MJF on Interest in WWE Career, AEW Future, Cody Rhodes, & Future Hollywood Career

A recent episode of The Ariel Helwani Show podcast had MJF as the guest. Some of the topics discussed included MJF’s thoughts on his past history with WWE Executive Director Bruce Prichard, if he’s interested in a WWE career, his thoughts on WWE’s programming, his future in AEW and if he will sign a new deal before his current contract expires, Cody Rhodes’ departure from AEW, and his plans for a future career in Hollywood.

On the topic of his past history with Bruce Prichard, MJF stated:

“Well, Bruce Prichard and me, this is a shoot, Bruce Prichard and me go way back. When he was in MLW, he was one of the lead producers there and he would watch me do promos and he was floored by me. Absolutely enamored by me. I was the prettiest girl at the ball. We would just sit down and shoot the shit. I love Bruce. I think Bruce is a hell of a guy and has a hell of a mind. I think he produces incredible television. So yes, I’ve talked to Bruce multiple times. As far as have I been reached out to, legally it’s not smart for me to answer that question but what I can say emphatically is that there is an absurd amount of interest in me. Tony Khan knows that. Tony Khan claims he’s not afraid of that and that’s good, so I hope you’re not afraid to shell out a lot of fucking money.”

On the topic of his interest in a potential career in WWE, MJF stated:

“See, I think WWE is doing great. I love everything WWE’s doing. I just think we are fresh and we have fresh faces that people haven’t seen before. I think right now everything that Vince [McMahon] and Bruce Prichard are putting out there is absolutely incredible. I love it. I love NXT 2.0. I love Raw, I love SmackDown, I love what Roman’s doing. I think Roman’s putting out some great work. Paul Heyman, fellow member of the tribe, absolutely killing it. Sorry about what’s going on with Brock [Lesnar], you deserve better than that. I think they’re putting out a great product. I think the big difference, quite frankly is that AEW has MJF. That’s the biggest difference-maker you could possibly have.”

On the topic of his thoughts on WWE’s programming, MJF stated:

“I genuinely love WWE programming. It’s great. There’s so many charisma machines on that program. I think it’s a great show. They had a makeout competition this past Tuesday; gripping television. How could you not like a makeout competition? I practically had a makeout competition with that hot redhead a couple of weeks ago. Who doesn’t like a good makeout sesh? So, I’m enjoying it. I think Bruce is doing a hell of a job and at the end of the day, quite frankly, there’s a lot of guys there that are developing and trying to figure out who they are as human beings. Not who they are as acts, but who they are as human beings and it’s fun to watch these young guys develop and figure it out.”

On the topic of his future in AEW and if he will sign a new deal before his current contract expires, MJF stated:

“When you’re as talented and over and as much of a draw as me, if I want to, I could bite all of Tony Khan’s fingers. He knows where his bread is buttered. If that offended somebody in the locker room, and I know it does, oh well. Cry about it. Get more over than me. Oh wait, that’s right, you can’t. I’m literally the best talker in the history of the business, I’m one of the best wrestlers in the history of the business, bell to bell, because I don’t just spam moves like I’m in a video game, no, I make people feel something because I’m going out there to win. I’m not going out there to show off, I’m not going out there to try and make sure I get all these people talking about my star ratings. If that happens and it’s a byproduct of what I do, fantastic. I didn’t get in this business to hit moves, I got into this business to make money. That’s why I’m not afraid to talk about when my contract is up, January 1, 2024, and I’m not afraid to stir that pot. it’s a constant reminder to Tony Khan, ‘I need to step my game up,’ and it’s a constant reminder to WWE, who has extreme interest in me, ‘We’re going to need to make him a serious offer that he can’t refuse …

I’m not signing shit. No shot. It’s not a test if you know you’re going to win. I got the cheat code. I got the answers on a piece of paper. No, that’s not something I consider, unless the number was absolutely astronomical, but even then, I’m not sure I consider it.

That’s not something I’m willing to discuss, but if you see what the top guys in our industry make, that’s cool, but I want to make more than that.”

On the topic of Cody Rhodes’ recent departure from AEW, MJF stated:

“I respect what he is doing as a businessman. Quite frankly, by 2024, if people have an issue with me leaving to go make real money, then me and him are going to be fighting on the same exact island.”

On the topic of his plans for a future career in Hollywood and doing voice acting work for an upcoming animated film, MJF stated:

“Bingo, yes [I want to transition into acting]. That’s why me and Dip are in talks, Diperstein, Bryan Diperstein who is an incredible agent.

This is an exclusive: Bryan Diperstein at ICM is my agent and we’ve created a great team. I’m also with Activist [Artists Management] who is my management team; Jon Kanak, Justin Deanda, Bernie Cahill and I got a great team and I got a lot of offers for a lot of different things. I’m in a lot of talks with a lot of different people. That part, legally I will not discuss. I have already done a voiceover for an animated movie that I cannot discuss but that’ll be coming out in 2023 and I’m excited. Quite frankly, when people think about professional wrestlers and acting, you get nervous and queasy, right? Because most professional wrestlers cannot act. You know, you put a red light in their face and their best thing they can do is, ‘I’m gonna kick your ass!’ You know? But that’s not my M.O, I’m a great guy and just like John Cena is a very bright guy, just like The Rock is a very bright guy, just like Batista is a very bright guy and that’s why I feel I bring something entirely different to the table. I am a huge, huge fan of Don Rickles. Do you remember Don Rickles? The cool thing about Don Rickles was he could walk in a room, he could talk to anybody any which way he liked and the people loved it and I feel that that’s something I can bring to the table. I could be a — again, hate this word, ‘heel’ in Hollywood and it’s very exciting.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com 1 & 2, PostWrestling.com, F4WOnline.com