MJF retained the AEW World Championship in his first defense, but his next challenger has already emerged.
On the "Winter is Coming" edition of AEW Dynamite on December 14, MJF defended the title against Ricky Starks. The challenger earned a title shot by winning the AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament; he defeated Ethan Page in the finals at AEW Full Gear. On the December 7 episode of AEW Dynamite, Starks won the Dynamite Diamond Ring battle royale, so the ring was also on the line when he faced MJF.
The two stars headlined Dynamite on Wednesday, and Starks threw everything he had at MJF. The champion targeted Starks' arm throughout the bout and nearly made him tap out to the Salt of the Earth arm bar, but Starks reached the ropes. In the end, MJF pulled the referee in front of him and shoved the official out of the way. When the referee wasn't looking, MJF kicked Starks below the belt and rolled him up for the win.
#AndSTILL! #AEW World Champion @The_MJF walks away with both the title and the Dynamite Diamond Ring, after an incredibly physical battle against @starkmanjones!
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 15, 2022
Watch #AEWDynamite: #WinterIsComing LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/v7ib6bXqhy
After the match, as MJF made his way up the ramp, Bryan Danielson confronted him. The appearance marked Danielson's return to the show for the first time since MJF brutally attacked William Regal on the November 30 episode of AEW Dynamite.
Danielson charged MJF, and the champion ran into the crowd. As the show came to an end, Danielson raised Starks' hand and seemingly commended him for his performance.
#TheAmericanDragon @bryandanielson making it crystal clear that things are FAR from over between him and @The_MJF!
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 15, 2022
What an incredible night of action it's been tonight on #AEWDynamite: #WinterIsComing on TBS! pic.twitter.com/UtYWyjuaaR
MJF won the AEW World Championship at AEW Full Gear. By beating Starks, he also retained the Dynamite Dynamond Ring, which he has won for three consecutive years.
Catch up on our coverage of AEW Dynamite here.
