MVP is once again at the center of controversy — this time inside AEW — as internal frustrations grow over his influence on The Hurt Syndicate’s current tag team title reign.
Multiple sources via Fightful Select across the company have echoed that MVP has developed backstage heat over the last few months, with talent pointing to issues surrounding creative decisions and how the faction has been positioned.
The conversation kicked off during a recent Twitter Space from The Wrestling Binder’s JCup2013, which brought to light several concerns that have been quietly circulating for some time. One of the biggest talking points is MVP’s alleged unwillingness to lose to certain teams, including FTR.
AEW pitched FTR to defeat The Hurt Syndicate at All In and again at Forbidden Door as part of a broader redemption storyline. There was also interest in putting FTR against teams like Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay, but Ospreay’s neck injury halted any long-term plans on that front. MVP, however, reportedly said no to FTR going over, citing a preference for dropping the titles to younger talent instead.
Privately, MVP is said to have listed Gates of Agony, The Outrunners, and Private Party as teams he’d be comfortable losing to — but those options only led to more locker room grumbling. The Hurt Syndicate had already defeated each of those teams, making the suggestion feel hollow to many within the company.
Wrestlers have also taken issue with the group’s presentation, calling out how the faction plays heel but still engages in crowd-friendly antics, like giving high fives after matches.
The friction also stems from MVP’s apparent dislike of Speedball Mike Bailey. While there’s no known incident that sparked it, several AEW wrestlers confirmed that MVP was vocal about not wanting Hurt Syndicate to lose to JetSpeed. No match outcome was ever locked in, but MVP’s stance didn’t sit well with others.
As of now, there’s no indication that Bobby Lashley or Shelton Benjamin are involved in any backstage drama, and there’s no talk of the group leaving AEW. All three members are said to be under multi-year contracts with plenty of time left.
There had also been internal discussions about a longer-term angle involving MJF and The Hurt Syndicate, though it appears that storyline was wrapped up earlier than expected. Still, sources insist there’s no heat between MJF and the trio.
While most of AEW’s locker room reportedly continues to enjoy a strong and supportive culture, MVP’s actions have not gone unnoticed — and the tension around his creative influence seems far from over. Ringside News will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
Do you think The Hurt Syndicate should drop the titles soon? Is MVP helping or hurting AEW’s tag division right now? Let us know in the comments.
