Bobby Lashley is excited to bring the Hurt Syndicate to AEW, and is ready for opportunities not afforded in other promotions. Lashley debuted in AEW in October and wasted no time in aligning with his fellow Hurt Business alum MVP and Shelton Benjamin.
Speaking to Justin Barrasso of Undisputed, Lashley shared that he joined AEW for the Hurt Syndicate and the natural chemistry he shares with MVP and Benjamin. Lashley added that he’s grateful to Tony Khan for giving him the opportunity to run with the group.
“We didn’t get the opportunity to show what we really wanted to do before. Now we do. The possibilities and ideas about what we can do in AEW, that keeps me up at night.”
Lashley’s comments echo the views of many regarding the handling of The Hurt Business in WWE. In 2021, the decision was made to split the group, an idea all four members reportedly pleaded against happening. While the group reunited a handful of months later, much of the group’s luster had gone, and a second split in 2021 ended the popular faction on a sour note.
Though best known for their work together in WWE, MVP and Lashley’s partnership dates back a decade or so to their days in Impact Wrestling (now TNA Wrestling.) In the interview, Lashley shared that he didn’t know what to expect when they were “thrown together” but the pair quickly found their “synergy.”
“He’s a natural bad guy. He’s the voice, I’m the power. Handling yourself against MVP on the mic and against me in the ring, that’s a challenge for everyone.”
With both MVP and Benjamin by his side, Lashley remains undefeated in AEW, with his most recent victory coming at Full Gear over Swerve Strickland. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Bobby Lashley, who’s ready to make the most of his opportunity in AEW.
AEW’s Bobby Lashley regrets that his feud with Brock Lesnar, a program he’d been aspiring to for years, hardly led up to his or fan expectations. On the Insight podcast, Lashley discussed working with the Beast and what could’ve gone differently.
“I wanted to do a lot more with it. I wish we could have really done the things that we could have.”
Lashley and Lesnar faced off one-on-one three times in WWE. Their first match at the Royal Rumble 2022 event saw interference by Roman Reigns. Their second match at that year’s Crown Jewel lasted just six minutes, while their final match at Elimination Chamber 2023 ended in what many considered a disappointing DQ finish
On the podcast, Lashley spoke of wanting training montages before his matches with Lesnar, believing the angle could’ve been like the movie Rocky. Lashley also revealed that he pitched a tag-title run with Lesnar, which would’ve later led to a feud.
“I don’t know if we could have put us two together as a tag team because it might have been too dominant, but I still see there were some people in there that we could have had great fights with.”
Lesnar hasn’t competed for WWE since SummerSlam 2023, with questions about his future due to Janel Grant’s lawsuit. Lashley has since joined AEW, where he has reunited with MVP and Shelton Benjamin as the Hurt Syndicate. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Lashley, as the All Mighty continues to make an impact, even after his feud with Lesnar didn’t reach his expectations.
President-Elect Donald Trump was more than willing to get in the mix of things during the infamous Battle of the Billionaires in WWE in 2007. The WrestleMania 23 contest saw Bobby Lashley represent Trump to face the late, great Umaga, who represented Vince McMahon. Lashley would win the match, which per the stipulation, would result in McMahon being shaved of his iconic hairdo.
On the Insight podcast, Lashley detailed the build-up to the match, which he found “funny all the way through.”
“You’re just watching these two powerhouses talk to each other, so they’re going back and forth, and they’re on top of everything.”
The match featured prominent promotion in WWE, including taking center stage on that year’s WrestleMania 23 poster. The image depicts Lashley and Umaga standing behind their representatives, though this was not the original plan.
“Somebody put it down on paper that me and Umaga were supposed to sit in the chairs and have those guys standing with their hands on our shoulders… Trump was like, ‘No, I don’t think we should do this… it makes me look old.”
During the match, Trump delivers a clothesline to McMahon in a clip the President-Elect has since used to encapsulate his issues with the media. The Apprentice star was never taught how to hit the move, Lashley added, before detailing McMahon’s attempt to prank his friend, who was eager to fight, on the biggest show of the year.
” Trump wanted to be a part of it. He wanted to do something. He was like, ‘I want to beat somebody up.’
“Vince’s whole thing was like, Haha, when he starts punching me, I’m gonna put my head down so he could punch my head. That’s the hardest part of my head, so it’s gonna hurt his hand.”
As for Lashley, he’s now a part of AEW and is quickly establishing himself as part of The Hurt Syndicate. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on the former WWE World Champion as he, MVP, and Shelton Benjamin look to show their dominance in an All-Elite ring.
