MJF assumes he’ll never face John Cena: "There was another world where that match was possible"

MJF is going through one of the highest peaks of his professional career. Crowned the new AEW World Champion, established as one of the central figures of the company, and firmly established as a top-tier star, the New York wrestler has shown that his status no longer depends on promises, but on facts. However, even at this point of maturity, there are stories that weigh more for not having been told than for having been lived.

One of them has a name of its own and transcends generations: John Cena. An impossible rival, a crossroads that never came to be and that MJF sees as a missed opportunity, not due to lack of admiration or narrative fit, but because of different times and realities within the business.

During a recent interview, MJF was directly asked if it saddened him to know that he would never get to face Cena. His response was honest and straightforward, making it clear that, in his mind, that match did exist, just not in this world.

Yes, absolutely. I think there's a different world where that match would have happened. Unfortunately, this isn't it. I've had many incredible encounters with John where we've chatted a lot. He's an amazing guy. He watches our product. He's seen my stuff. He's congratulated me a lot. Obviously, I congratulate him a lot too.

In that context, MJF revealed that Cena has been following his work closely, knows his evolution, and has had words of praise for him. A recognition that doesn't go unnoticed for someone who, nowadays, holds a leading role in a rival company but still values the legacy of those who marked an era.

Furthermore, the connection has a deeply personal component. Even before CM Punk became his main reference, John Cena was MJF's childhood idol. A poster on the wall of his room, an almost ritual figure to whom he paid homage every morning before going to school, when his dream of becoming a wrestler still seemed distant.

This respect was publicly reflected at the end of 2023 when they both coincided at the premiere of The Iron Claw, a movie in which MJF played Lance Von Erich. From that encounter emerged a much-discussed photograph and a subsequent comment from Cena that, although in a light-hearted tone, briefly fueled the imagination of many.