MJF made a dramatic return during “AEW Dynamite,” invoking his Casino Gauntlet contract to enter a World Championship match featuring Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and “Hangman” Adam Page at the event World’s End. Previously, Joe had taken the title from Page at Full Gear in November and rejoined The Ops with Hook’s help. Strickland then came back and claimed the title from Page in a match involving The Ops. Since then, Strickland and Page have teamed up to fend off Joe’s Trios Championship partners, Katsuyori Shibata and Powerhouse Hobbs, at “AEW Dynamite: Winter is Coming,” signaling their shared goal of recapturing the title later this month.
This week, the three wrestlers signed contracts to confirm the upcoming match, exchanging heated words. Page and Strickland presented a united front against Joe, warning that Joe had made a grave error—just before the lights went out. At that moment, MJF’s entrance music played, marking his comeback three months after a loss to Mark Brisco in a Tables and Taxes match at All Out in Toronto. MJF officially signed the contract he earned by winning the Casino Gauntlet at All In in July, securing his spot in the title match. He then addressed his rivals, likening Strickland to Sean “P. Diddy” Combs in reference to his WWE days, and declared his intent to embarrass Page and his key competitors.
In recent history, Page bested MJF in a title defense at Forbidden Door in August, Joe took the championship from MJF at World’s End 2023 as his first title, and Joe subsequently lost the belt to Strickland at Dynasty 2024 during his first reign.
Fan Take: MJF’s unexpected return instantly raises the stakes for AEW’s World Championship scene, promising high drama and fresh rivalries. This development is pivotal for AEW fans eager to see intense competition and storytelling that could reshape the sport’s landscape.
