How Big of a Blow Would MJF Leaving Be?

[Mid-Carder]

It would be a massive blow, but not one they couldn't recover from. It would be like when Brock left in 2004, which probably felt catastrophic, but then Cena and Batista got opportunities to step up. AEW has a deep enough roster that there are plenty of guys who could step in.

I like that AEW doesn't revolve around one person.

[polarbearpete]

Dec 18, 2023 16:55:39 GMT -5 Tom Turkey said:

Dec 18, 2023 13:17:33 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

He has to be signed to some kind of extension, given the way the shows have been built around him for months, and the fact that they’ve lined up like 4-5 future programs for him.

If he did leave, it would be a blow perception wise of course, but I think on-screen the product would be fine. The company is certainly not lacking for main event talent.

at this point, the whole bidding war stuff and not being shown on promo posters for 2024 events is just kayfabe.

Although they stopped mentioning it at all on TV recently, haven’t they? Which makes not advertising him odd.

[Tom Turkey]

Dec 18, 2023 17:01:25 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

Dec 18, 2023 16:55:39 GMT -5 Tom Turkey said:

at this point, the whole bidding war stuff and not being shown on promo posters for 2024 events is just kayfabe.

Although they stopped mentioning it at all on TV recently, haven’t they? Which makes not advertising him odd.

I suspect to make the re-signing official at Worlds' End.

[bob]

devastating

he's their only "home grown" wrestler who has become a solidified maineventer

[Lizuka #BLM]

It'd be a huge blow to their business but it'd do nothing but increase my interest.

[defectiveepitaph]

Dec 18, 2023 18:05:32 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

It'd be a huge blow to their business but it'd do nothing but increase my interest.

This is how I feel as well, I know MJF is beloved, but I couldn’t possibly care about anything he does.

[UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm]

pretty massive. through the ups and downs, he is the one person that the majority of the crowd has stuck with. i wouldn't worry about it though, there's absolutely zero chance he has gotten this push without a new deal

[raymondo316]

I was hoping he had stopped this crap, but here we go.

[Mecca]

I don't for 1 second believe he isn't signed...you don't give guys who are leaving super long, career cementing title runs.

MJF just wants his Bret Hart moment where he can announce he's staying in a promo and all the announcers can act relieved.

[markymark]

Earlier today, AEW World Champion MJF appeared on The SI Media Podcast and addressed Haus of Wrestling’s reporting about his contract status. As we previously stated, based on a conversation with a higher-up at WWE and others at the company, MJF has not been in talks with WWE. Furthermore, WWE believes that Friedman quietly re-signed with AEW a while ago. For those who missed it, here is what Friedman had to say regarding our reporting.

“I’ve never lied,” he began. “January 1, 2024. When stuff like that gets leaked out, it makes me laugh because I remember something got leaked out about Cody having secretly re-signed, and then he showed up. Somebody got leaked out about, you know, CM Punk and Tony Khan, you know, actually fine, everything. You know? I think fans leak out things that they want to be true. I love AEW. I want to stay in AEW. After this pay-per-view, it’s time to assess the situation from a professional setting.”

Haus of Wrestling contacted several people at WWE for their reaction and heard much of the same that we did before these latest comments.

One higher-up WWE source responded simply with “storyline.”

Another higher-up source at WWE reiterated that they heard Friedman had re-signed last year and believe it happened before his return at AEW All Out 2022 as The Devil. They went on to say that Friedman is “locked in” and got a huge deal when he re-negotiated his contract with Tony Khan last year.

www.hausofwrestling.com/2023/12/19/internal-wwe-reaction-to-mjf-saying-he-hasnt-re-signed-with-aew-exclusive/

[Fade]

Bro shut up no one’s buying it.

[Futureraven: Beelzebruv]

Dec 19, 2023 12:08:10 GMT -5 raymondo316 said:

I was hoping he had stopped this crap, but here we go.

Like... what's even the point? It's 2 weeks away. If it's an angle, no time to hype it, if it's true and he's not resigning, well, he can just lose and leave.

Thank God this hasn't been an OTT saga for months, but why even mention it now?

[Mid-Carder]

If Tony Khan has booked a guy to have the title for a year, shows revolving around him and multiple storylines, right up until his contract expires, then he doesn't deserve to run a wrestling company.

[dbsot]

Dec 19, 2023 12:20:43 GMT -5 markymark said:

Earlier today, AEW World Champion MJF appeared on The SI Media Podcast and addressed Haus of Wrestling’s reporting about his contract status. As we previously stated, based on a conversation with a higher-up at WWE and others at the company, MJF has not been in talks with WWE. Furthermore, WWE believes that Friedman quietly re-signed with AEW a while ago. For those who missed it, here is what Friedman had to say regarding our reporting.