Bobby Lashley and the Hurt Syndicate are ready to take over AEW following the All Mighty’s first victory at one of the company’s pay-per-views. At AEW Full Gear, Lashley defeated Swerve Strickland via referee stoppage after trapping Swerve in the Hurt Lock. The win makes Lashley 2-0 in AEW after squashing opponents in a handicap match on Dynamite.
Speaking on the AEW Full Gear post-show media scrum, Lashley relished in his victory over the former AEW World Champion and promised big things to come.
“I think it was fantastic. The crowd here was amazing and I like the chant ‘We Hurt People.’ It’s good business. This group has been long overdue to start taking over and now that we’ve gotten to AEW it is time to take over. We need to start holding these titles hostage.”
The Hurt Syndicate has yet to hold gold in AEW since MVP’s arrival in September, but as Lashley made clear, he plans on changing this. Before Full Gear, the All Mighty told The Lame Guys that he plans to be in the AEW World Championship picture by Grand Slam in February 2025.
Lashley has reached the pinnacle as World Champion in WWE and TNA and now plans to add AEW to the list. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Bobby Lashley and the Hurt Syndicate’s plans to ‘take over’ All Elite Wrestling.
Former Ring of Honor (ROH) star Cheeseburger recently shared his experience facing Bobby Lashley during Lashley’s dominant AEW in-ring debut on November 20, 2024. In a handicap match alongside Joe Keys, Cheeseburger endured a powerful Dominator from Lashley, while Keys succumbed to the Hurt Lock.
Bobby Lashley’s AEW in-ring debut
Reflecting on the encounter during an appearance on Fightful Overbooked’s Coexisting, Cheeseburger expressed admiration for Lashley’s strength, describing him as “an insanely strong human being” and “a mountain of muscle.” He humorously noted his relief at avoiding the Hurt Lock, stating, “Thankfully, I didn’t get put in the Hurt Lock like my partner, Joe Keys. I got the Dominator… and I had to be the victim of it.”
Despite the physical toll, Cheeseburger appreciated the opportunity to perform in Pennsylvania, a state with deep ROH roots. He remarked, “It was awesome. I’ve worked in that area a lot… and obviously Ring of Honor having its roots in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia… it was really cool that people there… I never expect people to know who I am at all. So to come out and get that reaction was amazing.”
Known for his vibrant persona, Cheeseburger also discussed his choice of eye-catching gear, designed to capture the audience’s attention. He explained, “I made the conscious decision to wear that sparkly green-and-black set with a giant Cheeseburger on it… it just kind of draws people’s attention.”
Currently active on the independent wrestling scene, Cheeseburger continues to entertain fans with his unique style and charisma.
Bobby Lashley has teased an expansion of Hurt Syndicate.
The newest AEW signee recently had an interview with The Lame Guys Wrestling podcast. He talked about things such as his run-ins with Swerve Strickland, his future plans, and more.
The former world champion also explained his decision to join AEW after his departure from WWE. He revealed that one of the things that convinced him was Tony Khan’s promise of allowing him to work on other projects:
“Part of it is because Tony did tell me that I had opportunities to do other things also. So If I do want to tackle that fight and do another fight, whether it’s boxing, bareknuckle, MMA, I think he’ll give me the opportunity to. Then, all my other projects also that I’ve been working on.”
The 48-year-old also noted that he wants to go out on his terms, an opportunity he didn’t get in WWE. He wants to work with his friends MVP and Shelton Benjamin again while helping young talents on his way.
Bobby Lashley explained that taking out the whole Hurt Syndicate might not be a realistic goal for an up-and-coming talent but they can benefit from working with different members of his group. The heavyweight star then teased bringing other members to the faction:
“I was like, ‘If I’m going to go out, there are certain ways that I want to go out.’ I didn’t get an opportunity to go out the way that I wanted to with putting guys over and having a feud with those guys. Another avenue I could be happy with is to be able to work with P and Shelton again, being able to run with that and have fun with it.
Ultimately, we are a group that is good for the company. We have the ability to be able to build talent. If you go into a feud with us or you’re on the mic against P, you have Shelton, me, whoever else we bring on. You have a lot of obstacles.”
When asked which are some names he would like to bring into the Hurt Syndicate fold, Lashley mentioned that he would like to have Lio Rush around him again. Other names that were mentioned during the conversation included Ricochet and HOOK.
