Backstage Note on MJF’s Involvement in AEW Worlds End

AEW had mapped out the return of MJF well before he reappeared on television, according to new reports. Despite online speculation, there was no late creative change tied to the recent Dynamite Diamond Ring Battle Royale. Sources say the plan was steady for weeks.

Recently, the Diamond Ring Battle Royale added fuel to the rumor mill about creative booking because MJF did not compete despite dominating that match every year since 2019. On Fightful Select Answers Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp noted that MJF’s involvement in the AEW Worlds End main event was “the working plan for well over a month.”

Both him and WrestleVotes confirmed the four-way title match featuring Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, Hangman Page, and MJF was locked in early. AEW sources claimed he could have returned earlier, but it was not confirmed. Manchester’s Holiday Bash contract signing last week allowed MJF to re-enter the storyline without physical risk. It also maximized attention while protecting him ahead of the pay-per-view.

The long-term booking reframes his Worlds End placement as intentional rather than reactive. His history with Joe adds context. Joe defeated MJF for the title two years ago. Page and Strickland bring unresolved rivalries into the mix.

It's time for the #AEWWorldsEnd Contract Signing for the AEW World Championship. If there is any physicality, the instigator will lose their opportunity at the Title!

Watch #AEWDynamite on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/kLd6iDORjc

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 18, 2025