AEW star MJF has been one of the biggest stars All Elite Wrestling has ever created. From being a crook heel in 2019, he has managed to become one of the most must-see stars on TV. In the past few years, shows have revolved around him. He has main evented countless pay-per-views and weekly shows in the past few years. Tony Khan has certainly rewarded him for his loyalty and popularity, as Maxwell is a three-time AEW World Champion.
The Salt of the Earth has gained popularity over the years due to his flawless heel character. While he has been portrayed as a babyface occasionally, his heel persona has taken his game to another level. His feud against CM Punk, Darby Allin, Will Ospreay, Hangman Page and several others will be remembered for ages. In all these feuds, he was a great villain. However, it's time to see the other side of the coin. It is time to see whether he is a draw if portrayed as a babyface.
A few days ago, MJF lost his AEW World Championship to Kenny Omega. He was looking forward to heading to Wembley Stadium as the AEW World Champion, but that might not happen now. The three-time AEW World Champion is yet to break his silence following his devastating loss.
It seems like now is a perfect time to make a character change. The Devil should return to the Jacksonville-based promotion as a babyface and have another plan for his road to All In. Let's take a look at some of the reasons why he should change his character.
The inaugural All In in 2023 was headlined by MJF and Adam Cole, where the AEW World Championship was on the line. The road to their match was simple. The duo hated each other's guts. However, after being forced to team up, they became great friends. Both heels became babyfaces and a beloved tag team. The 2023 All In main event resonated with their friendship, and the story is fondly remembered by fans.
Tony Khan has the chance to replicate the same storyline once again. Andrade has been calling out Friedman for many months. However, El Idolo never got to face Maxwell when he was the world champion because Don Callis snubbed him of opportunities. Now that the Real Latino Man is no longer in the Don Callis Family's trap, he can confront the Devil. Unfortunately, there is no gold to fight for.
The two stars could have a series of matches. However, the Don Callis Family could interfere, and El Idolo could team up with Friedman, eventually turning babyface. The two could even have a great friendly match at All In, the same way Adam Cole and MJF did a few years ago.
Over the years, MJF has faced almost every top babyface on the Jacksonville-based promotion. Mark Briscoe, Will Ospreay, Mistico, Darby Allin and Kenny Omega have all collided with him. If these feuds kept recycling, the Salt of the Earth's character would take a huge hit and become uninteresting with time.
Turning babyface opens up a field of heel opponents for him. He has clashes with the entire Don Callis Family as the entire faction had an eye on his AEW World Championship before. Maxwell could also feud with Swerve Strickland. The two have been teasing a one-on-one match for the past few years. There are endless possibilities to work on a babyface MJF. Tony Khan should give a rest to the heel Maxwell and let new stars take over the main event scene.
MJF has lost the AEW World Championship twice this year. At Spring BreakThru, Darby Allin shocked the world by winning the gold. The Salt of the Earth didn't let him enjoy his reign, as after holding it over a month, Friedman took his title back at Double or Nothing. At Beach Break, Maxwell lost his title for the second time this year to Kenny Omega. A rematch for the title might not be readily available, as Will Ospreay, the 2026 Owen Hart Cup winner, is already in line for a shot at All In.
The Devil might have to take a different route this time to get a rematch at the AEW World Championship rather than just asking for it. The three-time AEW World Champion wrestled at Forbidden Door in a brutal steel cage match. After losing, he faced Mark Briscoe in an excellent match. However, the very next week, he was scheduled to face Kenny Omega. He might call out Tony Khan for not giving him a proper break during the AEW World Championship matches.
These little protests, in which MJF demands justice, will make Friedman a hero. The babyface turn will eventually lead him to the world title opportunity without making his character stale.
It will be interesting to see what path the former AEW World Champion chooses when he returns.
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