MJF has explained why he decided to sign with AEW instead of WWE when his career was just beginning.
Speaking on the Insight podcast with Chris Van Vliet, MJF said his first long conversation with AEW President Tony Khan made the decision easy. “When I talked to Tony Khan for the first time, we were on the phone together for two hours.”
“Two hours with a kid who was 22 turning 23 and all we did was discuss the territories and our love of territory professional wrestling. It was a no-brainer for me. I know I would have been successful if I went over there.”
He made it clear that he believes he would have succeeded in WWE as well. “I know I’d be successful if I go over there now, that’s why they’re still interested in me. I respect what they’re doing, I respect their product. I’m not going to take that away from them.”
MJF says AEW gave him more freedom than WWE ever could
MJF felt AEW would give him more freedom to be himself than WWE. “I knew I would have a better opportunity, and I would be given more of a leash. Now there’s no leash at all because I’m just stupidly over and I just do whatever the hell I want, but I know I’d be given more of a leash based on the way my now boss was talking about what his vision is for professional wrestling.” [H/T: Wrestletalk]
Looking back, MJF clearly believes choosing AEW gave him the creative freedom and platform he needed to become the star he is today. Before signing with AEW in 2019, MJF even attended a WWE tryout and even worked as an extra for the company. However, he turned down a WWE contract offer and joined AEW.
