Bobby Lashley on why he signed with AEW: ‘The reason is The Hurt Syndicate’
“We didn’t get the opportunity to show what we really wanted to do before. Now we do.”
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The Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.
Bobby Lashley outlines his ambitions in AEW
Bobby Lashley arrived in AEW for one specific reason.
“The reason is The Hurt Syndicate,” said Lashley, referring to his faction with MVP and Shelton Benjamin. “We wanted an opportunity to run with the group, and Tony Khan gave us that opportunity in AEW.”
Lashley’s arrival in AEW this fall is an unexpected coup for the company. There is a different aura when Lashley is on-screen, which was unmistakably evident at Full Gear when he battled former AEW world champion Swerve Strickland. Lashley is an action figure come to life, an agile and versatile powerhouse who doubles as a legitimate force in the ring.
When creative issues arose between Lashley and Paul Levesque in WWE, an expiring contract allowed him to explore other options. He had been performing for WWE since 2018, and delivered some of the best work of his career during this past run. But it isn’t the first time Lashley gambled on himself; he left WWE and signed with TNA in 2009. He had two successful runs with the company and made a lasting impression. He is now prepared to do the same in AEW, especially considering he is once again aligned with MVP and Benjamin.
“We didn’t get the opportunity to show what we really wanted to do before,” said Lashley, who had immense success with The Hurt Business in WWE from 2020 through 2022 before the group was broken up prematurely. “Now we do. The possibilities and ideas about what we can do in AEW, that keeps me up at night.”
Lashley spoke at AEW’s All In Texas event earlier this week, which showcased much of the roster while highlighting that tickets are now on sale for next summer’s event held at Globe Life Field in Arlington. He also had a stare down with Swerve, re-emphasizing that their feud has only just begun.
“Swerve, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Okada, there are so many guys here to get in the ring with,” said Lashley. “That’s good for us. That’s good for them, too.”
But Lashley has even bigger aspirations for next summer at All In. By then, he intends to be prominently involved in the world title picture.
“I just moved to Texas, so I can win the belt–or defend it–only miles from my home,” said Lashley. “Headlining the event, it’s not written in the books. I’m still new here, but that’s what I’m working toward achieving.”
Lashley firmly believes that The Hurt Syndicate can power AEW. Given that the group just began to scratch the surface of their potential in WWE, it is an exciting proposition to think that Lashley, MVP, and Benjamin will have more screen time together in AEW.
His partnership with MVP dates back to their time together in TNA. Paired together somewhat abruptly, the two realized they shared a lot in common–and complemented each other in ways that neither had envisioned.
“When we got thrown together in Impact, we didn’t know what to expect–but it just worked,” said Lashley. “There is a 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 in AEW.
“We are exactly who we say we are. I’m a nice guy but I can hurt people. MVP does not hold his tongue. At all. That gets him in trouble sometimes, but he’s real. He means what he says, and you need to respect that. If you don’t, you’ve got to deal with me.”
Part of the reason Lashley and MVP are no longer employed in WWE is that their Hurt Business vision was not embraced. They were all adamant that it would work, leading to the birth of The Hurt Syndicate. There is now a new canvas for the three of them to explore in AEW, and Lashley is even more confident with both MVP and Benjamin by his side.
Perpetually underrated, Benjamin has aged like a fine wine. Defying Father Time at the age of 49 (and Lashley is redefining what it means to be a 48-year-old professional athlete), Benjamin has dazzled since his AEW debut this fall, proving to be another valuable free agent signing.
“Shelton came from a world where he was taught to be humble,” said Lashley, who marveled at Benjamin’s success in North America and Asia. “In the pro wrestling business, it’s unfortunate, but that’s used against you. Shelton shows you what he can do.
“One of my favorite quotes is ‘Sometimes you have to believe in someone else’s belief in you.’ We all believe in each other, and look what’s happened so far. Tony put Shelton in a couple matches right away, and both of those matches opened people’s eyes. Maybe someone didn’t see that in him before. Tony sees it, he sees how impressive Shelton is. And we all believe in each other. I believe in MVP, I believe in Shelton, and they believe in me.”
