Following a 3 month absence amidst a wave of rumours regarding contract disputes, MJF returned to AEW on the September 4th All Out PPV, entering the Casino Ladder match under a mask as The Joker and winning with the help of Stokely Hathaway and The Firm. The masked figure then emerged at the end of the show following CM Punk’s AEW World Championship victory over Jon Moxley, revealing himself to be MJF, with the Chicago crowd erupting upon the confirmation of his return.
The former Pinnacle leader recently appeared on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, where he discussed his time away from the ring, as well as stating that he signed a new AEW contract upon returning that sees his pay drastically increase, although the date of expiry still stands as January 1st, 2024, due to no extension being agreed upon.
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has now provided further insight into the details of MJF’s new deal with AEW, reporting that 26 year-old is now making over $1 million per year, based sources close to the situation.
“MJF did an interview with Ariel Helwani to promote the Arthur Ashe Stadium show. He said that he got a huge raise in pay to return (based on things we heard it’s was more than $1 million per year) and claimed he did not have to sign an extension and his contract expires on January 1, 2024.”
– Dave Meltzer
This Wednesday’s edition of AEW Dynamite saw Jon Moxley recapture the AEW World Championship in the finals of the Grand Slam Tournament of Champions against his Blackpool Combat Club stablemate Bryan Danielson, a match that saw MJF watching over it from the rafters, with the young star having the ability to challenge for the gold at any time and place he chooses due to winning the aforementioned Casino Ladder match.
MJF is undoubtably one of AEW’s hottest commodities, and thus its no surprise that WWE also reportedly hold an interest in acquiring his services. Should January 1st, 2024 roll around without Friedman agreeing to an extension with the company, the wrestling world may be set for an intense bidding war between the two top American promotions.
