AEW World Champion MJF explained in a recent interview why he chose to remain with AEW rather than join WWE, emphasizing better pay and his central role in the promotion. He questioned why other talents would move to WWE for similar or worse booking and lower compensation. MJF is set to defend his title against Hangman Adam Page at AEW Revolution.
AEW World Champion MJF, whose real name is Maxwell Jacob Friedman, spoke candidly with interviewer Denise Salcedo ahead of his title defense at AEW Revolution. In the discussion, MJF highlighted the superior talent in AEW, stating, “We’re where the best wrestle and that’s just a fact. Me, Swerve Strickland, Hangman Adam Page, Samoa Joe, Kenny Omega, Brody King, Bandido... This is where the best wrestle. We’re real premier athletes.” He credited the roster's dedication, noting they have “honed our craft to the best of our absolute abilities, which has made us so incredible, which is precisely why we are getting compensated the way we should be compensated.”
MJF addressed the trend of wrestlers leaving AEW for WWE, questioning the decision: “God bless people that do it — people will jump to the other place to get booked the same and/or worse to be compensated for less. Why? I don’t know.” He dismissed the appeal of a “WrestleMania moment” if it meant lower pay, defining his legacy differently: “I want my legacy to be that my children are gonna be able to afford to go to any school they want... My legacy is my family, my legacy is my wife, my legacy is my children.”
MJF also asserted his importance to AEW's success, claiming, “All Elite Wrestling is my company. I’m the biggest star this company has... If I leave, this company is f*cking done, if we’re just being honest.” He attributed AEW's 2026 growth to his mainstream exposure, including roles in the most streamed Netflix movie and the upcoming Universal film Violent Night 2.
The interview comes before AEW Revolution on March 15, 2026, in Los Angeles, where MJF defends the AEW World Championship against Hangman Adam Page in a Texas Deathmatch. The stipulation states that if Page loses, he can never challenge for the title again. Sources reference past pay discussions, such as Swerve Strickland earning more in AEW than in WWE, and Dustin Rhodes not receiving raises during his WWE tenure.
