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Following AEW Double or Nothing, Maxwell Jacob Friedman’s absence was the hottest story heading into the summer. That seems hard to believe now considering everything that has happened in professional wrestling this year. However, his infamous promo from the June 1 episode and abrupt hiatus successfully blurred the line between fiction and reality.

It was an opportune scenario for MJF. After all, this fits his modus operandi. He always finds a way to tell us just enough of what we want to hear to get us to question our allegiances. His entire act is like an elaborate shell game that keeps everyone guessing.

The three-time Dynamite Diamond Ring winner will dangle a nugget of truth long enough to get us to buy in. Then he’ll disguise it behind bravado and conceit or slip and show us a fleeting moment of vulnerability. It’s so convincing that it’s easy to wonder if this is just a character or an aberration.

Hiding in Plain Sight

For three months, Friedman effectively went off the grid, and bigger headlines eclipsed his alleged dispute with Tony Khan. It felt like AEW had moved on without him as All Out approached, but the Casino Ladder Match raised anticipation again.

As a masked figure strolled down to the ring on that fateful night to gain his prize, it became clear: “The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.” MJF is indeed a wolf in sheep's clothing, and Sept. 4 should’ve been the payoff to his long-awaited reveal.

His use of The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil” at the event was such a nice touch because the title encapsulates his journey since his loss at Double or Nothing. The song’s refrain “Pleased to meet you. Hope you guess my name,” was a clever way to reintroduce himself and foreshadow his reveal at the end of the show.

More to the point, he has effectively convinced a part of the audience that he’s a martyr, not a charlatan. They empathize with his plight as a homegrown star who Khan looked over when he signed ex-WWE star.

Unfortunately, CM Punk kicked off a debacle after the event that overshadowed him again. The straight edge star has dominated the news cycle for the past two weeks. Meanwhile, Friedman has been just captivating as ever on Dynamite and Twitter.

It’s a shame that we will miss out on the next chapter in his rivalry with Punk as AEW seeks to crown a new champion at Grand Slam. Moreover, this begs the question: has MJF’s ascent to the top of the card stalled for now? Is the pillar of the company destined to hold championship gold by the end of 2022, or is he just a bombastic con artist?

One could argue that the recent controversy has become a distraction. Conversely, it’s kind of worked out in the 26-years-old favor again because it lulled the audience into a false sense of security again. Everything he’s doing is so brilliant because it keeps us second-guessing our assumptions about what’s coming next.

MJF will thrive during the chaos because that’s what he does best. His return to AEW didn’t get the attention it warranted, but that plays into his narrative of choice, doesn’t it? Before he left, Friedman expressed resentment towards ex-WWE stars. Now, he has the chance to slink in and steal the spotlight from three of the biggest signees from the distinguished competition in Punk, Jon Moxley, and Bryan Danielson.

An Inevitability in a Deceptive Scheme

Next Wednesday, Moxley and Danielson will face off in the finals of the Grand Slam Tournament Of Champions. Nevertheless, the winner of the 2022 Casino Ladder Match is still the number one contender.

MJF has the right to challenge for the world title any time he chooses to, making him an immediate threat. However, most fans have convinced themselves that he won’t take advantage of the opportunity until later this year.

It would be right up his alley to continue to tease viewers for two months ahead of the next pay-per-view. So, Full Gear in Newark, NJ on Nov. 19 seems like a safe bet. Nevertheless, Friedman would also probably love to subvert expectations and do something underhanded.

Some fans have been cheering for him since his return. One would have to assume the Burberry scarf-clad devil will do something soon to cement himself as an unrepentant heel. What better way to get the crowd to boo during his crowning achievement than to steal Danielson's moment at Arthur Ashe Stadium?

Friedman has shared the ring with Mox for the last two weeks. AEW has set up an obstacle for The American Dragon, a lingering ankle injury from his semifinal match. Even more, MJF has set up a motive to try to take him out, and Stokely Hathaway has set up The Firm as his support system.

It’s not farfetched to guess that he and his faction on retainer will strike at Grand Slam. All Out didn’t pan out the way he planned, but this could be his chance to make a significant impact on another big stage.

On the contrary, that could be exactly what he wants us to think, and he will continue to bide his time. Maybe, MJF will hold the big chip until Winter is Coming and secure the title in December after Danielson has had a run as a fighting champion. He could wait until November when everyone expects it or cash in his shot on an arbitrary episode of Dynamite.

MJF will keep us guessing about his motives and the destination for his title match. Regardless, The Salt of the Earth will win the AEW World Championship by the end of the year. It seems inevitable now. Don’t let the sleight of hand fool you; this was always the end goal.

AEW superstar Maxwell Jacob Friedman is one of the most hated heels in all of professional wrestling, but there's at least one person who loves him.

MJF took to Twitter and confirmed his engagement to his longtime girlfriend Naomi Rosenblum:

MJF recently made his return to AEW programming, winning the Casino Ladder Match at the All Out pay-per-view on Sept. 4 to earn the right to challenge for the AEW world title at any time of his choosing.

Prior to that, MJF was off television for months as AEW was working an angle that he was unhappy with his place in the company. The 26-year-old is set to become a free agent in January 2024 and has teased jumping ship to WWE multiple times.

There may be controversy running rampant in the backstage area of AEW these days, but there is no question that current TBS Champion Jade Cargill is one of the brightest young stars in the business and a cornerstone of the weekly television product.

