While I enjoyed tonight’s opening segment with the parade of challengers for MJF and his newly-won AEW World Championship, I also couldn’t help but feel like, “Well, f*** Bandido then, I guess.” I’m not sure it would have been as blatantly obvious if commentary wouldn’t have noted that the ROH World Champion has next against MJF just seconds before the champion strolled down to the ring to deliver his promo. It was acknowledged later in the night, but it was just a little too late by then, and it felt kind of disrespectful to someone many consider their Wrestler of the Year.

In the show-opening promo, MJF immediately launched in to addressing his competitors at Worlds End: former champion Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, and “Hangman” Adam Page. While I didn’t think MJF’s initial promo portion of the segment was anything to write home about, it did get a bit more exciting as it went on. However, Bandido was no where to be seen amongst the video promos calling out MJF, including one from Kenny Omega, or amongst those who came out to face off against the champ. 

The main focus of the segment, after Omega’s appearance, was Strickland and Page, which I’m usually fine with, but Bandido has his title shot he earned by winning the Dynamite Diamond Ring. He’s the first person who is not named MJF in the history of AEW to win the ring, which came with a shot at the title at “Dynamite: Maximum Carnage” this year, set for January 14. 

You’d think MJF facing off against the only other person to win that distinction would be a big deal, especially as he’s still wearing the ring that he really doesn’t have anymore, though I have read that he’s passed it off as the Dynamite ring being something like a Super Bowl ring. While that does make sense, I still picture MJF being upset that someone else has marked their name in the history books alongside his, and it has everything to be a nice little feud for the new champion.

Bandido and MJF did briefly face-off in a backstage segment alongside Brody King and Renee Paquette, but Paquette failed to mention Bandido as a challenger, and it was King to step in to remind the champion who he’s up against next. While Page, Strickland, Omega, and Joe are all bigger names for MJF to feud with, I still think Bandido would have been a great, larger feud for him. AEW could have booked Bandido to win the ring without a title shot, then he could have been waiting in the wings, with a legitimate stake to a match at a later date.

Written by Daisy Ruth