Bobby Lashley made a significant impact on AEW Dynamite this Wednesday by making his in-ring debut, just days ahead of his scheduled match against former AEW World Heavyweight Champion Swerve Strickland at the Full Gear pay-per-view event this Saturday.
Since his AEW debut, Lashley has been embroiled in a feud with Strickland. Earlier in the evening, The Hurt Syndicate arrived in an SUV atop a parking garage. As MVP announced Lashley’s in-ring debut for the night, Strickland ambushed Lashley with a steel chain before fleeing the scene.
In his debut match, Lashley faced Joe Keys and Cheeseburger in a one-on-two handicap bout. Lashley swiftly defeated both opponents, demonstrating his dominance, with Keys passing out in the Hurt Lock. Post-match, Prince Nana appeared on the stage, distracting MVP and Shelton Benjamin long enough for Strickland to launch a surprise attack on Lashley.
As the Full Gear event approaches, Lashley is considered a heavy-betting favorite for defeating Strickland.
Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana set a trap for The Hurt Syndicate!
On the October 30, edition of AEW Dynamite, Bobby Lashley made his long-awaited AEW debut by confronting and attacking Swerve Strickland. Lashley’s arrival comes after months of reports and speculation about him coming to Tony Khan’s first promotion and now the two-time former WWE World Champion is ready to make an impact on AEW programming.
Lashley has been under contract for some time now, but his debut with the promotion was delayed. Initially, his first appearance was set to be at AEW WrestleDream earlier this month. Plans changed as AEW wanted to focus on Jon Moxley’s faction angle and the end of Bryan Danielson’s full-time in-ring career.
Lashley officially signed with AEW in September, shortly before AEW Grand Slam: Dynamite in September, according to Fightful. That show saw the debut of MVP while Shelton Benjamin arrived on the five-year edition of Dynamite. Benjamin was a part of Lashley’s debut as he and the All Mighty attacked Strickland while MVP held Prince Nana at bay. Strickland had previously made clear that he would be sticking with Nana rather than take on MVP as a manager.
Lashley’s arrival is a huge coup for AEW as Tony Khan now has one of WWE’s biggest stars in recent years. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Bobby Lashley now that the All Mighty former World Champion is now All Elite.
In the main event of the October 30, edition of Dynamite, Swerve Strickland took on Shelton Benjamin, another name brought in by MVP. In the climax of the match, Swerve nailed a Liger Bomb and a Swerve Stomp to get the win, his first in over two months.
After the match was over, MVP got his phone out and he made a call. Then the lights went out and Bobby Lashley made his way to the ring. Fans chanted “holy s**t” as Lashley arrived and with MVP holding back Prince Nana, Lashley and Benjamin double-teamed Swerve Strickland.
MVP grabbed the microphone after everything was over, and yelled, “Guess who’s back in business?!” Lashley’s arrival is a huge coup for AEW as Tony Khan now has one of WWE’s biggest stars in recent years.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Bobby Lashley now that the All Mighty former World Champion is now All Elite.
Bobby Lashley attempted to recruit Bianca Belair to join his faction with the Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) in WWE. In the summer of 2023, this faction received a renewed push on SmackDown.
However, the group felt incomplete for many fans, with some believing it needed a female member to round it out. Since Belair is married to Ford, fans speculated that adding her would make sense and increase the faction’s star power.
The group, portraying a heel edge, represented a fresh dynamic for Belair, who typically appeared as a face. While aligned, they feuded with factions such as the LWO and Final Testament. The faction was informally dubbed “The Pride” before WWE ultimately decided to split them up.
While appearing on the Lame Guys Podcast, Lashley shared that they had lobbied to bring Belair into the group. He also praised her extensively, highlighting her skill and popularity.
“We were trying to get Bianca with them [Street Profits], too. She is so much of an inspiration for so many people that she can’t (turn heel). Little girls absolutely love her, and rightfully so.
Bianca is an absolute superstar. The acting part is fantastic. Her athletic ability in the ring, absolutely incredible. Her fire, everything about her. Her and Montez are a superstar couple. The best of the best.”
B-Fab ended up in the group. Earlier this year, Lashley departed WWE, and speculation suggests he may soon debut in AEW.
The former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley has shared his thoughts on MVP and Shelton Benjamin joining All Elite Wrestling. The free agent appeared on the Lame Guys Podcast and touted what they bring to AEW.
