MJF AEW Contract Status Update – MJF States He Has Not Signed a New Deal Yet
A recent episode of the SI Media with Jimmy Traina podcast featured MJF as the guest. One of the topics discussed included MJF providing an update on the status of his contract with AEW and him wanting to stay in the company.
“I’ve been saying the same thing (about my contract expiration date). I never lied. January 1st, 2024. When stuff like that gets leaked out, it makes me laugh because I remember something leaked out about Cody (Rhodes) having secretly re-signed and then he showed up (in WWE). Something got leaked out about, you know, CM Punk and Tony Khan or you know… I think fans leak out things that they want to be true. I love AEW, I wanna stay in AEW. After this pay-per-view (Worlds End), it’s time to assess the situation for a professional setting. So… not yet (I haven’t re-signed).”
MJF also gave his thoughts about the recent comments made by Cody Rhodes who stated that he feels that MJF will work for WWE one day and the online backlash Rhodes received from some people over his comments.
“I saw fans actually sh*tting on him (Cody Rhodes) when all he was saying was his opinion (about my future). It’s his opinion. I pray to God I don’t get lambasted online for some of the opinions I’m doing in this interview. I just feel like everything’s so radicalized now and hyperbolic now. There’s certain aspects about social media I love. I think it brings people of the same like-mindedness together, I think it allows people to find their own communities. But what I hate about some of the social media is I find that hate-mongering and fear-mongering is the stuff that gets pushed the most and it’s because of this sensationalist stuff that people start believing in the sensationalized stuff and hyperbolic stuff and I can’t relate to it. I’m a straight shooter. I say it like it is 100 percent of the time. Cody Rhodes felt that way. In Cody Rhodes’ mind and opinion, that was his way of putting over a friend, a prodigy, a former co-worker, a former protégé… So, I still talk to Cody to this day. He’s a great guy. He’s doing great things over there, I’m doing great things over here.”
MJF also gave his thoughts about if he has any concerns about if he were to go to WWE that he would not be able to be himself to the fullest degree on television compared to AEW.
“I just don’t know how the f*ck you put a leash on me and I swear to God, that’s my honest opinion. I’m sorry I’ve now cursed twice… I don’t think anybody can hold me back from being the monster I am. I think my career trajectory in any company is going to be exactly the same. Do I think in some aspects, AEW fits me like a glove more so than anywhere else? Yeah, I do. Could an argument be made the other way around? Yeah, I’m sure. These are all things I have to think about. What I do know, whatever company I pick, it will be because it feels right and it means the most to me.”
MJF also gave his thoughts about how AEW had felt like it was going through a rebuild phase to restore the feeling the company once had.
“I feel like the company (AEW) right now, there was a minute there I felt like we were kind of in this rebuild phase and I feel like right now, we’re really building some serious momentum. There are fans online that say, ‘Restore the feeling’ and I dig that line and I am pumped because I feel like we are and we have and we’re continuing to do so and I’m proud to be at the helm of that.”
Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com
CJ Perry Hospitalization Update – Perry Underwent Successful Surgery
As noted before, CJ Perry has been hospitalized since this past Saturday due to an infection in her finger that later spread to her arm.
Perry’s husband Miro provided an update earlier today on Instagram stating that Perry had underwent successful surgery for her finger and arm infection.
Miro posted on his Instagram that CJ Perry is out of surgery for her infection. pic.twitter.com/gF8jT6IL66
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) December 19, 2023
Thunder Rosa Comments on Her Recent On-Screen Return to AEW
As noted before, Thunder Rosa made her on-screen return to AEW at this past Saturday’s AEW Collision show in Garland, Texas. This was Rosa’s first televised appearance in AEW since this past May.
A recent episode of the Busted Open Radio podcast featured Rosa as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Rosa’s thoughts about her recent return to AEW.
“500 days to be away from the ring. I never really left. I was always on people’s minds. I was always trending on Twitter. I was always here (on Busted Open) surrounded by people that helped me, by people that love me like [Mark Henry], my friends, my family, my community. I never really left. I was on Busted Open talking about the women’s division. I was on commentary. I’ve been working commentary since February. I’ve been working tirelessly representing the women’s division as much as I could in Mexico and America talking to athletes. I’ve been doing a lot that is not necessarily being in the ring. That was my next step, to come back in the ring. It was very important. It was important to represent my people and show that it’s okay to have setbacks and to fight back and get back in there.
I’ve been training since August in the ring, little by little. It’s a progression. You can see the change in my body and my mobility. It was difficult to come back because I was scared, I’m not going to lie, I was scared because you’re coming from a back injury that didn’t allow you to jump and run, and it was some things you had to re-learn.
I was a little worried about botching that jump. I was a little nervous because it’s been 500 days and so much has happened during that time. There has been so much change in the women’s division. The new people, the new stars have risen. I was in the background for a long time. It was hard, in the beginning, to take that step. I learned it was important to take that role and learn about everyone in the ring, so when it became my moment, people were going to know when I was coming back. People kept asking, ‘When are you coming back?’ I said, ‘Everyone is going to know when I come back.’ Even though I looked different and came in without face paint and a full set of hair. It took me 500 days to recuperate, to find myself as a person, to physically, mentally, and spiritually heal. To face the fears of rejection. That people may reject me or boo me. Even though I was afraid and had doubts, I never doubted myself that I still have it, and I stopped listening to people who don’t like me and don’t want me to be successful.”
Transcript h/t: Fightful.com