Making the Case for MJF as AEW's Most Important Wrestler

This Saturday at Full Gear, MJF will attempt to overthrow Jon Moxley as AEW world champion and become the official top star of All Elite Wrestling. And the odds are looking good that he will do just that.

Even without the title, though, it's arguable the 26-year-old already owns that role.

While others have headlined more events, MJF's value to AEW now and in the future puts him in a situation where he may be its most important wrestler.

Let's examine why The Salt of the Earth has reached that position.

Checking Off All the Boxes

First and foremost, if a wrestler is going to be a franchise player, they need to meet all the requirements. The company can't rest on the shoulders of someone lacking in any of the fundamentals that drive the business.

Thankfully, MJF checks all the boxes across the board and tends to be among the top in each category.

His mic skills are on a different level than arguably every other AEW star and his character never ceases to be engaging. His ease of command over the verbal aspect of his job is what others should strive for.

He is able to drive storylines with his words and nothing more. Most struggle to have an interesting feud even with a championship involved, but he is an attraction worth paying attention to.

He's also able to carry himself well in media appearances. It's important for wrestlers to represent AEW well and get the brand name out there for promotional purposes.

MJF can make headlines with any podcast appearance or interview without needing to be controversial or embarrassing purely for the buzz.

Thankfully, he's no slouch in the ring, either. While others may be more technically gifted or have more explosive moves, he's not someone who struggles once the bell rings.

MJF has held his own against the more athletic wrestlers, hardcore brawlers and giants such as Wardlow.

Proof the Homegrown System Works

AEW's origins are rooted in being the alternative to WWE, but its future isn't sustainable on that alone. As time goes on, the anti-industry giant rebellion become less riveting and the newer promotion will need to move on and become its own entity.

The only way it can move beyond WWE's shadow is if the homegrown talent flourishes, rather than the company resting on previously established stars like The Elite and Jon Moxley, for whom New Japan Pro-Wrestling, Ring of Honor and WWE already did the heavy lifting with their careers.

MJF is a symbol of what started AEW and the most prominent of the first class of non-WWE stars who are often referred to as the primary pillars of the company.

If Twitter followers are your metric, he has over double Jungle Boy's followers and 50 percent more than Darby Allin and Sammy Guevara, making him the most popular of the bunch.

Only "Hangman" Adam Page has something over MJF in terms of becoming the first homegrown world champion, but his run at the top was undermined by bad booking.

MJF's inevitable reign is an opportunity to prove AEW has learned from those mistakes to make for a more successful reign.

The Value of Longevity

Youth is key to being a worthwhile investment for AEW, as it will not be able to depend on veterans such as Chris Jericho forever.

MJF refers to himself as a generational talent and has all the tools necessary to prove that a reality. However, considering he's this good at 26, he likely has over 20 years left to give.

Considering John Cena and Hulk Hogan had essentially over a decade on top while The Rock and "Stone Cold" Steve Austin were in and out after even less time, MJF's peak could be unprecedented.

That is, of course, if WWE doesn't steal him away. Then, his future will be valuable to the business as a whole, and his decision to leave AEW would reflect poorly on Tony Khan and his company.

WWE head of creative Triple H would surely snatch him away given the opportunity, which would force AEW to start back over from square one in the search to fill that void.

While there are plenty of great names on the roster, there is a clear divide between The Salt of the Earth's level and others. That's why "the bidding war of 2024" is an MJF-exclusive talking point.

He is AEW's most coveted asset, and his exit would make the biggest impact.

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Anthony Mango is the owner of the wrestling website Smark Out Moment and the host of the podcast show Smack Talk on YouTube, Spotify and everywhere you find podcasts. You can follow him on Facebook and elsewhere for more.