MJF/AEW Latest: Negotiations, Backstage Reactions & More!
What does the future hold for the brash, young star? Will he stay in AEW or bolt to WWE?
The moment Cody Rhodes jumped from AEW to WWE, rumors were bound to fly about other stars potentially making the jump in the direction from the upstart company to the industry leader. And lately, one of the hottest ongoing rumors have involved Maxwell Jacob Friedman not being happy with his current contract and is likely to leave AEW when his contract expires in 2024.
Now, Fightful Select has more information regarding the situation, saying that they're not aware of "any outright negotiations" between MJF and AEW -- no specific contract being offered, no angling by the wrestler for anything. There have been overtures made to Friedman to engage in contract discussions, but he hasn't yet addressed.
Although there are no reports of formal discussions, Fightful was able to note that MJF is still frustrated after the previous heated conversation. One talent told Fightful that Tony Khan would be willing to open up the checkbook and pay MJF comparably to the company's top stars -- though it seems like the way that would work would be to add more time to his deal. Several contracts have been reworked similarly, with the end date extended in exchange for the new pact.
Fightful added that MJF's camp isn't trying to boost his pay without extending the deal because "contracts don't work like that." Obviously, this comes without any confirmation from AEW, which has told Fightful previously they don't comment on talent contracts publicly.
Backstage reactions to the situation have been mixed. While some agree that MJF is performing at a level above his current contract, others consider reconfiguring a deal before its expiration date may set a difficult precedent, despite the aforementioned reworkings.
January 2024 is still a long ways away, and a lot can happen between now and then. As with many sports and businesses, contracts aren't a done deal until they're done, and no one is truly unattainable until they're no longer in the game. Things might be tense -- even heated -- between Tony Khan and MJF right now, but that doesn't mean they won't be able to reach a deal that keeps the young star happy and firmly in AEW for the foreseeable future.