my fantasy casting that I know is unrealistic would be for it to be Punk and that this whole thing has been a work. next best would be Dolph ziggler, but I really don't see AEW having that much foresight.
I wanted to wait until today to post this. By now, we've received all the clues and hints we're going to get (assuming the reveal is tonight!). Based off what we've learned, here's who I think it could be:
Adam Cole. Whoever the devil is has to be able to keep up with MJF on the mic and he's really the only one who can. I think he's in cahoots with BCG (Remember, Cole was the one to introduce Jay White to AEW, calling him “his friend”) and I’m betting he's had this planned for a long time.
That would make his henchmen Roddy, Taven, Bennett, and either Britt Baker or Wardlow.
Alternate options are: Jack Perry, Roddy Strong, CM Punk, Britt Baker, Samoa Joe, and even MJF himself.
Wardlow is kinda my dark horse to be the Devil himself. He's said he will take everything from MJF... taking his alter ego and casting his redemption into doubt would be a start.
I'm just going to flat say no to Britt Baker. It would be interesting, and I think she could pull it off, but AEW tends to shy away from intergender matches and stories. The only intergender matches in AEW have been non-televised.
CM Punk would be the stupidest work ever. And frankly, disrespectful to the audience. If I had been at All Out in Chicago this past summer only to learn I paid hard earned money to be worked like that, I'd be pissed.
Adam Cole would be the most interesting, but assuming Cole's injuries weren't a work, he might not be able to wrestle for a while.
Jack Perry would definitely be unexpected, but probably the least interesting.
Roddy and Samoa Joe both have really dumb "it was me all along, Austin!" energy, so I hope not.
MJF himself would just be weird. Maybe some kind of way to turn him full heel again, calling the audience a bunch of stupid marks or something.
My money is on Adam Cole. He'll have henchmen that can do the physical stuff while he heals, and frankly, if Britt could feud with Big Swole while her leg healed, Adam Cole can do the same with MJF. The unfortunate side effect of it being Cole, however, is it would give an excuse to delay the reveal while he heals.
Jack Perry would definitely be unexpected, but probably the least interesting.
Completely agree. I don't mind Jack but he's nowhere near ready to lead a stable. Especially not one at the forefront of this kind of storyline.
The unfortunate side effect of it being Cole, however, is it would give an excuse to delay the reveal while he heals.
Good point. I'm still not totally convinced it isn't a made-up injury. The way he hurt himself seemed so mundane that it makes the injury all the more believable, which could be perfect to hide what's really going on (he's fine, just sitting back letting MJF get his ass kicked while he hangs out with his real friends waiting for his chance to strike).
That's definitely a possibility. I thought something similar but someone pointed out that the person in the devil mask was too small to be Joe. I wouldn't rule it out though.