Felix Upton on January 9, 2026
MJF’s return to AEW may have made headlines, but his controversial “P. Diddy” promo aimed at Swerve Strickland wasn’t exactly well-received backstage.
According to Fightful Select on January 9, 2026, MJF’s now-viral “P. Diddy” promo targeting Swerve Strickland wasn’t known in advance by other AEW talent — and several people behind the scenes were reportedly not happy about it.
“Wrestling Observer Live reported recently that the ‘Diddy’ promo from MJF wasn't known by other talent before it happened. We're told that's true, and there were a number of people not happy about it,” the report stated.
The shot went down during the December 17 tapings of AEW Dynamite in the U.K., when MJF returned and inserted himself into the AEW World Title match at World’s End by cashing in his Casino Gauntlet contract. Before signing the match into a fatal four-way, MJF dropped a ruthless promo aimed at Samoa Joe, Hangman Page, and especially Swerve Strickland — who got the most personal dig of the night.
“Fire bar, Shane! You really remind me a lot of this famous musician. You guys have a lot in common. You both call yourselves moguls, you both rock chains, you both use way too much baby oil, and you’re both dogs** rappers,” MJF said. “The name’s on the tip of my tongue… oh, that’s right—P. Diddy!”
The segment aired almost two weeks before MJF captured the AEW World Championship at World’s End, but it’s clear that his feud with Swerve Strickland is far from over. However, the backlash from the promo may have complicated things backstage.
AEW is no stranger to talent pushing boundaries on the mic, but if Fightful’s report is any indication, MJF’s latest shots may have crossed a line for some.
Do you think MJF went too far with the P. Diddy line? Or is this just another example of keeping things real in pro wrestling? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
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