MJF Defeating Bryan Danielson And 5 Smart Booking Decisions

AEW’s 2023 Revolution event has the tough task of trying to salvage what has been a rocky run of lackluster storytelling for the once red hot company.

Propelled by an epic feud between MJF and CM Punk, last year’s Revolution pay-per-view was the second most-purchased show in AEW history with roughly 175,000 PPV buys. This year’s event has a tough act to follow, and it sure feels like AEW is fighting an uphill battle. Why? Well, simply put, there isn’t a whole lot to be excited about on this show even though AEW has had three months to create some hype.

Outside of MJF vs. Bryan Danielson, which only recently heated up, the build to Revolution has been undoubtedly underwhelming, however. That might explain AEW’s recent historic viewership woes for both Dynamite and Rampage, which are evidence of a TV product that just hasn’t been that compelling.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, though. In terms of pure in-ring action, the Revolution card looks very good, and AEW almost always delivers several high-quality matches per show. But the results of those matches—and the way they play out—are even more important than the quality of the in-ring performances.

So, AEW can right the creative ship by making these five booking decisions inside the Chase Center in San Francisco.

MORE FROM FORBESAEW Dropping The Ball With Wardlow, Bryan Danielson, Other Top StarsBy Blake Oestriecher

Protect Wardlow At All Costs

A year ago, Wardlow was arguably the hottest star in AEW. Now? Not so much.

Wardlow’s character is ice cold—frigid even—and his long-running rivalry with Samoa Joe really hasn’t done much for either star. The question is: Would Wardlow regaining the TNT title get him back on track? Not necessarily, and that’s because the TNT Championship is clearly a midcard belt while Wardlow, though not pursuing the world title right now, seems to be above that level.

Whatever finish AEW booker Tony Khan decides to do here, it’s imperative that Wardlow is protected, even if he loses. He has “face of the company” type potential, but the farther away he gets from his feud with MJF, the less it feels like he’ll ever get there. Thus, Wardlow absolutely has to leave Revolution looking like the unstoppable beast he once was, even if he’s title-less.

Ricky Starks Wins Clean, Ends His Feud With Chris Jericho

The booking of the rivalry between Ricky Starks and Chris Jericho has been all over the place. Consider this: Why would Starks—after beating Jericho clean in their first match—jump through hoops just to face him again? There isn’t a logical answer there, just as there isn’t a logical reason as to why the Jericho Appreciation Society still exists.

That stable has been more detrimental than helpful to most of the stars involved it, and it’s no wonder why Chris Jericho has been labeled a “clout vampire” because of the way he is often involved in feuds with bright up-and-coming stars just as they’re peaking. While Jericho’s feud with Starks has been beneficial in that it has given Starks a consistent TV role, this feud is well past its welcome, much like JAS.

Starks has been heralded by many as a future main eventer, but as has been the case with many JAS-involved feuds, this rivalry now feels like it’s dragging him down at a time when he should be lifted higher up the card. It’s to move on, ideally with another clean victory for Starks.

Hangman Page Puts Jon Moxley On The Shelf

The rivalry between Adam “Hangman” Page and Jon Moxley hasn’t been particularly notable. It’s really just a result of Page’s real-life concussion, which happened in a match against Moxley, being turned into a storyline. The matches they’ve had so far have been very good but certainly not spectacular, and the story has been just OK, which is to be expected in a babyface vs. babyface feud even though Moxley has shown some heel tendencies.

As is the case with many other current AEW rivalries, Revolution should be the blowoff match for Page vs. Moxley, and with Moxley missing out on his planned six-week break from AEW programming last fall because he was badly needed as a top star at the time, Revolution feels like the ideal time and place to write him off TV and give him a much-needed break.

Moxley has been the heart and soul of AEW for its entire existence, but it’s hard to miss someone who is never gone. Moxley has had just two somewhat lengthy absences from AEW in four years and feels like he needs a bit of a character reset.

The best way to make that happen is for Page to defeat Moxley straight-up and then put him on the shelf with a heinous attack that will both help Page gain a bit of an edge and ensure that Mox gets a TV break, one that could reinvigorate his character wheneve he returns.

The Acclaimed Regain Their Titles

The Acclaimed never should have lost the AEW Tag Team Championship in the first place, especially to a duo like The Gunns that seems to generate go-away heat, doesn’t put on particularly entertaining matches and has really hindered AEW’s tag team division since it started being pushed.

Remember the days when the AEW tag team division was on fire with stellar matches from The Young Bucks, FTR and The Lucha Bros? That feels like it was eons ago, in large part because the trios division has badly watered down the tag team division that was once AEW’s top highlight. Still, The Acclaimed is easily the most popular tag team in all of AEW, and they’re obviously the best choice to carry the division given the uncertainty surrounding the future of FTR.

At Revolution, it will be The Gunns vs. The Acclaimed vs. Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal vs. the duo of Orange Cassidy and Danhausen, and the inclusion of the latter makes it likely that Danhausen will be the one who takes the pin. While the involvement of four teams indicates that it may be the Gunns who retain, it sure shouldn’t be. With all of the talent AEW has, The Acclaimed should be the focal point of a tag team division that should be well beyond pushing a past-his-prime Jarrett and the Gunns, who generate heat but lack the charisma and excitement AEW needs from its tag champions.

MJF Outlasts Bryan Danielson Without Any Help

MJF can cut great promos and create great rivalries, but can he keep up with arguably the best in-ring worker of his generation in Bryan Danielson? That’s the true test for MJF here, and though MJF’s all-around talent is undeniable, what he truly needs is that career-defining match that solidifies him as the guy in AEW.

With MJF’s free agency right around the corner, AEW should be pushing him as a long-term heel champion a la WWE’s Roman Reigns, but one thing about Reigns’ historic run as WWE’s top world champion that has hampered it is his over-reliance on interference and shenanigans to win his matches.

MJF is a huge betting favorite to beat Danielson at MJF, as he should be because there’s no real reason for him to drop the AEW World Championship yet. But to make this belt truly feel like the top belt in pro wrestling—and to make it really matter when he does eventually lose it—he needs a show-stealing performance at Revolution.

And he needs to beat Danielson in their very rare 60-minute Ironman match without any low blows, dirty tactics or other cheap tricks. Let MJF outwrestle the best wrestler in the world, and it will do wonders for his career.