AEW star and pro wrestling veteran MVP appeared on the Huge Pop podcast to discuss various topics, including signing with the company.
MVP said, “There wouldn’t have been a conversation (between myself & AEW if Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin weren’t coming in) … Bobby and I came to the conclusion that it was time to move on and you know, I made it very clear that I was ready to go and I was able to convince Bobby to come with it and Shelton at that point had already been released, unceremoniously… It left a bad taste in my mouth how Shelton was just… after all these years. Not even an offer to be a trainer or a producer. Just, see ya. So, I was like, ‘Bobby, let’s get the team back together and let’s go to AEW. We got one last ride’ and fortunately, everything worked out and we were able to do this because Bobby and I, as you talked about, we teamed up the first time together at IMPACT.”
On finishing his career in AEW:
“I haven’t retired yet. I haven’t officially retired yet. I wanna retire in-ring at AEW. I want to have my last official match, I wanna do an angle, I wanna do a story and I wanna be done and I know Shelton (Benjamin) and Bobby (Lashley) have talked about their in-ring retirements in the very near future, and then after that, I’m done with in-ring performing. If at some point, Tony (Khan) would like to keep me on as a manager, working with the next wave of talent once we’re done with The (Hurt) Syndicate, that’s something I’d be open to. People have mentioned me doing commentary. I enjoy doing commentary. It’s fun. I get lots of compliments about when I do commentary. That’s something I’d be open to so, there’s a passion that exists for professional wrestling. I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve made a living as a professional wrestler in the professional wrestling industry for over 20 years. Not a lot of guys get to do that and here, all these years later, I’m still on television and I’m still relevant, and I built up a lot of equity. So, as long as someone wants to write me a check to talk on TV and I don’t have to take bumps, I’ll take it (he laughed). I can’t speak for them, even though I normally speak for them. But from our conversations, we often acknowledge that this is our last ride. However, let’s be real, Bobby at 48 and Shelton at 49 are in better shape than most of the people in the industry today. They’re still credible, they can still go. So when this contract’s done in a couple years, two, three years, whatever it is, they’re still gonna be in better shape than most of the people in the business. So, who knows at that point if things aren’t still going well where somebody says, hey, how about one more year? How about two more years? And I can’t speak for them and what they’ll be willing to do at that point. I know Bobby has definitely talked about retiring and moving on to his business ventures and other things. For the most part, this is the last ride. But, as we say in our business, card subject to change.”
On enjoying AEW so far:
“It’s been fun working with the young talent and Tony’s been a great boss, allowing us a lot of input into how we’d like to do things…”
(H/T to PostWrestling for transcribing the above quotes)
