Dave Meltzer has offered his thoughts on speculation linking MJF with a return to action at AEW All Out.
On August 19th it was reported that MJF would be back with AEW soon. The star hasn’t appeared with the company since June 1st where he cut his infamous “pipe bomb” promo attacking pretty much everyone and everything related to AEW.
Although, even before this flashpoint, the star had apparently been increasingly disillusioned with his role in the company and was sending more than admiring glances in the direction of WWE.
Despite this, his return could be imminent and there is even an inviting looking mystery spot on the card of All Out potentially waiting for him. On the September 4th show in Chicago, there will be a Casino Ladder Match featuring Claudio Castagnoli, Dante Martin, Penta Oscuro, Rey Fenix, Andrade El Idolo, Rush and Wheeler Yuta. As has become tradition, there is also a mystery ‘Joker’ spot left unfilled.
This had led many to believe that the mystery spot could belong to Maxwell Jacob Friedman. Speaking on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained that while nothing is certain, MJF would be the logical mystery man.
“[There will be] A mystery guy, who could be whatever. A lot of people think MJF, and MJF is coming back and the winner gets a title shot. The winner is presumably facing Punk, unless Moxley wins. I mean MJF certainly makes as much sense as anyone, but I don’t know if they want to pull the trigger this early, but maybe they do. Tony did say that after this show they will be at 100% and they will be the strongest unit, as far as talent, that they have ever had.
100%. He wouldn’t say what that means, but to me 100% means MJF, and I already knew that MJF is coming back soon. I don’t know that it’s going to be this week… he’s definitely in the running if you’re going to put odds on something, he’d probably be the most likely guy.”
Meltzer added that CM Punk was the man to run off MJF after his promo on June 1st, so victory in the Ladder Match would be a way to easily jump back into their long-running feud.
MJF’s most recent opponent to date Wardlow, recently admitted that the star “ruined” Double or Nothing, which should have been one of the biggest nights of his life.
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