The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey played host to AEW Full Gear 2024. There were a few key matches on the card, but not all the high profile confrontations had a title on the line. This was certainly the case for MJF vs Roderick Strong.
Adam Cole and MJF have a lot of history, and the former NXT Champion wanted to pick things up where they dropped off after his WrestleDream 2024 return. Sadly for him, MJF had other plans.
Although Adam Cole wanted a shot at MJF, that didn’t happen. The Salt of the Earth set up a gauntlet, meaning that the first wrestler who racked up three wins would get a match against him. In the end, Roderick Strong got that third win before Cole, which set up a Full Gear match with a lot of underlying tension.
This match went on second during AEW Full Gear 2024, right after Private Party defied the odds to retain their AEW World Tag Team Titles. As soon as the bell sounded, MJF rolled out of the ring to cut a promo instead of locking up with Roderick Strong. He called Strong “white trash,” just like everyone in the New Jersey arena. Then Strong went out to stop him, which included chasing MJF up and back down the entrance ramp.
This was a back-and-forth contest as the fans were strongly behind Roderick Strong, especially after MJF called them all “white trash.” Strong executed exceptional ability, as he hit some signature suplexes and they slowed things down to settle into the match.
MJF gained control of the match after putting his heel into Strong’s face, but then Roddy hit one of his famous backbreakers for a two count. They continued and MJF’s chest was eventually beat red with chops, as Roddy took control again and locked in a Boston crab, but he couldn’t hold onto it.
Roderick Strong almost got a pinfall, but MJF was able to get his foot on the ropes. The match continued as fans pulled for Roddy, but MJF kept in the fight. Roddy nailed a backbreaker, gut buster, and a sliding knee to MJF’s face before the Salt of the Earth countered with a brainbuster to lay them both out.
Then MJF latched on a submission hold and Roddy had no choice but to tap out. This was a strong performance from MJF, as he left New Jersey as the winner, but he wasn’t done after that. MJF went to get a chair, and he brought it back in the ring. Then he wedged Roddy’s arm in the chair before he stomped on it to shatter his arm. That is when Adam Cole came running out, which caused MJF to run off through the crowd.
The rest of the Undisputed Kingdom came out to check on Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly shoved Adam Cole to the mat. Then he helped Roddy leave. It appears that there are issues, but O’Reilly was the one who begged Cole to drop his crusade against MJF.
Is AEW on the right track with this booking decision at Full Gear 2024? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