Wrestling fans complaining about AEW signing ‘ex-WWE guys’ are missing the big picture. MVP and Shelton Benjamin bring a ton of life experience, still have gas left in the tank, and have the ability to elevate others.
“The fans need to understand… You need established guys to help elevate others.”
Bryan Danielson, Adam Copeland, Samoa Joe and Christian are among the former World Champions who have done just that.
Lashley does not plan on accumulating ring rust following his WWE exit. The Dominator has teased that fans can expect something big from him over the next few weeks. As for wether or not he’ll follow MVP and Shelton Benjamin to AEW, he’s keeping his options open.
Bobby Lashley is no longer under contract with WWE but the All Mighty is far from finished in the ring. During a virtual signing with K&S WrestleFest, Lashley spoke about being off recently with an injury and teased something major within a matter of weeks.
“I had a little boo-boo, so I took some time off to fix myself. I’ve been working out hard, and I think the next few weeks you should see something pop off. It’s time to put pen to paper and get back to these fans.”
“Lio is my dude. I saw Shelton fight Lio last week, and I wasn’t too happy about that. That’s always a good opportunity to jump back in.”
When asked about a possible return to TNA, where Lashley once dominated during its time as Impact, the former World Champion said it’d be “cool” to feud with Nic Nemeth. Lashley also spoke of a feud with Moose; someone who has been compared to Lashley over the years.
“That’s a feud I haven’t really had a chance to jump into. So there are all kinds of different matchups that would look great.”
It’s clear that Lashley is keeping all his options open—and fans couldn’t be more excited. Whether it’s debuting in AEW, a return to TNA and MMA, or something entirely different, it’s clear that the All Mighty isn’t done yet in the squared circle.
MVP has made his presence felt in AEW in recent weeks. An impressive in-ring debut for Shelton Benjamin only further reinforced their collective potential as individual talents and, all the more so, as a unit.
All too often, though, fans have seen acts start out hot in AEW, only to get lost in the shuffle. While the easy critiques on MVP, Benjamin, and other talents who may or may not joint them—particularly Bobby Lashley—is that they’re WWE alumni and that they’re relatively old, there’s still plenty of potential for them to change the game in AEW.
The Hurt Is Back In Business
The Hurt Business will be in action at Crown Jewel
WWE’s Hurt Business was a landmark faction. They were one of the coolest parts of WWE programming in the pandemic era and the group succeeded in finally getting Bobby Lashley all the way over as a WWE Champion after stop-start pushes and never quite reaching the mountain top throughout either of his WWE tenures prior to that point.
The Hurt Business experiment fizzled, though, with Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander fading further and further into the background and MVP on the outs. Lashley enjoyed some successes, including fans seeing a lot of potential in him teaming up with The Street Profits, but it never went anywhere and The All Mighty’s final months in WWE were conspicuously quiet.
Now, MVP and Benjamin have shown up in AEW, launching The Hurt Syndicate. WWE has done a nice job of slow-playing this act, including creating initial intrigue between MVP and Swerve Strickland, before rolling out Benjamin and immediately establishing him as far more of an in-ring threat than he got to play for most of his WWE career.
AEW Can Push Black Talent To The Moon
While WWE has been on fire under Triple H’s creative leadership, one critique that’s only gaining momentum is that The Game hasn’t done enough to push black talent. Fans have noticed an absence of black men in particular from PLE cards. Moreover, Helmsley’s attempt at quieting the haters in the Bad Blood post-show press conference came across as uncharacteristically tone deaf and outdated as he claimed not to see color.
It doesn’t seem fair to actually think of The Cerebral Assassin as actively racist, but he has nonetheless left an opening for AEW to distinguish itself by more overtly pushing black stars. Swerve Strickland’s celebrated run as AEW Champion laid some strong groundwork. MVP and The Hurt Syndicate have the tools to take things to the next level.
A Swerve Strickland Vs. Bobby Lashley Feud
Swerve Strickland and Shelton Benjamin look as though they’re on a collision course right now in AEW, but between Benjamin’s age and the damage his credibility took in WWE, this wouldn’t feel like a satisfying end game for the story AEW has been rolling out. Rather, things really feel as though they ought to be building toward Strickland vs. Bobby Lashley.
Lashley is an awesome physical specimen and with WWE world title credentials under his belt (not to mention a history as the world champ in TNA), he’s a suitably credible opponent for Strickland. Moreover, The All Mighty represents a worthy mountain to climb. Though Strickland should ultimately have his sights set on reclaiming the AEW Championship, winning a feud over Lashley and The Hurt Syndicate could do a great deal to further solidify Strickland as a bona fide main event fixture.
