The Hurt Syndicate meet released WWE SmackDown star outside AEW, tease potential 4th member

AEW faction The Hurt Syndicate has teased adding former WWE star AJ Francis to the group. AJ Francis was released by WWE in 2023 and is currently signed to TNA Wrestling.

Bobby Lashley, MVP, and Shelton Benjamin of The Hurt Syndicate have proven themselves as a dominant force in AEW. MVP has made it clear that they are open for business and recruiting talent for the faction. The former United States Champion has also handed his business card to stars like Ricochet and Lio Rush in All Elite Wrestling.

On Instagram, MVP posted a backstage clip of The Hurt Syndicate interacting with former WWE star AJ Francis at the venue of Mike Tyson and Jake Paul's fight.

"Ran in to AJ at the fights. Dollars and sense!!!" MVP captioned the post.

AJ Francis dropped an interesting comment on the post hinting at a potential alliance with The Hurt Syndicate in the future.

AJ Francis' comment on MVP's post [Screengrab from MVP's Instagram]

The Hurt Syndicate's Shelton Benjamin loves to work in AEW

Shelton Benjamin has won several titles in WWE. However, the veteran was always held back from the main event scene. He had two runs with the promotion and the most recent one ended when he was shockingly released by the company in 2023.

In a recent appearance on Close Ups with Renee Paquette podcast, Shelton Benjamin criticized WWE for underutilizing him. He noted how in All Elite Wrestling, he has the freedom to perform in the ring however he wants.

"I definitely feel like I've been suppressed. You know, I have been to business for a little bit so I have done a few things. Yeah, I've definitely felt like here in AEW, I had the opportunity to show fans who I really am, what I really can do. And not what was me doing what I had to do for the people I was working with previously. I really love that I can really be me in AEW," he said. (06:11 - 06:52)

We will have to wait and see if Shelton Benjamin wins singles gold in All Elite Wrestling as he's been booked as an equal to Bobby Lashley since his arrival.

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