Maxwell Jacob Friedman is ready to defend the AEW World Championship against “Hangman” Adam Page in a Texas Death match at AEW Revolution on Saturday. If Page fails to regain the title he lost at Full Gear, he won’t ever have the opportunity to challenge for the title again. Even with the hardcore stipulation, Page’s specialty, and the caveat that he loses all other world championship opportunities, we still don’t think that he’ll be the one to dethrone MJF.
MJF won the title in reasonably sneaky fashion upon his return to AEW in December last 12 months. In the times leading as much as Worlds End, he return to money in his opportunity earned within the Casino Gauntlet match, making the triple threat at Worlds End a fatal four-way. MJF fought against champion Samoa Joe, Page, and Swerve Strickland on the pay-per-view and emerged victorious, gold in hand.
Since winning the gold, MJF has defended against Brody King, Bandido, and Kevin Knight. Page earned the chance to challenge MJF at Revolution after defeating Andrade El Idolo at Grand Slam Australia. While Page is definitely a formidable challenger, the predominant event scene is filled with talent, all gunning for the AEW World Championship, and we just don’t think Page kicks off his third reign with the belt with a win at Revolution.
From Page, to King, to Strickland, Andrade, Kenny Omega, and even Will Ospreay waiting within the wings to return from neck surgery, there isn’t any shortage of talent who may very well be the following AEW World Champion. In Page’s case, if he loses at Revolution, he could win back the chance to challenge for the title from whoever is holding it, whether that be MJF or the lads we expect should and can win the title within the near future.
Should: Brody King
Brody King has had an enormous rise in AEW during the last 12 months, thanks partially to his wildly successful tag team alongside Bandido, in addition to media coverage because of fan chants inspired by his ongoing support of families impacted by US immigration enforcement. With the recent mainstream attention and fan support, in addition to King’s in-ring prowess, we expect it ought to be time to drag the trigger on King and a world title run, despite his loss to MJF at Grand Slam Australia.
He’s set to face Swerve Strickland at Revolution, and he should go over the newly-heel star, who’s perpetually over at this point, and the loss would not hurt him. While, realistically, that feud is prone to proceed, this match ought to be a one-off to get King back to MJF. On this scenario, King could beat the champion at Dynasty in April, and go on to have a five-and-a-half month reign with the gold before the following person we expect wins the title, Will Ospreay at All In London at the top of August.
While calling King’s first AEW World Championship reign an “experiment” sounds harsh, that is what may very well be done here. Putting the title on him at Dynasty would get some hype for AEW during a season where WWE normally overshadows all the pieces with WrestleMania. His reign lasting a solid five months can be great for him, and although his match against Ospreay can be babyface versus babyface, we have seen that work before in AEW.
Throughout his time as champion, King could feud with MJF vying for a rematch, in addition to Strickland coming back for more. Despite a loss to Ospreay, which can be a incredible match, King would still look great, and will have a second run with the gold at any point in the longer term.
Will: Will Ospreay
While Kenny Omega thoroughly may very well be the person to dethrone MJF, we’re not entirely sold on what may very well be Omega’s final reign being a brief one. That is because, like many fans, we’re pretty set on the concept Ospreay wins at All In when it returns to Wembley Stadium, especially because of the assorted video vignettes AEW has already been running for the “Aerial Assassin” and reports he has traveled to tapings to get cleared following neck surgery.
In that case, we expect MJF holds the AEW World Championship straight through to All In. While this reign can be nowhere near his historic first reign with the title, which lasted 406 days, it could make sense to maintain the gold on him, as AEW just did a fast title change when Page lost the gold to Samoa Joe at Full Gear, then Joe lost the next month to MJF at Worlds End. If MJF loses the title at All In, he can have held the gold for around 247 days, which is nothing to scoff at.
While things can change quickly in fact, there have been no recent reports that MJF is jetting back to Hollywood to film anything anytime soon. He can defend the title at Dynasty and Double or Nothing, as he has no shortage of challengers.
It looks as if Ospreay is well on the best way back to the ring, but just when he returns stays unclear. We expect it should be at a pay-per-view, but Revolution seems unlikely with the huge stipulation between MJF and Page. It’s more likely we see Ospreay make his grand return at Dynasty, or possibly in Latest York City for Double or Nothing, each of which give him loads of time to stack some wins to earn his shot at MJF.