The Hurt Syndicate Vs. The Blackpool Combat Club
The Blackpool Combat Club has been one of the most compelling parts of AEW programming for much of the last two and a half years. The recent tonal shift, with Jon Moxley turning heel and recapturing the AEW Championship, intrigue around their mission to fundamentally change AEW, and the additions of PAC and Marina Shafir have brought the group right back to the spotlight as one of the most buzzworthy acts in the promotion, if not all of wrestling.
Feuding with The Blackpool Combat Club would be a great place for The Hurt Syndicate to land, offering a formidable, fresh challenge and series of matchups, up to and including the possibility of an AEW Championship reign for Bobby Lashley. At minimum, one of the most important parts of a modern faction’s success is having other credible factions to feud with, and this is where these two groups could help one another significantly.
In the end, only time will tell what AEW has planned for MVP and his Hurt Syndicate. Early signs have been promising, though, and there’s a real chance for the creative to follow to end the mainstream careers of MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and Bobby Lashley on a high note, while also bettering AEW and the careers of several of its other stars.
Karrion Kross says there was zero heat between him and Bobby Lashley leading up to their Philadelphia Street Fight at WrestleMania 40.
The former NXT Champion competed in his first-ever WrestleMania match this year. He led The Final Testament against Bobby Lashley’s The Pride. The two teams had a short but eventful match with The Pride coming out victorious.
During a recent appearance on Chris Van Vliet’s Insight podcast, Kross told the truth about his supposed heat with the former WWE Champion leading up to their Mania match. He said that he hates to break the kayfabe but he loves and respects Lashley:
“Zero [heat], it was a work. He knows I feel this way about him. It’s not the first time I’m saying it. And unless you would have asked me about this, I would have never said it. I love that dude to death.
After the match, I wanted to tell him afterwards so he didn’t think I was trying to butter him up before we went out. I told him after the match was done, expressed how much I love him.”
Karrion Kross explained that he was an ECW fan growing up and was super excited when WWE brought it back in 2006. The period of Bobby Lashley as the ECW Champion was especially his favorite because he loved seeing an athlete the size of The All Mighty doing all sorts of crazy things.
Continuing on the build for their WrestleMania match, Kross revealed that Lashley wanted them to lean into the rumors. The former TNA champion had even suggested a shoot fight before the show to make their match feel more organic:
“Bob was like, ‘You know what we should do? All these guys, they like to talk and they like to run to the dirt sheets and stuff. Dude, we should fight at the beginning of the show. We should get in a fight because all these guys are going to go and call the dirt sheets and tell them that we actually had a fight, and it’s going to stir people up into what we’re doing on TV.’ I was like, ‘Bob, what? Hold on a sec. First of all, what happens if nobody breaks up the fight?’ And he was like, ‘damn, I didn’t think about that.'”
It wasn’t only Lashley who had crazy ideas to make their match as big as possible. Kross revealed during the same interview that he had some pretty out-of-the-box ideas for weapons he could have used during the bout.
Bobby Lashley’s WWE run unfortunately did not last very long after this bout. The company decided not to renew his contract and Lashley departed the promotion in August this year. Though reports suggest that he has already found a new home and is expected to make his debut there very soon.
At AEW WrestleDream, Swerve Strickland made his first appearance for the company since his brutal loss to ‘Hangman’ Adam Page at AEW All Out. In his segment, Strickland declined the managerial services of MVP, saying he is loyal to Prince Nana and told the former WWE Superstar to “stick your business cards up your ass!” While many expected this segment to also see the debut of Bobby Lashley, that didn’t happen, as the All Mighty was nowhere to be seen at the Tacoma pay-per-view.
There were early discussions about having Lashley debut at WrestleDream, Fightful Select reports, but plans changed. The belief was that having Lashley attack and lay out Swerve in Strickland’s hometown would not have gone well, especially given what happened to fellow Washingtonian Bryan Danielson in the main event of the show.
This report comes after Ibou of WrestlePurists reported that Lashley’s debut was postponed to ensure it stands out. AEW felt there were already enough big storylines at WrestleDream, and they didn’t want Lashley’s arrival to get overshadowed. In addition to matches, the pay-per-view saw the returns of Adam Cole and MJF to our screens.
Lio Rush debuted for All Elite Wrestling in 2021, and would remain an active part of the company’s roster until his exit in February the next year. Now the ‘Man of the Hour’ is back under contract, and his return may lead to the debut of a man Rush knows very well.
