MJF Title Reign Appreciation

[Mid-Carder]

My guy needs a whole thread. I know some were down on the reign by the end and it certainly ended when it needed to, but he should be incredibly proud of a year-long reign of amazing matches with diverse opponents and match types (excluding Full Gear), for thriving as a heel and as a face and for one of the best stories AEW has ever done with Adam Cole.

The four-way at Double or Nothing is one of my favourite matches of the year and seriously underhyped.

If he's taking a break it's well-deserved even though I'll miss him.

[Harry The Arrow was Wrong!]

Wasn't the biggest fan of the guy but his face turn made me do a total 180 on him and I quite liked his reign by the end. Some insane matches and a fantastic story with Cole. Dude really proved why he deserves to be the face of the conpany with this run.

[Mozenrath]

I know there were some down periods for it, but honestly, it outperformed what I had anticipated for him, and the article he wrote really did capture that there were some major highs. I think it's probably my second favorite of the title reigns of the world champions so far.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

The reign gave me some of my favorite matches this year (Danielson + Omega). It will be remembered fondly when people look back at just how many quality matches he had.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Some might say the beginning and end were kind of weak but that middle was insanely fantastic, and gave us some of the best AEW moments maybe in their history so far

He more then earned whatever he asked for contract wise

[Kalmia]

Yeah, the reigh went on too long and was a little self indulgent at times but thanks to the interim champs and everything that happened with Punk, I think the belt needed a long and stable reign. IMO the title belt is in a better place now than it was when MJF won it and that means the reign was a success, despite its flaws.

[Mozenrath]

Dec 31, 2023 16:33:28 GMT -5 Kalmia said:

Yeah, the reigh went on too long and was a little self indulgent at times but thanks to the interim champs and everything that happened with Punk, I think the belt needed a long and stable reign. IMO the title belt is in a better place now than it was when MJF won it and that means the reign was a success, despite its flaws.

Oh yeah, it's absolutely in a better place now.

[Stone Cold Eleanor Shellstrop]

I read this title too quickly and thought it said "MILF Title Reign Appreciation." I was confused.

[daaave]

Dec 31, 2023 17:23:22 GMT -5 Stone Cold Eleanor Shellstrop said:

I read this title too quickly and thought it said "MILF Title Reign Appreciation." I was confused.

In other words the Shana Wayne appreciation thread?

[Ronny Rayguns Is All Elite]

He definitely turned into a whole nother character during the course of his title reign.

Managed to have some good PPV defenses and memorable moments as champ.

It'll be interesting to see where he goes from here losing his belt and best friend

[daaave]

I'm mixed on MJF's title run. Which is weird to say as there were some tremendous highs. The Ironman is legit maybe my favourite ever match.

It just had some frustrating moments in the 2nd half, which I put down to MJF trying to work out the type of face he wanted to be. I do think there was a missed opportunity with his face run. I really liked him being the heel learning to be a face. And they did do that well at times, 'I'm your scumbag' line for example and him still resorting to low blows and the ring. But I found at times he went far too white meat baby face. Too many call and responses in promos and overcoming injuries like peak Hogan (Full Gear for example). I just felt like they could have developed a really unique babyface

But still overall, most of his matches were fire. And promos usually always delivered. So I can't say it was a bad run, just considering how good he is my expectations super high

[lucas_lee]

Even towards the end where I was tuning out Max still gave it his all and was still excellent on the mic. It sucks that he's been wrestling hurt but some of the matches his title reign produced are some of my favorites of this year. Him and GUNTHER have been all stars

[The Ichi]

MJF is the best performer in wrestling today. Straight up.

[HMARK Center]

Dude's done some incredible work in this reign: yes, guys like Danielson, Joe, and Omega are all great dance partners, but he more than kept up with them. The All In main event with Cole was an emotional roller coaster, and his evolution as a character has been really interesting to watch.

As per usual, of course, he had to deal with issues beyond his control at some big moments (Punk's last hurrah, Cole's injury, etc.), which I think impacted how things started to feel by the end and that sense that it maybe went on a month or so too long, but otherwise there's not much to complain about, in my book. Dude fully emerged as a main event star, a top babyface, and hopefully he now gets a chance to rest for a bit and heal up. I'm not even usually big on in-ring promo segments in general, but his work beyond that has been aces, regardless.

Even the divisive Jay White match ended up serving a purpose: the whole story in that match once Cole got involved was Adam telling Max he had to take major chances if he was going to survive, so Max does that...and injures himself worse, leaving him completely vulnerable and at the end of the line last night.

Is MJF's overall style something that might sometimes clash with the general vibe and storytelling style AEW usually goes for? At times, possibly, but he's more than held up his end of the bargain as champ.

[Soultastic]

Other than the odd booking of the Jay White match and the Devil storyline getting bad over time (I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume Cole's injury ruined plans), I loved this reign. The Starks match, the Bryan match, the 4 way, the Kenny match, the Cole matches and tags, both Joe matches. Great stuff, hope it's not the last time.

[jm]

For better or worse, this reign proved why MJF needs to be an AEW-lifer.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I'll also add that I was there in person for several of his title matches and there was always a certain feeling during them - that this was the main event. The true best of the best performing. It didn't just feel like another match. And that's not always the case when a world title is on the line.

[Mid-Carder]

Wonder will he be on Dynamite or if he's officially written off now? Maybe in kayfabe his contract his expired and he'll "sign a new one" when he returns

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

I’m extremely excited about how he’s going to develop as a performer over the next five years. We’re reaching a point in wrestling where stars who can keep relatively healthy are beginning to have primes past 35 (and also shows how Kota Ibushi is starting to look like a cautionary tale lately, but that’s another topic ) and if Max is putting in this quality level of ring work and character/mic work at this stage in his career, he’s going to be a major draw for any company lucky to sign him now.

[4real]

The face run really freshened up the reign I think. It was just nice to see MJF open up a little bit more while still maintaining the main traits of his heel character. It wasn’t all a home run of course but something had to give and he couldn’t stay heel forever.

Plenty of great matches against Danielson, Omega, the Pillars Fatal Four way & Cole the stand outs for me. Where he goes next will be interesting.