AEW has, from its inception, prided itself on being a wrestler-friendly environment, a place where talent has creative freedom and a voice in their own storylines. However, recent reports from multiple sources suggest that not all is harmonious backstage, with the prominent faction The Hurt Syndicate at the center of the controversy. The reports specifically point to the group's on-screen manager, MVP, as the catalyst for these backstage issues.
The Hurt Syndicate, comprised of former WWE stars MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin, has been a dominant force in AEW since their debut. Lashley and Benjamin currently hold the AEW World Tag Team Championships, and the trio's formidable presence has made them a cornerstone of the company's tag team and trios divisions. The faction's recent alignment with MJF further solidified their status as one of AEW's top heel groups.
However, a recent report from Fightful Select has shed light on backstage friction, indicating that The Hurt Syndicate has developed a reputation for "backstage heat" due to their alleged refusal to lose to certain teams. The report suggests that MVP is at the heart of this resistance, influencing Lashley and Benjamin to decline creative plans that would see them drop the tag team titles to teams he believes don't need the win.
According to the report, two teams that The Hurt Syndicate has reportedly refused to lose to are JetSpeed and the veteran duo of FTR. While The Hurt Syndicate did compete in a triple-threat match against JetSpeed and The Patriarchy, the report states there was a creative pitch for FTR to begin a redemption story by defeating The Hurt Syndicate at a major pay-per-view like All In or Forbidden Door. This plan was allegedly shot down by the faction.
While MVP has publicly stated that he wants The Hurt Syndicate to help "create new stars," the teams they are reportedly open to losing to—such as Gates of Agony, The Outrunners, and Private Party—are teams they have already defeated, which has caused some confusion and frustration within the locker room. There was also a rumored plan for them to drop the titles to the pairing of Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay, but that was reportedly derailed by Ospreay's neck injury.
The reports also highlight a personal issue between MVP and wrestler Mike Bailey, with MVP allegedly making it clear he dislikes "Speedball." This personal animosity is said to be a factor in The Hurt Syndicate's resistance to losing to the JetSpeed team (which includes Bailey).
This isn't the first time AEW has dealt with backstage controversies, but this situation is unique as it involves one of the company's most high-profile factions. While The Hurt Syndicate has years left on their contracts and there is no indication of them leaving the company, these reports raise questions about the long-term morale of the locker room and the creative process in AEW. The situation highlights a delicate balance for AEW management: allowing veterans like MVP the creative freedom they value while also ensuring that younger talent and established teams get the opportunities they need to thrive and for storylines to progress in a logical manner. The resolution of this backstage drama could have significant implications for the future of The Hurt Syndicate and the overall health of AEW's locker room.