In a segment filmed at AEW WrestleDream, Rush confirmed to Alicia Atout that he is once again under an AEW contract. The former NXT Cruiserweight Champion was then confronted by MVP and Shelton Benjamin. As tensions mounted between the two sides, MVP asked if Rush is free on Wednesday, teasing something for Rush for this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite.
Rush may not have much of a history with MVP or Benjamin, but he does have history with a man that both are familiar with: Bobby Lashley. Rush managed Lashley in WWE before MVP took on the All Mighty in 2020 as part of The Hurt Business. It’s been reported that Lashley is set to join MVP and Benjamin soon in AEW, with some speculating ahead of WrestleDream that his debut would come at the pay-per-view.
Time will tell if the All Mighty’s AEW debut will come this Wednesday, but for now, Lio Rush is preparing for something with the Hurt Syndicate on Dynamite. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from Lio Rush and all the signing news out of All Elite Wrestling.
As AEW’s WrestleDream pay-per-view event approaches tonight, rumors are swirling about the potential debut of former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. Fans are speculating that the powerhouse athlete could make his first appearance in All Elite Wrestling at this highly anticipated event.
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The Speculation Surrounding Bobby Lashley’s AEW Debut
Betting Odds and Fan Expectations
Betting odds for WrestleDream suggest that Bobby Lashley is expected to make his AEW debut. This speculation has gained traction among fans, who are eagerly anticipating the possibility of seeing “The All Mighty” in an AEW ring for the first time.
The Hurt Business Connection
Adding fuel to the fire of these rumors is the recent debut of Lashley’s former Hurt Business teammates, MVP and Shelton Benjamin, in AEW. This has led many to believe that a reunion of sorts could be in the works, potentially under a new name such as “The Hurt Syndicate.”
Potential Scenarios for Lashley’s Debut
The Swerve Strickland Segment
One popular theory among fans is that Bobby Lashley could make his entrance during a segment involving Swerve Strickland. AEW typically reserves non-wrestling segments on pay-per-views for significant moments, and Lashley’s debut would certainly fit that criteria.
A possible scenario could unfold as follows:
MVP and Shelton Benjamin confront Swerve Strickland’s manager, Prince Nana.
Swerve’s music hits, and he’s offered a spot in MVP’s new group.
After Swerve rejects the offer, Lashley appears to assist MVP and Benjamin in attacking Strickland.
WWE has one of the largest and most diverse rosters in all of professional wrestling with talent coming from all kinds of backgrounds and walks of life. Recently, a lot has been said about the representation (or lack thereof) of black male Superstars at PLEs, which many fans have found lacking.
A black male wrestler has not won a singles match at a WWE PLE since Elimination Chamber 2023 where Bobby Lashley earned a DQ victory over Brock Lesnar. For the last time a black, male wrestler won via pinfall or submission, fans must go back to WWE SummerSlam 2022 where Lashley retained the U.S. Title against Austin Theory.
WWE has been made aware of the growing criticism regarding its handling of black, male Superstars, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reports.
One source within WWE is reported to have said “Well that’s obviously something that will be addressed now.” This weekend’s Bad Blood event will be WWE’s third consecutive PLE to feature no black, male Superstars.
This response from WWE comes after Swerve Strickland, AEW’s first black World Champion, had choice words for his former employer. Responding to a report that claimed WWE believes Strickland’s newly-signed AEW contract is above the market value, Swerve told The Breakfast Club “They only complain when a Black person gets paid.”
The topic of race and WWE’s handling of black wrestlers has been a topic of discussion for years. The important thing is that all talent of all backgrounds are treated with respect and given a fair opportunity to succeed in wrestling’s largest and most recognized promotion.
Former WWE star Bobby Lashley recently opened up on his future endeavors after parting ways with WWE. His former Hurt Business stablemate MVP said that he won’t be going back to WWE during a Bloodsport event. Fans have been anticipating what he and Bobby Lashley have planned next. There have been reports that Lashley and MVP hope to reunite in AEW with free agent Shelton Benjamin also possibly joining them.
In his vlog, ‘The All Mighty’ talked about his status and his future. The former WWE Champion said that his pro wrestling journey is not over yet and he still wants to wrestle following his departure from WWE. He said that he doesn’t know what’s his next destination but he is ready for anything. Lashley said:
“I see so many articles about what I’m gonna do. Is it WWE? Is it TNA? Is it AEW? I can’t control any of that. But the one thing I can control is how I prepare. I’m ready for anything.”
