MJF Says AEW Locker Room Better Now That ‘Cancers’ Are Gone

AEW World Champion MJF says the backstage culture in All Elite Wrestling has completely changed — and he’s making it clear the cancers in the company are no longer there.

For years, drama inside AEW often grabbed more attention than what was happening in the ring. Much of that limelight centered around the fallout involving CM Punk, whose arrival and eventual exit led to nonstop stories about tension backstage. At the same time, several wrestlers publicly complained about television time, while names like Rusev and Aleister Black eventually left the company and returned to WWE.

But according to MJF, the environment inside AEW today looks very different. Speaking with The Takedown on SI on March 14, 2026, the two-time AEW World Champion said the current locker room reflects exactly what Tony Khan’s promotion is supposed to represent. MJF explained that the company is now focusing on wrestlers who genuinely want to be part of AEW.

“Right now, it's about fresh faces. It's about the new young guys. It's about pushing the guys that are under 40 into emphasis. It's about giving opportunities to individuals that want to be in All Elite Wrestling. If you don't want to be in AEW, f**k off, go have fun elsewhere. We don't want you here.”

According to Friedman, the current roster is filled with talent who are motivated to compete at the highest level. He also praised the environment AEW provides for its performers.

“Everyone in that locker room right now wants to be in AEW, because it's the most competitive locker room. It's where the best wrestle. It's where you get compensated the way you should be compensated for your talents. It's where you're treated like a human being.”

MJF even claimed the current culture inside the promotion might be the strongest it has ever been. Still, MJF kept things on brand with a quick reminder that he doesn’t exactly consider himself part of the team spirit.

“Right now, there's never been a better team atmosphere in the history of the AEW locker room. Am I a part of that team? Abso-f**king-lutely not, I hang out in my own locker room. But it's nice to see everybody getting along.”

The AEW champion also suggested the improved atmosphere came after certain names left the company, calling them cancers. Without mentioning names, MJF said the locker room no longer has people who think they’re bigger than the promotion.

“There's no b*******. There's no more cancers. There's no more a**holes that think they're too cool for school. There's no more shmegegges that think they should be elsewhere.”

According to MJF, the current mindset inside AEW is simple — if you don’t want to be there, you won’t last long. He closed with a very MJF-style warning about what happens when someone disrupts the locker room.

“Everybody in this promotion wants to be in this promotion, and if you don't, you get weeded out pretty damn fast. Because we'll beat the s**t out of you and send you packing.”

With MJF praising the current backstage culture, AEW is more than ready to show that the locker room drama that once overshadowed everything else in the company may finally be behind them.

Do you think AEW has really moved past its backstage issues, or could the drama eventually return? Let us know what you think.