25 Worst Wrestling Moments Of 2025
22. Thumbs Down For The End Of The Hurt Syndicate/MJF Story
Low-lying controversy has followed The Hurt Syndicate around since they got settled in All Elite Wrestling, and it's opened up an interesting debate between fans about the way they would preferably like talent to conduct their backstage business.
There's been more than a dash of the old school mentality in the manner MVP, Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin have politically protected themselves (more on the most egregious example elsewhere in this list), but when months of build between the group and Maxwell Jacob Friedman was flushed in one segment in August, it felt as if the contentiousness was now coming at the extent of good creative.
To recap; MJF wanted in, the three members teased a thumbs up/thumbs down bit that got massively over in the buildings, MJF was allowed in, all seemed rosy in the garden, MJF secured a World Title shot while Bobby and Shelton held tag gold, then out of nowhere the original trio all got collectively sick of the 'Salt Of The Earth' and booted him out. No follow-up feud either.
The use of a semi-invisible camera along the way initially gave some hope that an elaborate bit had occurred and perhaps they were in on a grand plan for MJF to "execute his contract" on Champion Hangman Page (or anybody else holding the gold) but barring an unrealistic and now-unwanted long game - and per reports that somebody directly related to the angle simply wasn't a fan - the whole thing is something everybody's got to pretend never happened.