– Bobby Lashley
The Hurt Syndicate
Lashley, MVP and Shelton Benjamin could soon reunite in AEW. They could get back together as The Hurt Syndicate, judging by a trademark filing last month. A trademark filing was recently made for the term The Hurt Syndicate for use in pro wrestling and entertainment services.
Totally Harmless Concept LLC filed to trademark “The Hurt Syndicate” a few weeks ago following the filing for trademarks on other MVP-related phrases and names.
Lashley’s New Vlog
Lashley launched a new series called ‘Phenoms to Legends.’ The former WWE star revealed that during his WWE tenure, he used an RV to travel between shows. Now, he is planning to travel around the country in his RV and meet talented young athletes. The brand new series will also give them the chance to share their stories.
Bobby Lashley’s time with WWE has come to an end and fans are excited to see where he goes next in the world of pro wrestling. It remains to be seen where the All Mighty will compete in the future, but now Lashley has launched a brand new video project.
On his YouTube channel, Lashley launched a new series called ‘Phenomis to Legends.’ Lashley shared that during his WWE tenure, he used an RV to travel between shows. Now, he wants to use an RV to travel around the country and meet young, talented athletes. The Phenoms to Legends Program aims to highlight these athletes and find out what motivates them which will allow them the chance to share their stories.
What’s to Come?
Lashley’s Phenom to Legends project will certainly keep him busy on the road, but fans can expect him back in the squared circle in due time. With MVP sharing that he won’t be going back to WWE at a Bloodsport event, anticipation continues to grow as to what he and Bobby Lashley have planned next. It’s been reported that Lashley and MVP are hoping to reunite in AEW in a move that could possibly see Shelton Benjamin brought into the All-Elite promotion.
Should the group reunite, they won’t be using the Hurt Business name, as that remains under ownership by WWE. Instead, MVP has filed a trademark for The Hurt Syndicate with Totally Harmless Concept, LLC, a company he has used to trademark terms in the past.
Those close to Lashley believe he will make at least an appearance in AEW and stated that he’s ready to return to TV. Lashley reportedly has interest from the fighting world, as well as from promotions in Japan. The All Mighty boasts an impressive 15-2 record in the world of MMA with six KOs victories to his name. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Bobby Lashley in and out of the ring.
Former WWE stars Bobby Lashley, MVP and Shelton Benjamin could soon reunite outside WWE, perhaps in AEW. They could soon be reunited as The Hurt Syndicate, judging by a trademark filing last month.
A trademark filing was made for the term The Hurt Syndicate for use in pro wrestling and entertainment services. Totally Harmless Concept LLC filed to trademark “The Hurt Syndicate” a couple of weeks ago, after previously filing for trademarks on other MVP-related phrases and names.
There’s been speculation that the faction might join AEW, and Fightful now reports the company has had talks with the group in recent weeks.
MVP has made it clear that he won’t return to WWE during a Bloodsport event. Since then fans have anticipated what he and Bobby Lashley have in store for them. Shelton Benjamin, who was released from WWE in September last year, has also been a free agent. However, another former Hurt Business member, Cedric Alexander is unlikely to be a part of the plan.
Cedric Alexander recently re-signed with WWE as per Fightful Select. He has inked a new multi-year deal with the company. Alexander has been teaming with Ashante ‘Thee’ Adonis. His most recent match took place at the NXT Great American Bash 2024: Night One a couple of months back where he defeated Brooks Jensen.
Given the indications, Hurt Syndicate could be on its way to AEW and be a great addition to the promotion’s stacked roster. The former Hurt Business faction has had an incredible run in WWE and has won several championships. The veterans bring a lot of experience to the table which could benefit AEW. Moreover, they could even target the coveted AEW Trios Titles, currently held by the Blackpool Combat Club.
Bobby Lashley has explained his recent comments about WWE’s leadership, which some took as a swipe at the current regime of Triple H. Earlier this month, Lashley said that Vince McMahon “understood me” and that the former WWE Chairman “looked at me like a star.” Lashley went on to say that he hasn’t had “too much of a connection with Hunter.”
Bobby Lashley preferred Vince McMahon’s booking over Triple H .. hopefully he is back on TV somewhere, anywhere soon pic.twitter.com/6XTDnauw1A
Some fans took Lashley’s comments as a swipe at the Game, as he hadn’t appeared on WWE programming for months before this interview. Speaking more recently to The Bo and Them Show, Lashley made clear that he is not someone who speaks ill of others.
