MJF is carrying the load for AEW heading into Full Gear 2023

MJF is standing firmly in the spotlight as multiple storylines revolve around him as AEW World Champion before the next big PPV.

Professional wrestling companies lean on their top champions to carry the organization from show to show. MJF is taking that to heart as he stands as the central figure in multiple angles heading into AEW Full Gear 2023. With so many angles swirling around him, it’s interesting to watch how he’s carrying the load as the AEW World Champion, and that impact across the rest of the men’s division.

With the next AEW PPV scheduled for November 18, MJF has angles going with Samoa Joe, Bullet Club Gold (all four members), Adam Cole, Roderick Strong (and Neck Strong), and the Acclaimed. You can’t forget about Wardlow waiting in the wings. Each weekly edition of AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision includes multiple segments that point toward the target on his back growing. And even with all that mounting, MJF continues to thrive in the predicament.

MJF has had three matches in the month of October, a 2-on-1 handicap match against The Righteous at WrestleDream, he defended the Dynamite Diamond Ring against Juice Robinson and recently defeated Kenny Omega in a Match of the Year candidate on AEW Collision. Even with only three matches this month, it feels like MJF is showing up on the show every five minutes. Even when it’s another wrestler talking about MJF, his presence is felt.

Even with so much focus on MJF, AEW is doing an excellent job not taking the shine off other champions. Orange Cassidy is heading into a big match against Claudio Castagnoli with the AEW International Championship on the line. Christian Cage is the TNT Championship and certainly, he will face Adam Copeland for the belt at some point. Yes, the women’s division could always use more time, but there’s a buzz behind the upcoming match between Hikaru Shida and Toni Storm. None of these champions feel “less than” while the focus is on MJF, a credit to what is being presented on television each week.

As the card for AEW Full Gear continues to take shape, it will be interesting to see how the promotion continues to weave MJF in and out of the storylines. With so many different directions to go, one must wonder who the individual will be to finally get the win over him and take that championship from around his waist.