AEW World Champion MJF has revealed that there is one part of holding wrestling’s top prize that he does not enjoy, and it has nothing to do with opponents inside the ring.
Appearing on the WDW News Today podcast, MJF admitted that travelling with the AEW World Championship belt can turn into a frustrating experience, particularly when dealing with airport security.
According to the champion, encounters with TSA agents often become drawn-out affairs, even when it is obvious they recognise both him and the title he is carrying.
“So I will say, one of the only things about being world champion that isn’t fun is TSA,” MJF said. “Because they always know what it is, and they smirk, and then they pull the bag, and I’m just like… I say every time, ‘I get it. You want to hold it, but can we not do the whole rigmarole that you’re pretending that you’re looking around? Can you just pick the belt up?’”
He added that being direct usually speeds the process along.
“‘If you want, I’ll take a photo with you for all I care. I know you know who I am. I know you know what this is. Can we move along here?’ When I’m that blunt with them, normally, it makes the scenario faster.”
He noted that not every interaction is the same, however, and some agents genuinely have no idea what they are looking at.
“Then there are other times where people aren’t professional wrestling fans, and they’re genuinely like, ‘What? Why? How?’”
While MJF continues to embrace the spotlight that comes with being the AEW World Champion, his comments highlight one of the less glamorous realities of carrying a championship belt through airports on a regular basis.
When Did MJF Win The AEW World Title?
MJF captured the AEW World Championship at Worlds End on December 27, 2025, winning a four-way match that also included former champion Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland and “Hangman” Adam Page. MJF inserted himself into the match by cashing in his Casino Gauntlet contract.
The victory marked another milestone in his career and placed him back at the top of AEW’s men’s division heading into the new year.
