The former AEW World Champion’s Hollywood rise may delay his in-ring return
Summary
– MJF is finishing filming for Violent Night 2 while remaining absent from AEW television
– His growing Hollywood career includes roles in Happy Gilmore 2 and The Iron Claw
– No official timeline has been set for his AEW return, though he promises to come back stronger
MJF’s time away from AEW hasn’t been a break it’s been a transformation. The former AEW World Champion is nearing the end of filming for Violent Night 2, continuing a Hollywood streak that has quickly made him one of wrestling’s most talked-about crossover stars.
According to Fightful Select, MJF has adapted seamlessly to life on set and embraced his new challenge in Winnipeg, where the sequel is wrapping production. The report describes him as “thriving in Hollywood,” balancing film work and the same intensity that defined his wrestling career.
His acting schedule has been relentless. In addition to Violent Night 2, MJF has appeared in Happy Gilmore 2 and The Iron Claw, further solidifying his presence beyond the ring. Once production ramped up, he fully stepped away from AEW programming, leaving fans eager for any hint of his next move. While filming is almost complete, insiders suggest there’s still no confirmed date for his return.
MJF’s wife, Alicia Atout, even joked about their postponed honeymoon following All Out, saying, “If he’s alive, he’s gotta go shoot the movie.” The lighthearted comment underscored just how consumed his acting commitments were with him. Yet behind the humor lies a renewed focus that fans last saw in his emotional post-match comments after losing to Mark Briscoe.
“I cannot come back until I look in the mirror and I no longer see a fraud, but I see a man who was once at the top of this profession,” MJF said. “I will not come back until I am the most dangerous I have ever been.”
It’s clear that when MJF returns, he’ll bring more than just ring rust; he’ll bring reinvention. Whether his comeback happens before the year’s end or sometime in 2026, AEW fans can expect a version of MJF that’s both sharpened by Hollywood and hungrier than ever to reclaim his spot at the top.
