MJF set to challenge for CMLL championship
Image: AEW
MJF will be making his return to CMLL next week in hopes of winning his first-ever CMLL championship.
Announced on Wednesday night, the former AEW International Champion will challenge Averno for the CMLL Light Heavyweight title as part of Viernes Espectacular, set for Friday, August 1st at Arena Mexico.
It will be MJF’s second-ever CMLL match following his August 2024 victory over Templario. He also battled Mistico at last month’s AEW Grand Slam Mexico, losing by DQ. He and Mistico have been at odds all summer with speculation they will square off one more time at this year’s CMLL Anniversary Show in September.
The 48-year-old Averno has been the champion for nearly 500 days, but has just four defenses of the gold he won in March 2024. His last defense came over the aforementioned Mistico this past May.
MJF is currently feuding with Mark Briscoe in AEW and still experiencing in-fighting within The Hurt Syndicate. He holds an anytime, anywhere AEW World title shot following his Casino Gauntlet win at this month’s All In.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.