Maxwell Jacob Friedman, the reigning AEW Champion, made a forceful return to All Elite Wrestling programming on Wednesday night at Grand Slam Mexico. After Andrade El Idolo secured the No. 1 spot in the upcoming Casino Gauntlet match at All In, MJF emerged from the crowd, attacking El Idolo with his championship belt and reclaiming his Dynamite Diamond Ring.
MJF declared that his championship is the only "true" title and vowed to win the Casino Gauntlet match to earn another shot at the AEW World Championship, currently held by Kenny Omega. He announced his intention to enter and win a gauntlet qualifying match next week in Las Vegas for the No. 2 spot in the match.
"Next week we’re in Vegas and I’m feeling lucky. There is a gauntlet qualifying match for the casino gauntlet match at All In for the No. 2 spot. I am going to enter that match. I am going to win that match," MJF stated. "I’m then going to go to Wembley where I am going to dog walk that perro Andrade again. I will win the contract again and do exactly what I did the last time."
The winner of the Casino Gauntlet match earns a contract for a future AEW World Championship shot. MJF previously won the match at last year's All In event. He lost the AEW title to Darby Allin at Worlds End in December but regained it at Double or Nothing earlier this year.
MJF had been absent from AEW programming since July, following a loss to Kenny Omega at AEW Dynamite: Beach Break. His return marks his pursuit of a potential fourth reign as champion.