3 reasons why MJF cashing in his contract at AEW Worlds End is a big mistake

AEW Holiday Bash 2025 witnessed the thrilling return of one of its most beloved stars, MJF. The Salt of the Earth, who had been missing from programming since September, interrupted the World Championship match contract-signing segment between champion Samoa Joe, Hangman Page, and Swerve Strickland upon his return. He then inserted himself into the title match, making it a 4-way bout scheduled for Worlds End later this month.

For those who may need a reminder, Friedman won the Men's Casino Gauntlet match at All In: Texas in July. The win earned him a contract guaranteeing him a shot at the World Championship at any time of his choosing. At Holiday Bash, the Wolf of Wrestling finally cashed in his contract before delivering a scathing promo attacking his Worlds End opponents.

While many would be thrilled at the prospect of four of AEW's biggest names going at it for the top prize, MJF's decision to cash in his opportunity could prove detrimental. That said, in this list, we will examine three reasons why MJF cashing in his contract at Worlds End could be a massive mistake on Tony Khan's part.

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#3. MJF's shot at the AEW World Championship should be a one-on-one match

At Forbidden Door 2025, MJF faced then-World Champion Hangman Page for the title in a thrilling encounter. In the lead-up to the bout, the Salt of the Earth had managed to avoid using his Casino Gauntlet Contract, an important detail, as one of the leading themes of his feud with Hangman was the Cowboy calling him a "coward." On the night, Friedman failed to capture the title.

MJF's decision to insert himself into the World Title match at Worlds End may be his way to counter Hangman's claim that he's a coward. However, the Wolf of Wrestling has only a 25% chance of winning the title at the pay-per-view, meaning he used his contract at unfavorable odds against three of the company's most dangerous competitors. All in all, this is a tactically weak decision and a wasted opportunity to use the contract, especially if MJF loses the match.

#2. MJF's inclusion takes focus away from the Strickland/Hangman vs. the Opps storyline

AEW's last pay-per-view, Full Gear, launched a major storyline that has driven the company's main event scene since then. That night, Samoa Joe won the World Championship from Hangman Page in a steel cage match, but before he could do more damage to the Cowboy and take him out for good, Swerve Strickland made a thrilling return and saved him from the Opps. What followed was an alliance no one thought possible between the Mogul and Hangman Page, as the duo set aside their differences to combat Joe and his Opps.

Worlds End was going to be another footnote in the rivalry between the Opps and Strickland/Page, with Joe trying to figure out how he could keep hold of the title against both of his fiercest rivals at the same time. However, MJF's inclusion in the bout has somewhat undermined the storyline, which fans were already behind and which the Jacksonville-based promotion had previously spent weeks building.

#1. MJF has unfinished business with Mark Briscoe

MJF last competed in an AEW ring at All Out in September. The Wolf of Wrestling took on Mark Briscoe in a Tables 'n' Tacks match. The match was a brutal affair, as expected, but the finish was not, as Briscoe emerged victorious. In the weeks leading up to the bout, things had become extremely personal between Friedman and the Sussex County Chicken, with Maxwell going so far as to invoke Briscoe's late brother in his promos to get under his opponent's skin. Given the setup, it seemed likely that the reigning AEW TNT champion would win the match. That said, the bout did not feel like the apt conclusion to their rivalry.

Following his loss at AEW All Out, MJF delivered a powerful going-away promo in which he said he would come back stronger. In that promo, much of the angst seemed directed toward Hangman and Briscoe, suggesting he would go after them individually before using his contract. Moreover, the Casino Gauntlet Contract is open-ended, meaning MJF can execute it whenever he wants, giving him enough time upon his return to finish unfinished business before cashing in his contract at a more opportunistic time, perhaps at a bigger occasion like AEW Revolution next year.

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Edited by Karan Raj