Three big feuds that would define MJF’s title with the AEW World Championship

After winning the belt at last year’s Full Gear pay-per-view MJF is set for his first title defense against Bryan Danielson on March 5th at Revolution. The whole gimmick behind MJF’s title reign is that he never defends it, making promos and weekly interactions all that more important between MJF and his challengers.

It is unlikely MJF drops the belt only a pay-per-view later than when he won it, so what will the rest of the “Salt of the Earth’s” reign have in store?

Here are three potential challengers for the AEW world championship that could make MJF’s time with the belt some of the best in the young company’s history.

Number 1: Adam Cole

Ever since returning on Jan. 11 inside the Kia Forum, fans have been dying to know what is next for Adam Cole. A feud with MJF would make an immediate impact that could save the current problem of AEW having no major babyfaces.

It was obvious at the return of Adam Cole that the fans were dying to see him back in action, and going on a winning run starting at Revolution in a singles match and continuing weekly on Dynamite is an easy way to build him back up to a top star. MJF and Adam Cole could be the next feud with the match taking place at Double or Nothing between the promotion No. 1 heel taking on the new No. 1 babyface.

Number 2: Kenny Omega

As the so-called “bidding war of 2024” for MJF draws near, a feud between MJF and Kenny Omega who is an Executive Vice President with AEW makes too much sense not to run with. Kenny Omega’s trios run with the Young Bucks have been a lot of fun, but it’s time to put Omega back in the main event scene. MJF playing the role of, if you beat me and I lose the belt I might leave your company would be fascinating.

AEW needs some complex and multi-layered stories at the top of their company to attract new viewers, and this would be an excellent way to do that. Omega vs MJF would also be a much better in-ring match than a lot of people are expecting. Although MJF has minimal matches, he proves he can work with the best of the best when he does, and Omega is another one of the best he could step inside the squared circle to compete against.

Number 3: CM Punk

Punk and MJF’s first feud was one of the greatest feuds in AEW and it didn’t even have a title on the line, now with the AEW World Championship in play, the ante would only be raised. If this match were to happen Punk should put his money where his mouth is about putting over younger talent.

Punk’s body has shown a struggle to stay healthy since returning in 2021, and he should wrestle minimally going forward if he comes back to AEW. Punk and MJF had some of the best promos in their last feud and going at it weekly on the stick, is a way to make the feud feel huge. The fans would enjoy the promos between the two and neither man has to put their body on the line, until the final match for the belt. If this matchup happens in late 2023 the match should be billed as for the AEW World Championship, but also a loser leaves the AEW match to only add to the massive match-up.