“I’ve never lied,” he began. “January 1, 2024. When stuff like that gets leaked out, it makes me laugh because I remember something got leaked out about Cody having secretly re-signed, and then he showed up. Somebody got leaked out about, you know, CM Punk and Tony Khan, you know, actually fine, everything. You know? I think fans leak out things that they want to be true. I love AEW. I want to stay in AEW. After this pay-per-view, it’s time to assess the situation from a professional setting.”

Haus of Wrestling contacted several people at WWE for their reaction and heard much of the same that we did before these latest comments.

One higher-up WWE source responded simply with “storyline.”

Another higher-up source at WWE reiterated that they heard Friedman had re-signed last year and believe it happened before his return at AEW All Out 2022 as The Devil. They went on to say that Friedman is “locked in” and got a huge deal when he re-negotiated his contract with Tony Khan last year.

www.hausofwrestling.com/2023/12/19/internal-wwe-reaction-to-mjf-saying-he-hasnt-re-signed-with-aew-exclusive/

He specifically says, "I want to stay in AEW." That is about as clear as MJF can be.

I also don't see why MJF would want to join WWE right now. If he debuts in Q1 of the year, he will be competing with Punks return, Cody finishing the story^TM, a debuting Jade, a possibly returning Sasha Banks and whatever older wrestler they bring back for WM. Even though I believe he is more talented than most wrestler working today, it will be difficult to find TV time and be a top player. Heck in 2024, Gunther, LA Knight and Damian Priest could all be around the main event scene as well. There is talent for him to work with, but he won't be the guy. If the money is right, than staying with AEW makes way more sense. Especially because he can still make the jump in few years and barely be in his 30s. 

[Deleted]

Dec 18, 2023 17:55:28 GMT -5 bob said:

devastating

he's their only "home grown" wrestler who has become a solidified maineventer

I'd argue Hangman is a solidified main eventer even if he's not nearly as important to AEW as MJF currently.

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

I think it'd be a blow but when you have a roster of like 150 folks across two companies, one guy leaving won't kill things. If they lost MJF, any combination of Swerve, Hangman, Danielson, Ospreay, Omega, Mox, OC, Cole, Christian, Copeland, Jericho, Andrade, Samoa Joe, Darby, Jay White, Starks, Bucks, etc. would rise up.

The AEW roster is an embarrassment of riches. There are times when it works against them but in moments like this, it benefits.

He definitely already resigned anyway, though. He'll be there until he hits his mid-30s is my guess.

[chronocross]

It would be a huge blow but AEW would recover, but I don't see MJF leaving AEW for another few years.

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

Dec 19, 2023 12:54:43 GMT -5 @awataurne said:

Dec 18, 2023 17:55:28 GMT -5 bob said:

devastating

he's their only "home grown" wrestler who has become a solidified maineventer

I'd argue Hangman is a solidified main eventer even if he's not nearly as important to AEW as MJF currently.

People love moving goalposts about him because he was already an established guy in Ring of Honor but he was solidly seen as a midcarder with some upside and AEW is where he became a bonafide main event level talent.

[Citizen Snips]

Dec 19, 2023 15:44:27 GMT -5 Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! said:

Dec 19, 2023 12:54:43 GMT -5 @awataurne said:

I'd argue Hangman is a solidified main eventer even if he's not nearly as important to AEW as MJF currently.

People love moving goalposts about him because he was already an established guy in Ring of Honor but he was solidly seen as a midcarder with some upside and AEW is where he became a bonafide main event level talent.

I’m no Hangman expert but I always sort of thought he was like a Seth Rollins-type: he can go down in the midcard to mix it up for awhile but he can go right back to title matches without having to be “built back up”. He doesn’t necessarily have to be in the main event, but he’s still at the top.

[Final Countdown Jones]

Dec 19, 2023 15:44:27 GMT -5 Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!! said:

Dec 19, 2023 12:54:43 GMT -5 @awataurne said:

I'd argue Hangman is a solidified main eventer even if he's not nearly as important to AEW as MJF currently.

People love moving goalposts about him because he was already an established guy in Ring of Honor but he was solidly seen as a midcarder with some upside and AEW is where he became a bonafide main event level talent.

There's a lot of funk around homegrown-ed-ness, but a guy like Hangman cutting his teeth in ROH and a New Japan stint definitely doesn't take away from what AEW was able to transform him into. Especially given how much early AEW had him positioned such that people were really not having it at first and decried him as not ready for the main event. Dude might have a bit more high profile a rise than say MJF or Darby coming up in the higher end indie promotions, but concept of Adam Page: Main Eventer as something other than a press conference comment from Tanahashi is an AEW creation.