MJF secures 2nd rank in major new list; loses top spot to Dominik Mysterio

It has been a strange year for AEW star MJF. The 28-year-old lost his AEW World Championship almost one year ago and spent the next five months recovering from an injury. Despite that, he only dropped one spot in ESPN's list of the 30 best wrestlers under 30, losing out to this year's #1, Dominik Mysterio.

MJF topped the 30 under 30 list last year amid his record-setting AEW World Championship reign. The Long Island native has become one of the faces of All Elite Wrestling and has captivated audiences with both his mic skills and his in-ring acumen.

Unfortunately, Maxwell spent the first half of 2024 on the shelf, and a major role in Adam Sandler's Happy Gilmore 2 has kept him out of action for much of the past two months. The 28-year-old was bumped down to #2 on ESPN's list this year, with WWE's Dominik Mysterio taking the top spot. ESPN's Brandon Caldwell writes:

"Last summer, MJF was one-half of AEW's best storyline, with Adam Cole, as the anchor for AEW and arguably the best champion in company history. Fourteen months later, MJF remains a company ace who is a legit heat magnet on the mic and one of the best wrestlers in the world. Want proof? Watch his matches with Cole at All In 2023 and Jay White at Full Gear 2023. Injuries kept him on the shelf for half of 2024, but Maxwell Jacob Friedman always stands out no matter the situation."

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After MJF, AEW stars dominate ESPN's 30 best wrestlers under 30

AEW boasts one of the youngest and most robust rosters in the world of professional wrestling, and that was made clear by ESPN's 2024 rendition of the 30 best wrestlers under 30. While Dominik Mysterio took the #1 spot and MJF slid to second place, the rest of the list overflows with All Elite talents.

Toni Storm, who had a career-defining reign with the AEW Women's World Championship this year, came in at #3. Her protege (and current Women's World Champion) Mariah May landed at #5, followed by Konosuke Takeshita (6), Jack Perry (7), Kyle Fletcher (8), and Daniel Garcia (9). That makes seven stars from Tony Khan's promotion in the top ten.

Kris Statlander (14), HOOK (17), Wheeler Yuta (21), Julia Hart (26), and Jamie Hayter (27) all had their work recognized on this year's list, as well. With so many young stars rising through the ranks of All Elite Wrestling, the company seems well-equipped to tackle a new era on MAX.