MJF was very obviously injured entering his AEW World Championship defense against Samoa Joe in Saturday's main event. He sported a significant sling to protect a badly injured shoulder and suffered from a bad hip, both of which he admitted to in his article for The Player's Tribune.
Fueled by his desire to perform and to do so in his hometown of Long Island, and despite the injury, he turned in one of the gutsiest performances in recent memory.
This was not the case of a guy nursing boo-boos and just getting through. He took big bumps on seriously injured parts of his body, which generated sympathy from his fans, family, and friends.
Adam Cole was at ringside, absolutely, most not foreshadowing any major angles at the end of the show or anything, and cringed along with all of us after each suplex, slam, or bump on the ring apron.
It was uncomfortable to watch at times, especially considering the injuries, and put over the toughness of "our" scumbag.
If there was one thing that would have helped hammer home the story both MJF and Joe told, it would have been a slower descent into unconsciousness, ala the "Stone Cold" Steve Austin performance in the WrestleMania 13 Submission Match.
That is nitpicking, though.
MJF, battered, bruised, and not 100 percent, dropped the title in a fashion that made sense given everything else he endured.
By the time Cole ultimately betrayed him after the match and revealed himself to be The Devil, it became abundantly clear that if all involved can play it right, The Salt of the Earth will be the biggest babyface in the business when he comes back from whatever absence his injury ultimately commands.
