AEW star claims TV deal talk is meant to shift attention
Summary
– MJF accused WWE and TKO of pushing negative AEW television deal rumors to deflect criticism
– He argued AEW remains valuable because live sports and news still drive cable television
– MJF said Warner Bros. Discovery executives are still happy with AEW’s performance
MJF is pushing back hard against rumors about AEW’s television future.
While speaking with Sports Illustrated, MJF addressed speculation about AEW’s next media rights situation and suggested the negative talk is coming from WWE and TKO. He claimed the goal is to make AEW look bad while shifting attention away from criticism of WWE.
MJF argued that AEW remains in a strong position because live sports programming still carries major value on cable. He said professional wrestling fits that category and pointed to AEW’s weekly performance as proof the company remains relevant.
He also pushed the idea that fans want an alternative to WWE. MJF compared AEW and WWE to Pepsi and Coke, saying there will always be room for both products.
MJF then accused WWE of using rumors about the television deal as a business tactic. He said the strategy is designed to get fans talking negatively about AEW instead of focusing on issues inside WWE.
The AEW star also praised Nick Khan while still making it clear he believes the tactic is obvious. He said it may be smart business, but he thinks fans can see through it.
The comments come as AEW’s long-term broadcast future remains a major topic across wrestling. Warner Bros. Discovery’s corporate situation has added uncertainty, but MJF said nobody inside AEW seems worried about the company’s standing.
For now, AEW has not announced its next long-term media move. MJF, however, is making it clear he believes the latest wave of rumors is more about wrestling politics than AEW panic.
