MJF Set for CMLL Return to Challenge Averno for Light Heavyweight Title

MJF is headed back to Mexico—and this time, he’s looking to leave with gold.

CMLL announced Wednesday night that the former AEW International Champion will return to the promotion next week to challenge Averno for the CMLL World Light Heavyweight Championship. The title match is set to take place during Viernes Espectacular at Arena Mexico on Friday, August 1.

This will be only MJF’s second match for CMLL. He made his debut this past August by defeating Templario. More recently, MJF faced Mistico at AEW Grand Slam Mexico in a heated bout that ended in disqualification. The rivalry between MJF and Mistico has been building all summer, and there’s already speculation that they’ll run it back one more time at CMLL’s Anniversary Show in September.

Averno has held the Light Heavyweight Championship since March 2024, but he’s only defended it four times in nearly 500 days. His last defense was against Mistico in May, making MJF his first challenger in over two months.

Despite being wrapped up in a storyline feud with Mark Briscoe in AEW and still dealing with internal tension inside The Hurt Syndicate, MJF is stepping into CMLL with serious intentions. He also holds an AEW World Title shot at any time thanks to his Casino Gauntlet win at All In earlier this month.

With everything going on in AEW and his history with Mistico, MJF going after CMLL gold adds another layer to what’s already been a chaotic summer for him.