3 AEW stars MJF could feud with after Adam Cole
Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) is embroiled in a rivalry with Adam Cole. The issues between the two stars began in the summer of 2023 when The Salt of the Earth had the AEW World Championship in his grasp.
As time passed, the duo developed an unlikely friendship, resulting in the formation of the Better Than You Bay Bay tag team. A few months later, Adam Cole turned his back on The Wolf of Wrestling, revealing himself as the mastermind behind The Devil storyline.
The two former partners renewed their rivalry at WrestleDream 2024 when Adam Cole returned from his injury to again target The Salt of the Earth. However, fans have been quite disappointed with the direction of the MJF-Cole feud, as their storyline is marred with major plotholes and inconsistencies.
Tony Khan will hope to conclude the saga between the two former allies soon so that both stars could explore new directions. Once The Salt of the Earth settles his unfinished business with The Panama City Playboy, he could go after several exciting talents in the Jacksonville-based promotion.
In this article, let's look at three names Maxwell Jacob Friedman could feud with after concluding his rivalry with Adam Cole.
#3. MJF could cross paths with Kenny Omega
After being away from in-ring competition since December 2023, Kenny Omega will return to pro wrestling at NJPW's Wrestle Dynasty pay-per-view, where he is scheduled to lock horns with Gabe Kidd. Once The Cleaner concludes his business in the Japanese promotion, he could make his return to All Elite Wrestling.
If the MJF-Adam Cole saga ends within the next two months, The Salt of the Earth could set his sights on The Best Bout Machine next. The two stars have battled each other only once before, with the 28-year-old star picking up a massive victory.
While their previous encounter had a babyface vs. babyface dynamic, The Wolf of Wrestling will be eager to show Kenny Omega why he is such a despicable heel. It would be a great first rivalry for Omega in AEW after being away from the company for so long.
It would also be an exciting program for MJF, whose popularity has taken a hit due to his confusing storyline with Adam Cole.
#2. The Salt of the Earth could target Ricochet
MJF has always been critical of those wrestlers who rely too much on their athletic abilities and aerial maneuvers inside the squared circle. The Salt of the Earth looks to play safe in the ring, and attempts to inflict damage on his opponents without risking his own well-being.
If there is one star who always puts his body on the line for fans' entertainment, it is Ricochet. The One and Only is an incredibly captivating athlete, whose risky maneuvers impress the fans to a great extent. However, MJF might not be a fan of The Future of the Flight, as he has popularly shown aversion towards high flyers like the 36-year-old.
Since his debut at All In 2024, The One and Only has put out many great in-ring performances. However, the former WWE United States Champion is yet to feature in a long feud with an established star, who could push him to his limits.
After concluding his rivalry with Adam Cole, MJF could choose to go after Ricochet. Feuding with a seasoned trash talker like the 28-year-old would force The One and Only to bring out his A-game on the microphone. It would be a refreshing direction for Friedman's character as well, which has seemingly gotten stale in the last few months.
#1. Adam Copeland could end up being MJF's next opponent
Adam Copeland has been away from AEW since Double or Nothing 2024, where he suffered a leg injury in his TNT Championship defense against Malakai Black. During the contest, Copeland jumped off the steel cage to deliver a leg drop to his opponent but unfortunately broke his tibia in the process.
In a recent exchange with The Leafs Nation podcast, The Rated-R Superstar finally opened up about the status of his recovery. The Ultimate Opportunist stated that he was now feeling great, hinting towards an early return to the Jacksonville-based promotion.
Copeland is currently shooting Disney's Percy Jackson, a project that is expected to be wrapped up by January 2025. As per recent reports, the 51-year-old star will return to the squared circle once he is done filming.
When The Rated-R Superstar decides to resume his AEW run, his paths could cross with MJF's. While Copeland is renowned as one of the most dominant heels of the Ruthless Aggression era, it is The Salt of The Earth who has emerged as one of the most despicable villains of the modern era.
A clash between the two in-ring masterminds would certainly grab the attention of the fans. With The Ultimate Opportunist possibly only having a few years left in his career, Tony Khan must immediately pull the trigger on this dream rivalry.
Adam Copeland vs. MJF could end up being a similar feud to CM Punk vs. MJF. The Best in the World had to embrace his dark side to put an end to The Wolf of Wrestling's tyranny in AEW. If a veteran like Copeland hopes to survive the threat of the 28-year-old star, he must dig deep to find his ruthless side once again.