MJF Reflects On His Decision To Choose AEW Over WWE In 2019

In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, MJF reflected on his decision to sign with AEW over WWE back in 2019 and how his conversation with Tony Khan impacted his choice. Here’s what MJF had to say (via Fightful):

MJF on choosing AEW over WWE back in 2019: “I had a decision to make there. I was [21 or 22] at the time. I knew there was serious interest in me in WWE but I thought to myself ‘Are they gonna let me be me?’. That’s my biggest thing, cause I’m not fake. Everything about me is real. Are you gonna let me do what I do best?”

On talking with Tony Khan and realizing AEW was the right spot for him: “Then, I got to talking to Tony Khan. I was linked up with him by my good friend Cody Rhodes — hope you’re doing well buddy. We talked for hours on end over the phone about Mid-South, about AWA, about Buddy Landel and Butch Reed. I immediately thought to myself ‘Okay. This guy gets it and he gets me’. At that point in my career it was a no-brainer. Now, you bring me anywhere and I’m gonna be a top guy in your promotion. [Back then] I needed to make sure I had the perfect launching point in my career.”