On paper, the AEW World Championship match at Full Gear between Jon Moxley and MJF has long looked like a collision between one of the company’s top babyfaces, a man who has sweated and bled for the banner of AEW, and one of its most dastardly, scheming heels.
But something happened on the way to Newark over the past few weeks: More fans than ever have been cheering MJF, and not just in the Tri-State area. He also turned his back on The Firm, the heel stable led by Stokely Hathaway that helped MJF get his world title shot in the first place.
Is MJF turning face? And more importantly, does it even matter?
He will be the first to say that it does not, as long as fans are reacting strongly to him one way or the other when he comes down the ramp. MJF cited several huge wrestling stars from past decades (from WWE, as he is wont to do) when explaining his philosophy to Joseph Staszewski of the New York Post.
“People will react to me the way they want to react to me,” MJF said. “That’s megastar s—t. That’s John Cena s—t. That’s Rock s—t. That’s [Hulk] Hogan s—t. There were times in their career when they would come through that curtain and they got the loudest boo and there were times where they came through that curtain and they got the loudest cheer. That’s what I bring to the table. Think people need to stop worrying about fake bulls—t labels and just enjoy this ride because I’m over as s—t and it is fun.”
It’s hard to argue against his stance. The other benefit of not falling easily onto one side of the traditional face-heel dynamic is that if MJF dethrones Moxley at Full Gear, there are no hurdles to having anyone on the roster challenge him for the world title. If, say, Ricky Starks and Ethan Page end up in the final of the tournament to decide his next contender, it doesn’t matter who wins.
That’s a huge plus for both MJF and AEW. It is, indeed, “megastar s—t.” And the next part of it just might unfold Saturday night in Newark.
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