Why MJF might never leave AEW or join WWE

Maxwell Jacob Friedman, or MJF, is one of the biggest names on the AEW roster. Friedman often blends reality with fiction in his storylines and makes reference to real-life incidents, something that's rare in wrestling. His name routinely appears in lists of wrestlers who might leave AEW, or join WWE.

However, it is very possible that Friedman might never go to another wrestling faction, let alone WWE, and here are three simple reasons why.

---

#3 MJF owes his fame to AEW

MJF has soared to fame during his AEW run, but he did have a notable amount of experience on the indies beforehand. He started his career in Combat Zone Wrestling from 2015 to 2018. He was also with Major League Wrestling from 2017 to 2020.

His stint in AEW had him compete in controversial but highly rated matches like the Dog Collar match he competed in against CM Punk. The Jacksonville-based promotion also gives the former AEW World Champion opportunities to build storylines and hone his skills, with him facing the likes of Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega during his stint.

---

#2 MJF is already Hollywood-bound

Few wrestlers have had successful Hollywood stints, and MJF is already on the path of knowing whether he's cut out for the world of franchises and sequels.

Friedman had a role in The Iron Claw, the Hollywood movie based on the life and times of the Von Erich family, and also ended up getting a producer's credit.

Although the young wrestler has a lot of wrestling years in him, and his championship runs and position at the top of the card might not allow him to go full-fledged to Tinseltown yet, the 28-year-old wrestler has already forged a path into the movie industry. He has also voiced the Killer Croc character in Justice League x RWBY: Super Heroes & Huntsmen, Part Two

In retrospect, The Rock was 29 when he made his Hollywood debut as the face behind the CGI character The Scorpion King in The Mummy Returns.

---

#1 MJF is already a household name outside the wrestling arena

MJF is ultra-famous in wrestling circles and often appears in the press and on talk shows. He appeared on the Rosie O'Donnell Show in 2021 and Impractical Jokers in 2023.

With such fame, the Salt of the Earth has the option of when and where to wrestle and doesn't need to be part of WWE's media machine to be successful outside of wrestling. These points are all logical, but there's an emotional reason why Better than You Bay Bay won't leave the Jacksonville-based company.

He was in a suspense-laden storyline, in which his name disappeared from the roster after his World Championship loss to Samoa Joe at Worlds End, only to return. The storyline shows that TK and Maxwell Jacob Friedman have sheer confidence in each other - and that camaraderie doesn't break up because of money.

---