-- One of AEW's top young stars, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, could be getting ready to finally return to TV. A fightfulselect.com notes that while no specific date has been tossed out there, discussions have taken place recently regarding MJF returning in an on-screen role to AEW TV. Talks on how that return will look, including potential "alterations in presentations" have all been pitched between MJF and AEW. As indicated, while no date has been finalized, most within AEW believe he will be back sooner rather than later with a date on or around Forbidden Door at the end of June.
-- MJF has not been seen since December 30 when hhis record breaking AEW World Title reign came to an end, appropriately at the AEW World's End PPV. At the time, he had been working through multiple injuries but wanted to see through the reign.
-- MJF's contract situation was also a hot topic last year and the fightful report indicates that he is locked up with AEW "for quite some time" despite rumors to the contrary. After AEW's Double or Nothing in 2022, MJF ended up securing an extension with AEW with the only uncertainty being whether it was tacked onto his original deal (that was supposed to end on December 31, 2023) or if it simply replaced that former deal, effective the date around Double or Nothing.
-- While AEW officials knew very well that he was signed and not going anywhere, MJF himself would not confirm that to anyone and played up the possibility of leaving AEW after his deal was originally expiring at the end of 2023. This led to rumors of a bidding war with WWE but none of that was going to happen and MJF remains one of the highest paid wrestlers in AEW.
