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MJF Surprisingly Announces AEW Title Defense Against Reigning Champion

By Harikesh Shekhar • Published Jan 01, 2026 16:50 EST
MJF AEW

Newly crowned AEW World Champion MJF is all set to defend his title against another champion on January 16th.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) made his much-anticipated return to AEW programming recently and went on to win the AEW World Championship at World’s End on December 27th, 2025. He defeated Swerve Strickland, “Hangman” Adam Page, and the champion Samoa Joe, pinning Joe to win the title.

Now the AEW star is set to take his title to the independent wrestling scene.

Friedman formerly performed in Limitless Wrestling, where he held the Limitless World Championship and was a top heel. The promotion revealed in December that the star would be making his return to the promotion at the Limitless Rumble event on Friday, January 16.

MJF Challenges Alec Price For AEW World Title

Friedman took to social media and posted a heel promo on X/Twitter, calling out Limitless wrestling, and went on to challenge a “loud-mouthed star” who he says everyone hates because he can back up the smack he talks.

The star in question was Alec Price, whom Friedman said he’ll put his title on the line for on January 16th if he holds on to it after his title defense against Bandido at AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage.

h/t:fightful.com

Also read: Why This AEW Star May Divorce His Wife [Shocking Revelation]