Amidst the ongoing issues between MJF and AEW, a new report from Wade Keller has shared more details on MJF’s contract status.
Regarding MJF’s salary, Keller noted that when Friedman first signed with AEW back in 2019 he was on a “starter deal.” This salary saw him earn somewhere between $40,000 – $70,000 a year. In the time since that first deal, Friedman signed a new deal that now sees him earn hundreds of thousands of dollars. However, this deal is still seen as “modest compared to the contracts of more than half a dozen free agent signings.”
Christian, Mark Henry, Malakai Black, Adam Cole, Bryan Danielson and CM Punk are six names that earned more than MJF. There are several others as well. It was also stated that in many cases, these wrestlers are “getting paid four or five times more than him [MJF].” Several of the names that are paid more than him are “nowhere near his stature as a top tier main event star and ratings draw.”
MJF was reported as being “kind of fuming over this”, with him believing that his professionalism and friendship with Tony Khan would have led the latter to renegotiate his deal when there were around two years left on it. So despite MJF getting a substantial raise “percentage-wise”, he wanted to be paid closer to those who were being brought into the company. When Tony didn’t do that, “the way he handled it was to get very angry privately and then it kind of exploded.”
It was noted that people backstage at AEW have seen MJF’s demeanor change from being passionate to now seeming “withdrawn and disgruntled.” Also, Friedman and Khan were said to have been “really close” as recently as late last year. This relationship has since become fractured.
It has also been repeatedly stated that no matter what eventually comes out of the MJF contract situation, this absolutely did not start off as a work. Could it become one if a deal is reached or more money is offered? Of course.
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