The wrestling world was buzzing when MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin, formerly of WWE’s impactful Hurt Business, reunited in AEW as The Hurt Syndicate last fall. Their departure from WWE, particularly after such a successful run, left many questions unanswered. Now, MVP has finally pulled back the curtain, offering a candid explanation for the team’s move and his personal reasons for leaving World Wrestling Entertainment.
- The Meteoric Rise and Abrupt Halt of The Hurt Business in WWE
- Behind the Curtain: MVPs’ Unvarnished Truth
- The Unexplained Disbandment: “Begging Vince”
- Management Discontent: “People I Dislike Immensely”
- Forging a New Path: The Genesis of The Hurt Syndicate in AEW
- A Resurgent Legacy: Success and Mentorship in All Elite Wrestling
- A Story Concluded: The Impact of a Second Chance
The Meteoric Rise and Abrupt Halt of The Hurt Business in WWE
Remember the electricity surrounding The Hurt Business in WWE? It was undeniable. MVP and Bobby Lashley formed an incredible alliance, swiftly becoming a dominant force that captivated audiences and significantly elevated Lashley, leading to his monumental WWE Championship win just before WrestleMania 37. They were, by all accounts, on an unstoppable trajectory.
Yet, in a decision that baffled fans and members alike, WWE disbanded the group just weeks shy of the biggest show of the year. The momentum was shattered, and what followed was a period where the individual members struggled to regain their footing. This inexplicable breakup laid the groundwork for a dramatic shift in their careers.
Behind the Curtain: MVPs’ Unvarnished Truth
For years, the full story behind The Hurt Business’s demise and MVP’s subsequent WWE exit remained shrouded in mystery. In a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet, MVP finally broke his silence, offering crucial insights into the motivations behind their collective leap to All Elite Wrestling.
The Unexplained Disbandment: “Begging Vince”
At the heart of MVP’s discontent was the perplexing decision to dissolve The Hurt Business. He minced no words, directly stating, “Everybody knows that The Hurt Business got shut down in WWE for reasons that have never been made clear to me. No one has ever said, and I begged Vince, Bobby begged Vince, please don’t do this.”
The plea to Vince McMahon, the then-head of WWE, to preserve their thriving faction was met with resistance. McMahon, according to MVP, simply had “his own ideas.” It’s a sentiment widely shared by fans and industry insiders: The Hurt Business was disbanded far too soon, leaving a significant amount of untapped potential on the table.
Management Discontent: “People I Dislike Immensely”
Beyond the frustrating breakup, MVP revealed a deeper, more personal reason for his departure. When his contract came up for renewal, his decision was clear. “I made it very clear that I don’t want to be there anymore,” he stated emphatically. “There are people there in management that I dislike immensely, a person, and I wouldn’t even bother to get into that.”
This strong personal aversion to a specific individual within management solidified his resolve to leave. MVP acknowledged the transient nature of professional wrestling, and indeed, any industry, when leadership changes. “That’s how the wrestling game is, that’s how life is,” he explained. “I don’t care where you work. When management changes, some people are out, other people are in, and I knew it was time to go.” For MVP, the environment had shifted to an untenable degree.
Forging a New Path: The Genesis of The Hurt Syndicate in AEW
While MVP’s decision to leave was firm, convincing his long-time ally, Bobby Lashley, wasn’t an immediate process. MVP had to play a crucial role in bringing the band back together.
“I wasn’t gonna re-sign,” MVP recounted. “I was in Bobby’s ear constantly, like, ‘don’t re-sign. Shelton got released. Don’t re-sign. Let’s you, me, and Shelton get back together. Let’s go to AEW. I know we can go to AEW and we can pick this thing back up.'”
His vision was clear: to reform the powerful trio and continue the story they felt was prematurely cut short. MVP’s persistence paid off, as Lashley eventually agreed to join him and Shelton Benjamin in All Elite Wrestling.
A Resurgent Legacy: Success and Mentorship in All Elite Wrestling
The move to AEW has proven to be a resounding success for the reunited faction, now known as The Hurt Syndicate. Lashley and Benjamin quickly found their stride, enjoying a lengthy and impactful reign as AEW Tag Team Champions. MVP’s foresight was vindicated.
MVP expressed profound gratitude to Tony Khan, AEW’s owner, for believing in their potential. “I’m grateful to Tony Khan for seeing the value in us and giving us an opportunity to come over here and continue to tell our story and help some of these younger talents,” he shared.
Beyond in-ring competition, MVP cherishes the chance to “pay it forward,” offering guidance and insights to the next generation of wrestlers, just as he once received mentorship himself. “So thank you to Tony Khan for seeing something in us and believing in us and giving us an opportunity to end The Hurt Syndicate in AEW, and for us to finish telling our story.”
A Story Concluded: The Impact of a Second Chance
MVP’s heartfelt revelations confirm what many observers had long suspected: The Hurt Business’s handling in WWE was a significant missed opportunity, a truly short-sighted decision that robbed fans of a continued compelling narrative. His explicit mention of a deep personal dislike for a management figure within WWE speaks volumes about the internal climate that can drive talent away.
While it’s a shame that such a potent group couldn’t fully realize its potential in WWE, their resurgence as The Hurt Syndicate in AEW feels like a deserved second act. Witnessing Lashley and Benjamin excel as Tag Team Champions and MVP embracing a mentorship role is a testament to the power of a change in scenery. It demonstrates that sometimes, the only way to truly finish your story and reignite that professional spark is to find a new stage.
