MJF the 2022 AEW MVP, Drafting WWE WarGames Teams, More Quick Takes

Right when you think MJF has peaked as a performer, he raises the bar with yet another stellar showing, this time opposite of William Regal on the mic.

Their buzzworthy exchange on Wednesday's AEW Dynamite was not only the best thing on the entire episode, but it was also arguably the company's strongest segment of the year.

It's the type of positive momentum All Elite Wrestling could use right now and exactly why MJF is so important to the product.

For WWE, WarGames is fast approaching with Survivor Series just under five weeks away, meaning the teams should soon start to take shape. Fans received a better idea of what WarGames could consist of this year after what went down on Raw and SmackDown.

With the right buildup, both bouts featuring the men and women have the potential to be barn-burners.

This installment of Quick Takes tackles what the WarGames teams could look like, if JBL can elevate Baron Corbin, why a shakeup in the AEW World Championship picture is desperately needed, and more.

Once MJF's contract comes due at the onset of 2024, AEW President Tony Khan should stop at nothing to retain the services of his most must-see star and continue building the promotion around him.

Look no further than the exceptional work the 26-year-old has put together throughout 2022 alone. His feuds with CM Punk, Wardlow and Jon Moxley have been top-notch and have all produced phenomenal promos.

Wednesday's Dynamite was no exception when he laid into William Regal and blamed him for being rejected by WWE years ago. The former NXT general manager's response was also excellent and planted the seeds for an eventual MJF babyface/tweener turn.

It was wrestling storytelling at its finest and an example of how effective blurring the lines between reality and kayfabe can be. Few are better at it than MJF, and in doing so, he gives viewers even more of an incentive to tune in each week.

The build to his AEW World Championship clash with Moxley at Full Gear on November 19 is off to a strong start and should be a recurring highlight on Dynamite in the coming weeks.

Truth be told, Baron Corbin hasn't meant much as an on-air character in many years. That's through no fault of his own, either.

The 38-year-old is an incredibly skilled Superstar with a lot to offer as a heel, but poor booking decisions and one-dimensional characters have done him no favors.

Ditching the Happy Corbin gimmick was his best shot at success. Giving him JBL as a manager and moving him to the Raw roster were also significant steps in the right direction.

His Raw re-debut saw him defeat Dolph Ziggler, but the win wasn't decisive enough. WWE making him out to be a one-man wrecking crew that belittles the babyfaces is the way to go, along with allowing JBL to be the one to elicit heat from the audience for now.

This pairing will, by no means, be what takes the former football player to the main event level and nor should it. However, Raw could use more credible heels in its ranks, and Corbin is the perfect person to fill that void.

At long last, WarGames will make its main roster debut in WWE at Survivor Series on November 26.

The gimmick match was a WCW staple for many years before being brought back in NXT in 2017. Triple H incorporating the concept into Survivor Series was only academic and creates many match possibilities for both the men and women.

For starters, the entire Bloodline competing is a must. They're the most dominant faction in all of WWE, and the implication can be that anyone who wins for the babyface side can later challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

The Brawling Brutes are a natural choice given their recent issues with The Bloodline along with Kevin Owens and Drew McIntyre, who still has unfinished business with the group following the events of Clash at the Castle.

On the women's side of things, Damage CTRL are bound to take part but haven't made any allies. A newly turned Alexa Bliss can occupy one of the spots and possibly SmackDown women's champion Ronda Rousey.

That would leave Bianca Belair, Raquel Rodriguez, Shotzi, Asuka and the returning Becky Lynch (depending on whether she's cleared to compete) to oppose them.

Last Tuesday's edition of NXT was one of the brand's best all year, largely due to the many cameos from the Superstars of SmackDown and Raw.

From The O.C. teaming up with Cameron Grimes to Kevin Owens hosting "The KO Show" to Shinsuke Nakamura making a surprise return, approximately half the show featured main roster talent.

Although it made for a thrilling two hours, it also sent the message that NXT needs the influx of star power from Raw and SmackDown to be worthwhile. But the brand has enough exciting prospects of its own who can't be showcased if the focus is on established names.

More synergy between Raw, SmackDown and NXT is a positive but shouldn't be overdone. Returns can only get a show so far; compelling storylines and smart booking are needed to convince fans to watch weekly.

That said, NXT has seen a slight improvement in quality since its rebranding earlier this month. Saturday's Halloween Havoc special accentuated NXT's strengths and proved that the current crop of competitors are more than capable of carrying the product.

Aside from its unfortunately abrupt ending due to injury, Jon Moxley and Adam Page had a hard-fought main event for the AEW World Championship last Wednesday night.

The unplanned and indecisive finish leaves the door open for a rematch at some point, but it's imperative AEW start to cycle some fresh faces into the title mix following Full Gear.

Moxley vs. MJF is already set in stone for the event, but the company should be spending this time looking ahead to who can challenge for the title coming out of it. No one has been built up lately and that will pose a problem once Moxley vs. MJF runs its course.

Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs are two prime candidates for such a spot. They've barely been on AEW TV since their storyline culminated, while Darby Allin could also benefit from a brush with the top title picture to avoid feeling directionless.

Above all else, Malakai Black belongs in the main event scene upon his return to TV, along with Miro. Page, Kenny Omega, Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho and other top talent should be omitted in favor of those who are long overdue for an opportunity.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.