3 Things MJF could do if he returns at AEW Holiday Bash 2025

AEW returned to the UK this past weekend with Collision: Winter is Coming, which aired from Cardiff, Wales. Now, the Jacksonville-based promotion is bound for Manchester, England, where it will host a special three-hour broadcast this Wednesday, dubbed Holiday Bash.

The upcoming three-hour Dynamite-Collision show is set to feature several of the company's top stars across a variety of segments and matches announced so far. One bout in particular- a Battle Royale over the Dynamite Diamond Ring- has led viewers to anticipate the return of MJF, who has been missing from action since his loss to Mark Briscoe at All Out: Toronto.

With Worlds End 2025 just around the corner, the self-proclaimed "generational talent" will no doubt be looking to recapture his spot in the promotion's main event scene. With that in mind, let us consider three ideas for MJF if he does make his AEW comeback at Holiday Bash this week.

#1. MJF could return as an entrant in the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale

Some time earlier, it was announced that the Dynamite Diamond Ring, MJF's most recognizable accessory and weapon, would be up for grabs again this year in a series of bouts. On Holiday Bash this week, a Battle Royale will be held, with the final two participants going toe-to-toe days later at Dynamite on 34th Street. The winner of that matchup will end up having the Dynamite Diamond Ring, as well as earn a shot at the AEW Men's World Championship, scheduled for Dynamite: Maximum Carnage in January next year.

Considering that the ring in question has been in MJF's possession for quite some time now, it is very likely that The Salt of the Earth will return to AEW television as a participant in this Wednesday's Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale. Friedman could take on the likes of Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, Mark Davis, Brody King, Ricochet, and his former Hurt Syndicate stable-mate, Shelton Benjamin; however, whether the Long Island-native should be booked to win the matchup or not is a different discussion.

#2. MJF could execute his All In: Texas World Title contract at AEW Worlds End

Earlier this year, at All In: Texas, MJF emerged victorious in a Casino Gauntlet match, which awarded him a contract for a future AEW World Championship opportunity. Later on at the blockbuster stadium show, Adam Page dethroned Jon Moxley for the Men's World Title in a bloody and brutal Texas Death Match. Afterwards, Friedman challenged The Cowboy to defend his strap against him at Forbidden Door 2025 without having to cash in his contract, but Page managed to goad The Wolf of Wrestling into executing it at the inter-promotional PPV itself.

Realizing that he had lost his tactical advantage, MJF then abducted Mark Briscoe with The Demand's help, and threatened to set him on fire unless Page agreed to put his belt on the line without Friedman's All In contract being cashed in. However, despite this, MJF failed to unseat The Hangman at Forbidden Door. Afterwards, Tony Khan announced that he would be enforcing a new rule regarding the Casino Gauntlet contracts: holders will now be required to announce their intention to execute them at least a week in advance.

On the off-chance that MJF does not end up being one of the final two contestants in the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale at AEW Holiday Bash, the 29-year-old star could announce that he will be officially cashing in his All In: Texas World Title shot at Worlds End 2025, turning the World Championship three-way between Samoa Joe, Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland into a four-way bout.

This could be a sound move for Friedman strategically, as it would grant him a guaranteed championship opportunity to close out the year, even if he loses in the Dynamite Diamond Ring finals in New York

#3. MJF could attack AEW champion Samoa Joe and his Worlds End challengers on Holiday Bash

At Full Gear 2025, Samoa Joe succeeded at dethroning Adam Page as Men's World Champion courtesy of a massive assist from Hook. His victory celebration was cut short, however, by the returning Swerve Strickland, who attacked The Destroyer's student trainees instead of picking on the bones of AEW's "Main Character". The Moghul and The Hangman have since been terrorizing The Opps and the members of their dojo, and at Dynamite: Winter is Coming, the two teamed up to defeat Katsuyori Shibata and Powerhouse Hobbs.

Subsequently, both Strickland and Page declared that they wanted the Men's World Title back, and it was announced afterwards that a rematch from Revolution 2024 had been set for AEW Worlds End, where Samoa Joe would be defending his belt against his two top contenders yet again. This Wednesday on Holiday Bash, the champion and his challengers will appear at a contract signing to make their upcoming three-way official.

Graphic for Samoa Joe's contract signing with Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page [Source: @AEW on X]

If he does return to the show, MJF could crash this segment to lay out Hangman, Swerve, and The Samoan Submission Machine, sending all three a message ahead of Worlds End. Such an angle might work well if Friedman inserts himself in the pay-per-view World Title match by cashing in his Casino Gauntlet contract, as discussed above.

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Edited by Angana Roy