3 stars MJF could point to his return from AEW

MJF has been absent from AEW programming since his loss to Mark Briscoe at All Out: Toronto. The self-proclaimed generational talent is just around the corner returning to All Elite Wrestlinghaving finished filming the upcoming action comedy violent night 2, in which it had been distributed.

In the last promo he cut before his hiatus, Friedman talked about feeling like he’s been coming back to himself and vowed to return to the company as his most dangerous self. It’s likely, therefore, that The Wolf of Wrestling will be looking to make a statement when he returns, possibly at the expense of another wrestler.

With that in mind, we consider three stars that MJF could follow to mark his AEW return.

#1. Former world champion Hangman Page

Maxwell Jacob Friedman and Adam Page had their first singles feud at All Elite Wrestling earlier this year, after multiple backstage encounters and exchanges put them on a collision course. The two stars faced off in Revolution 2025, with The Cowboy emerging victorious. While the latter continued his pursuit of the AEW Men’s World Title by winning the Owen Hart Cup, MJF secured a spot in The Hurt Syndicate.

At All In: Texas, Page dethroned Moxley as world champion, and Friedman won a Casino Gauntlet match, earning himself a future title shot. The New York native’s fortunes took a turn for the worse when he was not only fired from The Syndicate shortly after, but also prompted The Hangman to run out of his contract for a world title at Forbidden Door 2025. To regain their advantage, MJF and The Demand kidnapped Mark Briscoe and forced Page to agree to his revised terms for pay per view. However, Friedman was still unable to topple the champion.

Even though Hangman is no longer the AEW Men’s World Champion, MJF probably still has a bone to pick with the company’s popularly called “main character.” Friedman could thus return to the promotion’s schedule by attacking Page, eager to get back into the title picture by reclaiming his victories over the Virginia native.

#2. Former world champion Swerve Strickland

Heading into Worlds End in 2023, Samoa Joe extended his services to MJF as a bodyguard, offering to watch his back against “The Devil” and his masked goons en route to the pay-per-view, where Friedman was set to defend his AEW World Championship against The Samoan Submission Machine. On the December 20 episode of Dynamite, just one week after mysterious assailants attacked Hangman Page backstage, The Salt of The Earth approached an unlikely suspect as the individual under the devil’s mask: Swerve Strickland.

Finding a mask outside the dressing room of the Moghul embassy, ​​MJF called out and ambushed Prince Nana, leading to a confrontation with Swerve. Friedman reminded the independents of their history before accusing Strickland of being the devil and his stable of masked attackers at his service. noting his ongoing blood feud with The Hangman. El Realest said he had nothing to do with the mysterious group and their hostilities, although he warned MJF that he did not respect him and would undermine him at his own peril.

Friedman and Strickland have yet to face one-on-one in AEW and have stayed off each other’s radars since then, mostly. However, a fight between them would definitely be one of the biggest shows in the company right now. As such, MJF could come back and go after Swerve, aiming to build himself up as a world championship contender by beating a former champion.

#3. Samoa Joe, reigning AEW World Champion

At Dynamite: Grand Slam 2023, MJF successfully defended his World Championship against Samoa Joe, barely surviving the bout after illegally choking out The Samoan Submission Specialist with his wrist tape. The veteran later offered Friedman his protection against The Devil and his crew, and even offered to defend their ROH Tag Titles with him as Adam Cole’s replacement, in exchange for another World Title shot at AEW Worlds End.

After Joe helped MJF defend the Ring of Honor tag belts against The Gunns at Full Gear 2023, the latter struck a deal with The Destroyer. This all turned out to be a ruse, however, as Joe betrayed Friedman before the pay-per-view and then proceeded to end his reign as AEW World Champion by beating him at the event. Afterwards, The Devil and his stable were unmasked, revealing that they had been led by Adam Cole all along.

Almost two years later, Samoa Joe is back as the Men’s World Champion, having dethroned Hangman Page for the belt at Full Gear 2025. MJF is no doubt eager to reclaim his prized “Triple B” from the man who took the belt from him, especially considering he still holds his All In: Texas World Title contract, and He’ll probably be defending his dynamite diamond ring soon also to make a shot on the leash.

All these signs point to MJF back to business, with Joe in the sights.