Major update on post-WWE plans for MVP and Bobby Lashley
WWE has officially parted ways with MVP and Bobby Lashley. There have been strong rumors and speculation on what the future might hold for the former Hurt Business stablemates, but new information was just revealed to show which direction the 2020 Trash Talkers of the Year are headed.
The All Mighty and The Franchise Player are free agents after their WWE contracts expired on Friday. The industry veterans are both expected to have significant interest from companies like AEW and TNA. There also seems to be fan interest in a post-WWE reunion of The Hurt Business. Shelton Benjamin was released in September 2023, but Cedric Alexander is still signed to SmackDown.
The Hurt Business reunion outside of WWE looks to be on. New records filed with the USPTO (United States Patent & Trademark Office) show that the name "The Hurt Syndicate" was filed to be trademarked on Wednesday, August 14. The use descriptions for the name are related to merchandise apparel and entertainment services, specifically pro wrestling.
The Hurt Syndicate trademark was filed by a Texas company named Totally Harmless Concept, LLC. This is the same company that filed to trademark "Ghetto Strong Style" in September 2013, which was the name of a catchphrase and theme song Montel Vontavious Porter used, but the filing was abandoned in May 2017. The same company filed to trademark "MVP" in September 2013, but it was abandoned in August 2015.
MVP and Lashley have not teamed up since the RAW Turmoil match win over Omos and AJ Styles on September 6, 2021. This came one week after they failed to dethrone then-RAW Tag Team Champions Riddle and Randy Orton. The last Hurt Business multi-man match came on the December 28, 2020 RAW as MVP, Lashley, Benjamin, and Alexander defeated Riddle, Jeff Hardy, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods.
Bobby Lashley speaks following WWE departure
Bobby Lashley is no longer with World Wrestling Entertainment after his contract expired today. MVP's contract also expired, and the former Hurt Business members were moved to the official Alumni roster.
The Dominator took to Instagram following the departure and shared a new video from the gym. Lashley captioned the post with an inspirational message, and by declaring that he still has a lot of fight left.
"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. Stay tuned! #BuiltDifferent," Bobby Lashley wrote with the video below.
Lashley has not wrestled since May 5. He defeated Santos Escobar at the non-televised WWE live event in France that night.