay a lot to get him just for the optics of "AEW original chooses WWE."

[Sandman]

I'm absolutely in favor of MJF getting paid, but I seriously hope he doesn't go to WWE. Hopefully he and Tony can reach an agreement in the next two years.

[Jules]

WWE scripting would take away a lot of what makes MJF so great--unless he's able to convince people he should have Heyman-esqe freedom to do as he pleases.

Wherever he winds up, if he's not this generations biggest heel star looking back 5 years from now, someone somewhere has dropepd the ball.

[Patriot]

Well, I'm gonna lean towards work until it's not, but... seems MJF no-showed a fanfest meet and greet today. And now has booked a flight for tonight out of Las Vegas to Newark, NJ.

Now whether or not he actually gets on the flight will be the question.

Crazy times in wrestling. Between the Sasha/Naomi situation in WWE, Ibushi's claims in NJPW, and now MJF in AEW, things are getting wild.

Wonder how long it's going to take CM Punk to tweet in his defense if it isn't a work. After all, it is perfectly ok to walk out on your job responsibilities if you aren't happy and, whether you like them or not, you should always back your co-workers over management.

But, there's no way it isn't a work. He surely can't be stupid enough to think WWE would touch him if he's willing to walk out of a huge match on a PPV the night before. Not when they're currently going scorched earth on Sasha and Naomi for doing the same thing (but for a dumber reason).