Ladies and gents, hold onto your wrestling boots because we’ve got some juicy backstage gossip straight from the AEW locker room. It looks like the former AEW World Champion MJF, the man we love to hate, might be making his grand return to the ring soon.
MJF has been conspicuously absent since his intense showdown with Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship at AEW’s Worlds End pay-per-view. But according to the ever-reliable “Fightful Select,” “The Salt of the Earth” could be back on our screens by the time AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door rolls around in New York on June 30.
Now, don’t go marking your calendars just yet. While there’s chatter behind the scenes about his return, there’s no official date set in stone. MJF’s injury status has been shrouded in mystery, but the report hints that he was nursing a few bumps and bruises heading into his clash with Samoa Joe. Ever the professional, MJF powered through the pain to finish his storyline. Rumor has it, he’s signed a shiny new deal that’s catapulted him into the upper echelons of AEW’s highest earners. Talk about a comeback!
MJF’s return could be just what the doctor ordered for AEW, especially with several top stars like Kenny Omega, Eddie Kingston, and Bryan Danielson sidelined due to injuries. The timing couldn’t be better, as AEW’s ratings have been taking a hit lately – a headache for Tony Khan with those crucial WBD deal negotiations looming.
However, not everyone is convinced that MJF’s return will be a silver bullet for AEW’s ratings woes. WWE Hall of Famer Eric Bischoff has thrown a wet blanket on the hype, arguing that even MJF’s undeniable talent might not be enough to lift the ratings. According to Bischoff, it’s not the talent but the creative direction that’s dragging AEW down. Ouch!