Backstage Heat On Top AEW Act, Said "No" To Losing At All In Texas (AEW News)

MVP is reportedly ruffling feathers backstage in AEW right now.

by Andrew Pollard
The Hurt Syndicate MVP Bobby Lashley Shelton Benjamin AEW
AEW

While the Hurt Syndicate is one of - if not the - most dominant acts in AEW right now, it appears that there's some backstage heat on MVP.

Per The Wrestling Binder's JCup2013 on a Twitter Space, it was said that MVP has been rubbing a lot of people the wrong way in AEW, resulting in heat for the former WWE United States Champion.

Fightful Select has since added how they've also heard similar things in recent months, although they reiterated that they haven't heard anything in regards to any heat on Bobby Lashley or Shelton Benjamin.

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This Fightful report goes into a few more specifics, firstly noting that it's well known backstage that MVP dislikes 'Speedball' Mike Bailey, and that MVP didn't want the Hurt Syndicate to lose to the JetSpeed tandem of Bailey and Kevin Knight. That said, this report also notes that Fightful was never told that there were ever any plans for the Hurt Syndicate to lose to JetSpeed. From sources spoken to, there are no details known on why exactly MVP doesn't like Speedball, but MVP has made it clear that he's not keen on Bailey.

Away from JetSpeed, the Hurt Syndicate said no to losing the AEW Tag Team Titles to FTR at either All In or Forbidden Door. One pitch was for FTR to win at All In as part of a redemption story, leading to them facing Cope and Christian down the line. Dax and Cash also pitched to face Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay, but Ospreay's current injury issues have derailed all of the Brit's creative plans.

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The Hurt Syndicate Shelton Benjamin MVP Bobby Lashley
AEW

For the Hurt Syndicate, this Fightful report claims that MVP has stated he'd prefer the Hurts to lose the AEW Tag Team Titles to a younger team, with Montel suggesting the Gates of Agony, Outrunners, or Private Party as his preferences. Lashley and Benjamin were also said to be open to losing the titles to Osprey and Swerve, but, again, Will's current status means that never really came fully into consideration.

When Fightful checked with AEW sources about that aforementioned trio of teams the Hurt Syndicate preferred to lose the AEW Tag Titles to, it was noted how the Hurts have already beaten all three teams in the past. This report also adds that there is a frustration in the locker room right now that the Hurt Syndicate is the heel act that does cool moves, beats everybody up, and then high-fives with fans on their way to the back.

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Fightful has heard nothing in terms of the Hurt Syndicate leaving AEW at this point, and all three of MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin signed multi-year deals with AEW that still have several years left on them. It was hinted to the outlet that the whole MJF/Hurt Syndicate stuff was originally planned to last longer, but those plans have seemingly been changed for whatever reason. There is no heat between Max and the Hurt Syndicate, and specifically, MJF and MVP have no issues.

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Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.