MJF has a unique relationship with WWE.

On one hand, his mentor, Cody Rhodes, is the promotion's top champion, and considering their history in the first year and change of AEW, there's a strong appetite to see that feud rekindled at some point in the future, presumably within both men, too. And yet, in his big return promo at Double or Nothing, MJF made things crystal clear as to why he chose to remain in AEW: MJF doesn't need Triple H or WWE to make him into a star.

Discussing all things wrestling in an interview with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated, MJF noted that while he will forever be a Rhodes fan, it was incredibly telling that, in Triple H's appearance on The Pat McAfee Show ahead of WrestleMania 40, fans were chanting his name at WWE's CCO.

“Cody Rhodes is a mentor of mine. I f**king love the guy. I love the Rhodes-a-coaster,” MJF told Sports Illustrated. “But when Triple H is doing an interview on one of the biggest sports shows, whose name were they cheering in the background? My name. I'm not just the biggest star in AEW. I'm one of the biggest stars in the history of the f**king business.”

To MJF's credit, the “Devil” is right on the money, as at the time, he was off the official AEW roster, was presumably a free agent, and, assuming he was healthy enough to get cleared by a doctor, could have played into Rhodes' match against Roman Reigns in the Night 2 WrestleMania main event, kicking the “American Nightmare” in the crotch once more to effectively hand the “Tribal Chief” the win and start a feud nearly half a decade in the making.

Fortunately, for one reason or another, MJF didn't jump in the “Bidding War of 2024,” and frankly, everyone is better off for it, as a challenger MJF who is hungry to prove he can make himself the greatest star in the world is a whole lot more entertaining than seeing how he would fit his bombastic, occasionally crass character into WWE's more PG presentation.

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MJF's Double or Nothing gear was a respectful hat tip to Triple H.

Elsewhere in his Sports Illustrated interview with Justin Barrasso, MJF discussed his decision to wear a hybrid jean/leather jacket to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for his return at Double or Nothing, noting that while he may not need Triple H to turn him into a certified star not just in the wrestling space but beyond it, he does still respect “The Game” for what his return meant to him as a kid and wanted to bring that same magic to the next generation of fans.

“The jean jacket was over what I feel is my leather jacket, but that jean jacket was certainly an homage to a return that meant something to me when I was a kid in Madison Square Garden. I'm sure people can connect the dots. Outside of that, the video of me walking through one of my palatial estates in the most magical place on earth–Long Island, New York–looking at that trophy room, it allows people to remember all the moments I created in a very short period of time. The dog collar match. The epic promos with CM Punk. The Iron Man match with Bryan Danielson. The promo with William Regal. The Dynamite Diamond Ring and all the wins that came with that. Dinner Debonair. My pipe bomb in LA. Lashing and whipping Cody. Kicking Cody in the dick after I threw in the towel and ruined an opportunity for him to become world champion in my promotion. Me putting Wardlow through the paces,” MJF recalled.

“This is just a fact–I've created some of the greatest moments in the history of the business, and I've only been on national television for an extraordinarily short period of time. I've said it before, I'll say it again because it's true–I'm 28 years old and I've already had a Hall of Fame career. There's nobody you can compare or contrast me to, there's never been anyone like me before.”

You know, if MJF did retire tomorrow, he really would have a strong case for a spot in the proverbial wrestling Hall of Fame, as he has some of the most important matches in AEW history, the longest World Championship reign of any performer in the promotion's history, and enough massive moments that put the entire wrestling world on notice to justify his candidacy. If he hung his boots up tomorrow, fans would be talking about MJF for a very, very, very long time.