MJF refutes rumors, will become free agent in January

AEW Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman aka MJF. Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

MJF refutes AEW contract rumors, will become a free agent in January

By Adam Taylor | Last updated 12/19/23

MJF has not signed a new contract with AEW. The "Generational Talent" had been rumored to have struck a deal with Tony Khan over the past month. However, in a recent "Sports Illustrated Media Podcast," appearance MJF put those rumors to bed.

“I’ve been saying the same thing," MJF said. "I never lied. January 1, 2024 — when stuff like that gets leaked out, it makes me laugh because I remember something getting leaked out about Cody (Rhodes) secretly re-signed, and then he showed up (in WWE.) Something leaked about CM Punk and Tony Khan … I think fans leak out things that they want to be true."

Over the past 18 months, MJF has consistently referred to his impending free agency as "the bidding war of 2024," hinting at his willingness to negotiate terms with both WWE and AEW. Whether he's actually willing to leave AEW and sign elsewhere is certainly up for debate, though.

Right now, MJF is the AEW world champion and the organization's clear-cut star talent. Moving to another promotion could see him need to climb the ladder in a new company, and repeating his current success isn't guaranteed, at least not in the short term.

However, given MJF's ability when cutting promos and the style of wrestling that he often uses, there's no doubt that he would be an ideal fit with WWE. His personality and charisma would also see him quickly become a hit with the fans and potentially become a headliner early in his tenure.

WWE has lost out on multiple free-agent targets this year, with Jay White and Will Ospreay being the most notable. Both of those stars signed with AEW. Being able to steal their biggest rivals' best talent and help take him to the next level would be the ideal rebuttal by WWE.

However, MJF isn't going to come cheap. Whoever wants to secure his services for the coming years will need to open their checkbook. Otherwise, they could risk losing out on one of the hottest commodities in professional wrestling.

More must-reads: