How THIS Wrestler Has Become WWE's Most Valuable Player In 2020

This wasn't a straightforward process. Reportedly signing his producer's contract in February, MVP recruited the nascent Shane Thorne/Brendan Vink tag team as managerial clients. Despite reports suggesting that Vink, in particular, was set for a strong push, the tandem vanished shortly after teaming with their manager to face Cedric Alexander, R-Truth, and Ricochet on Raw's 11 May episode. Promoted from NXT to fill Raw's personnel gaps at the global health crisis' onset, Vink and Thorne were bumped back down just as quickly.

The alliance, categorically, didn't work. Not that this was MVP's fault, as he'd soon prove himself WWE's most effective talent enhancer.

Vink and Thorne's disappearance coincided with a sharp upturn in fortunes for MVP's other client, Bobby Lashley. Months removed from the poorly-received Lana/Rusev/Liv Morgan romance storyline, the powerhouse was in need of a hard reset. Connecting with an old TNA cohort provided this instantly.

Lashley was unsuccessful in defeating WWE Champion Drew McIntyre at Backlash 2020, but splitting from his onscreen wife and switching to a more serious gear had brought him his biggest opportunity since returning in 2018. MVP, objectively, was a more effective manager for Lashley than the former 'Ravishing Russian.'

That's no slight on Lana, who was once tremendous opposite Rusev and vital in helping get her shoot husband's main roster run off the ground. Rather, it is a credit to MVP: a man who knows his way around a microphone better than the overwhelming majority of his peers.

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