“I never bad mouth anyone, I never bad mouth the business. I left WWE in 2008. You can’t see any article where I said anything bad about the people there.”
Lashley added that “everyone was going after” him for speaking highly of his relationship with McMahon. The former WWE Champion simply stated the facts that he had more conversations with McMahon when he was in charge compared to Triple H.
“I had a different relationship with Vince. When Triple H came on, we never really had a chance to sit down. He didn’t get a chance to get to know me.”
Lashley’s profile was recently moved to the Alumni section of WWE.com following reports that his time with the promotion has come to an end. It has been stated that Lashley has attracted interest from AEW and that a Hurt Business (now dubbed the Hurt Syndicate) reunion with MVP and Shelton Benjamin remains possible.
Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on Bobby Lashley and where his wrestling career takes the former WWE and TNA World Champion next.
Several WWE superstars (and one former talent) are the next contestants on Celebrity Family Feud. The latest WWE installment of the show airs this Tuesday, August 20, on ABC at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT and will also stream on Hulu. The episode features men vs. women, with Bobby Lashley, The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford), Austin Theory, and LA Knight taking on Mia Yim, Jade Cargill, Bianca Belair, Zelina Vega, and Sonya Deville.
The episode was taped back on April 13. At the time, Lashley was in a faction with The Street Profits as The Pride and was coming off a win over The Final Testament (Karrion Kross, Akam & Rezar) at WrestleMania 40 on April 7. His last televised match was a loss alongside Santos Escobar to LA Knight in a triple-threat match on the April 12 episode of Friday Night Smackdown.
Another notable example of the episode being taped is that Theory is pictured with the WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship. He and his partner Grayson Waller would lose the titles to DIY(Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa) during Friday Night Smackdown on July 12.
The upcoming Celebrity Family Feud will give fans a different look at the WWE superstars outside the ring as they compete to answer the right questions. However, Lashley’s appearance in the episode will remind wrestling viewers that he is no longer with the company and put a spotlight on him as he enters free agency.
Bobby Lashley’s Next Moves
Lashley’s contract with WWE expired on August 16. He and his former Hurt Business ally, MVP, were moved to the company’s alumni section. In an Instagram post on the day of his WWE departure, Lashley shared a video of him working out with the caption,
“Every day is a new opportunity to push the limits and show the world what you are made of. I’ve got so much fight left in me, and I’m just getting started.”
Both are currently available to sign with any promotion with the expectation by fans that they will work together. It was also revealed that a company linked to MVP named Totally Harmless Concept, LLC, recently registered the trademark The Hurt Syndicate. Lashley is dealing with an arm injury but has openly shared that he wants to continue his wrestling career.
Time will tell who Lashley will compete for next. However, his appearance on Celebrity Family Feud gives him more exposure as he navigates free agency.
Bobby Lashley & MVP could soon be reunited as The Hurt Syndicate, judging by a trademark filing made earlier this week. On August 16, Bobby Lashley and MVP were both moved to the alumni section of WWE’s official website, signaling their departure from the company.
Just two days earlier, on August 14, a trademark filing was made for the term The Hurt Syndicate for use in professional wrestling and entertainment services. The filing was submitted by a company named “Totally Harmless Concept, LLC.”
This isn’t the first time this company has been linked to MVP. In 2013, “Totally Harmless Concept, LLC” also filed to trademark “MVP” when the former United States Champion began his stint with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Additionally, the company filed to trademark “Ghetto Strong Style” in 2013, a song that MVP used as his entrance theme during his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
On social media, MVP didn’t directly address reports of The Hurt Syndicate but did share a gif of Lashley, suggesting that the two will be working again soon.
What’s to Come?
With MVP sharing that he won’t be going back to WWE at a Bloodsport event, anticipation continues to grow as to what he and Bobby Lashley have planned next. It’s been reported that Lashley and MVP are hoping to reunite in AEW in a move that could possibly see Shelton Benjamin brought into the All-Elite promotion.
Those close to Lashley believe he will make at least an appearance in AEW and stated that he’s ready to return to TV. Lashley reportedly has interest from the fighting world, as well as from promotions in Japan. The All Mighty boasts an impressive 15-2 record in the world of MMA with six KOs victories to his name.
Lashley has been one of WWE’s top Superstars for years but now those in the company are reportedly expecting him to leave this weekend. Stay tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest on the future of the All Mighty.