Cargill is a sure-fire star who can transcend the sport and help AEW in the near- and long-term future. With that said, her current undefeated streak will end eventually, and that loss could end up putting over a fresh face or reviving a veteran’s floundering career.

Here are the best-, worst- and most likely scenarios for when Cargill finally loses her first AEW match and drops the TBS Championship.

Best-Case Scenario: Keira Hogan

In wrestling, having a long run with a championship—and in Cargill’s case an undefeated streak as well—is meant to put the talent over to hardcore and casual fans that the titleholder is the top dog in a division.

The key, though, is that after that long run on top, the performer puts over the next star that will take that spot and continue building momentum. With that in mind, the best-case scenario for AEW would be to eventually have Cargill lose her title to current stablemate Keira Hogan.

As one of Cargill’s Baddies, Hogan has shown her toughness and willingness to work hard, two elements that helped catapult her into the upper echelon of female wrestlers during her time in Impact Wrestling.

Hogan and AEW should begin planning the seeds of possible dissension in the coming months, only for Cargill to state that she has run out of challengers in the company. When the champion turns her back, Hogan should claim that she deserves the belt and attack her former friend.

Slow-playing the angle between Hogan and Cargill over the next several months should carry the feud into 2023, giving both women the chance to showcase their ability before the much smaller Hogan channels her inner Bryan Danielson and overcomes the odds to take away Cargill’s title and undefeated streak.

If Hogan beats Cargill, she’d be a bona fide star.

Worst-Case Scenario: Britt Baker

The worst-case scenario for AEW would be to book an established veteran on their current roster with championship experience to beat Cargill and end her undefeated streak. One woman who certainly doesn’t need the win is Britt Baker.

As a well-established babyface and heel already in her time with AEW, Baker has held the division’s top title and was in some of the company’s most memorable matches. While Baker winning the TBS Championship would make the title feel important, it wouldn’t help Cargill and it wouldn’t establish a new star.

If Tony Khan were smart, he’d remove Baker from the women’s world title scene for several months and build a long-term feud against Cargill, but only if the result is Baker being turned away after failing to defeat the champion.

Baker should be putting over Cargill to further cement her place at the top of the women’s division, not taking away her momentum. Unless an established veteran like Saraya signs with AEW and beats Cargill, it should be a fresh face that desperately needs a career-defining win.

Most Likely Scenario: Ruby Soho

While Ruby Soho may still be dealing with the aftermath of a broken nose at the hands of Tay Melo during their match at ALL Out, she is the most likely performer to stand up to Cargill and take her title.

The current TBS champion is one of the brightest stars in the business, but she has only been wrestling for a few years. Cargill has proven to be a great athlete, but her best matches occur when her opponents are well-seasoned veterans.

If Khan is looking for a reliable performer who is over with the crowd and needs an unforgettable moment to regain her momentum, Soho is the answer. After an initial run that shined the spotlight on her, the former WWE Superstar has been largely cast aside in both women’s championship scenes.

With Cargill needing a talented performer across the ring and Soho being exactly that, the combination should be magic in the ring and the storyline between the two should help ensure the women’s division is must-see TV.

Not only would Soho instantly catapult herself into the upper echelon of AEW talent by defeating Cargill and taking her undefeated streak and title, but the current champion would also not lose any credibility taking the loss against one of the most respected veterans in the business.

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For the second time in his career, undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns is atop the PWI 500.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated released its annual list of the top 500 pro wrestlers in the world on Wednesday, and Reigns paced the field for the first time since 2016:

Per Fightful's Jeremy Lambert, the top 10 for the 2022 PWI 500 is as follows:

1. Roman Reigns
2. Kazuchika Okada
3. CM Punk
4. "Hangman" Adam Page
5. Bobby Lashley
6. Cody Rhodes
7. Bryan Danielson
8. El Hijo del Vikingo
9. Big E
10. Jonathan Gresham

Reigns somewhat controversially finished second on the list to AEW's Kenny Omega last year, with Omega getting the nod because he held world titles in AEW, Impact Wrestling and AAA during the evaluation period.

The evaluation period for the 2022 PWI 500 ran from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, and Reigns was a world champion in WWE for the entirety of that time.

Reigns has surpassed 700 days as universal champion, and at WrestleMania 38 in April, he added the WWE Championship to the fold by defeating Brock Lesnar in the main event.

The PWI 500 is based largely on factors like win-loss record and championship wins, making it difficult to argue against Reigns at No. 1 since he didn't lose a single match of consequence over the course of the year.

Coming in second on the list is New Japan Pro-Wrestling star, Kazuchika Okada, who was No. 1 in 2017, and was the IWGP world heavyweight champion from January 2022 until June 2022.

AEW's CM Punk made his return to the PWI 500 at No. 3 after a lengthy absence because of his hiatus from pro wrestling.

Punk returned to wrestling in August 2021 after more than seven years away, and he quickly established himself as one of the faces of AEW.

He became AEW world champion late in the evaluation period by beating No. 4 finisher "Hangman" Adam Page at Double or Nothing, leading to his best placement in the PWI 500 since finishing first in 2012 and second in 2013 while he was in WWE.

Reigns taking the top spot in the PWI 500 breaks a two-year run of dominance by AEW, which saw Jon Moxley take No. 1 in 2020, followed by Omega in 2021.

The Tribal Chief is just the second WWE Superstar in the past six years to top the PWI 500, joining former Shield stablemate Seth Rollins, who was No. 1 in 2019.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: profanity).