As WWE receives a boost from the return of CM Punk, its rival promotion, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has suffered a significant blow.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, AEW’s World Champion, Maxwell Jacob Friedman — best known as “MJF” — has suffered a torn labrum. While it’s unclear how the injury will affect MJF’s availability, Meltzer reports that the 27-year-old champion will still defend his title against Samoa Joe at AEW’s Worlds End pay-per-view on Dec. 30 as scheduled.
MJF’s injury is just the latest hit to the AEW roster in recent months. After AEW fired Punk in early-September following multiple backstage incidents — paving the way for his WWE return — a number of key wrestlers have missed significant time due to injuries, including Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole, Sammy Guevara and Juice Robinson.
While many top AEW stars had previously made names for themselves in WWE and/or New Japan Pro Wrestling, MJF has been arguably the promotion’s top homegrown talent. Having been signed to AEW since its inception in 2019, the self-proclaimed generational talent became the company’s youngest world champion when he defeated Moxley at last year’s Full Gear pay-per-view and has since gone on to enjoy the longest title reign in the championship’s history. Around the same time of his title win, Friedman was also cast to co-star in The Iron Claw, a biopic about the legendary Von Erich family, which has already received Academy Awards buzz.
While it appears Friedman will be healthy enough to defend his title next month, it remains to be seen how the injury will affect AEW’s future plans. In addition to Samoa Joe, AEW had also been teasing a feud with his former bodyguard, Wardlow.
After the news of his injury was first reported on Monday, many took to social media to weigh in.
AEW's depth at the top is about to be tested big time.
On one hand, it could be exposed with no clear top guy.
On the other, could be a major opportunity for someone to step up and claim the spot.
Hate this for Max, nonetheless. https://t.co/eF0ZeHx2G7
— Jon Alba (@JonAlba) November 27, 2023
Don’t over complicate it.
Give the championship to Swerve. https://t.co/36EOi3d8eT pic.twitter.com/RD8OvDYOw5
— ɴɪᴄᴋ ᴊᴀᴄᴋꜱᴏɴ'ꜱ ʙᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴀᴘᴇ (@divexmachina) November 27, 2023
Ok my dude Tony, add Bryan Danielson to the World's End match and make him world champion. It's now or never. https://t.co/lXhBWn63DE
— AEW Highlights (@aew_highlights) November 27, 2023
So Jay White lost to MJF with one leg and one arm. https://t.co/3rs7cAAELk pic.twitter.com/CAdPks6pLx
— Alastair McKenzie🏴 (@mckenzieas93V2) November 27, 2023
Tony Khan right now: https://t.co/3oJnqhs1rj pic.twitter.com/f5aE0JSgws
— Centurion (@CenturionReal) November 27, 2023
Him and Adam Cole sitting in la-z-boys with live mics is gonna be peak entertainment. https://t.co/nHWR1tIwO1
— Wrestling Spotlight 🌐 (@WrestleLight) November 27, 2023
Devil reveal at Worlds End. This is an awful situation. https://t.co/0KcBJ0yHNr
— JDfromNY (@JDfromNY206) November 27, 2023
That main event just got a lot more interesting. https://t.co/NyHkqCrkQC
— MK🍀 (@Kamiorra) November 27, 2023
