MJF says his Beyond Wrestling match this Friday against Bobby Orlando will be his last American independent date for the foreseeable future, as he turns his full attention back to AEW. The reigning AEW World Champion framed the move as a deliberate decision to protect his title reign after a recent loss he insists never should have happened.
Speaking with Undisputed (Justin Barrasso), MJF made the announcement while taking direct aim at the circumstances of his defeat.
“I’m going to announce that this is probably the last American independent match I’m going to have for an extraordinarily long time,” MJF said. “I need to focus on AEW. I took my eyes off the ball for a millisecond, and a dude who is like 145-fucking-pounds soaking wet beat me. That can’t happen. I don’t care that he hit me in the nuts and spammed his finisher on me four times, and Aubrey Edwards, who is a complete liar, made a fast count. But glass half full, I’m now a three-time champion at the age of 30.”
The in-character explanation doubles as fresh heat heading into his next televised assignment. MJF is booked to face RUSH on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite.
MJF Steps Away From The Indie Circuit
Over the past year, MJF has taken bookings across several independent promotions, including WrestlePro, HOG, Limitless, and CAP. Friday’s bout with Bobby Orlando at Beyond Wrestling is positioned as the cap on that run.
The pivot lines up with his current AEW priorities, with MJF’s first title defence already confirmed after Double or Nothing. His AEW World Championship win gave him the belt he now says demands his undivided focus.
For fans of the indie scene, Friday is the chance to catch MJF on a smaller stage before he locks back in on AEW programming.