MJF is putting his marriage on hold for professional violence. The former AEW World Champion declared on the August 10 edition of Dynamite that he is postponing his honeymoon with new wife Alicia Atout, vowing that his only focus is his upcoming match against Mark Briscoe at the All Out pay-per-view.
During the fiery promo, MJF revealed he told Atout, an AEW interviewer, “I’ve been married to the game of wrestling long before you came into the picture.” He drove the point home with a dark promise, stating, “I will not be going on any honeymoon until Mark Briscoe is d—d.”
The Real-World Context of MJF’s Wedding
This intense on-screen dedication to his heel persona comes at a complicated time for MJF. Photos from his September 5 wedding recently leaked online, reportedly causing frustration for both him and others within AEW. The images, which included MJF posing with on-screen rivals like Adam Page, are seen as a threat to the kayfabe he meticulously protects.
Hangman Page, Kip Sabian, Penelope Ford, Tony Schiavone, HOOK, Taz, Alex Reynolds, Daniel Garcia, Tony Khan, Mark Sterling, Thunder Rosa, Jeff Jarrett, Karen Jarrett, Max Caster, Amanda Huber & Aubrey Edwards… at MJF/Alicia Atout’s wedding.
— Drainmaker (@DrainBamager) September 6, 2025
Congratulations to the newlyweds. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/ufRRmKZlrF
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the situation is a sensitive one internally. “Here’s the thing on that, I know that they’re not particularly happy it happened. He’s trying to be a heel from the 70s and 80s in 2025. And it’s not the easiest thing to do. And he works very hard at being that kind of a heel that people genuinely hate and trying to make. And there’s nothing wrong with trying to create the illusion that these feuds are real.”
MJF’s public doubling-down on his character serves as a direct response to the real-world challenge of maintaining his old-school heel gimmick in the digital age. The next chapter of this story unfolds on the September 13 episode of Collision, where Mark Briscoe is scheduled to announce the stipulation for their match at All Out.