Lashley did not come to AEW to open the show or add to the middle of the card. He arrived with clear intentions, and that is to become the face of the company as world champ.
“I’m not asking for anything more than an opportunity, and that’s what Tony Khan gave me,” said Lashley. “I’m definitely not asking to be world champ. Of course, that’s where I want to be, but that’s not how I approach it. I don’t go around telling people I am going to be champ. I make it so I am undeniable.”
The AEW title would mark a new milestone for Lashley. He has already been world champ in WWE, Impact, and ECW, and the AEW belt is next on his list.
“I’m going to give people a reason to chase me,” said Lashley. “I did that in WWE, I did it in Impact, and I’m going to do it here in AEW.”
This past week…
… Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens have built a tremendous story ahead of Saturday Night’s Main Event. Who else feels like we’re going to see a new champion this Saturday?
… This Hulk Hogan wrestling card sold for $132,000, the highest price to date for a wrestling trading card.
… Jesse “The Body” Ventura, who was present at SmackDown this past Friday, returns to the broadcast table at Saturday Night’s Main Event. What are the odds he mentions Vince McMahon?
… Johnny Gargano’s heel turn suddenly adds new life to DIY, making their tag title win against the Motor City Machine Guns much more meaningful.
… Kyle O’Reilly and Adam Cole continue their rivalry tonight on Dynamite. This will mark their first singles match against one another in three years, with the winner getting to fight MJF.
… Matt Cardona has arrived in Ring of Honor, challenging Chris Jericho for the ROH title later this month at Final Battle.
… Chelsea Green has been my pick to win the women’s United States title since the tournament field was announced. She wrestles in a semi-finals bout this Friday on SmackDown against Bayley, while the other side of the bracket is Tiffany Stratton against Michin.
… New Japan Pro-Wrestling has its new World Tag League winners: Tetsuya Naito and Hiromu Takahashi, who will also be squaring off against one another on January 4 at Wrestle Kingdom.
… The Young Bucks wrestle for the vacant IWGP tag team titles on January 5 at Wrestle Dynasty, where they’ll face Great-O-Khan and a mystery partner.
Revisiting Cody Rhodes’ words on Chad Gable
In February of 2023, during his ascent to the WrestleMania 39 main event, Cody Rhodes shined in a match on Raw against Chad Gable.
Gable was looking for a chance to breakout, and at the time, had begun to showcase a different element of his personality in Alpha Academy.
Shortly after the match, I complimented Rhodes on his work with Gable. And I asked what Gable needed to do in order to make that elusive jump into the next tier of stardom.
“One of the things you’ll see me eternally struggle with out there is, ‘What am I?’” said Rhodes. “Am I a ‘Superstar’? Am I a wrestler? Is there a difference? What does that even mean? The thing I’ve found is I want to be a wrestling superstar. I understand what it means to be a ‘Superstar’, and I know the wrestling I learned while I was away–and I am combining it with the wrestling I learned here while I was brought up.”
Rhodes spoke highly of Gable, articulating how Gable’s legitimacy is part of what makes him such a rare entity.
“He’s violent and he’s legitimate,” said Rhodes. “He’s wrestled freestyle and Greco at the highest levels. I hope you’re talking to him in five years and we’re marveling over his success.
“I really liked our match, and I imagine we’ll have one again at some point.”
Rhodes’ words came true this past Friday, wrestling Gable in the SmackDown main event. Clearly, Rhodes still believes in Gable. That was evident in the promo battle to open the show, as well as their match.
But will Gable reach superstardom? If that is ever going to happen, he’ll need a world title run. Somehow, Gable finds himself completely out of any title picture. Despite the momentum he built in the early stages of this heel run, it all came crashing down when he feuded with… the new Wyatt Family.
In a short amount of time, Bray Wyatt cemented himself as an all-time great. But as his characters evolved, it became extremely difficult to feud with him. Due to the indestructibility of his character, every opponent came out of a program with Wyatt for the worse. While it isn’t nearly as pronounced, that same problem is currently repeating itself with Bo Dallas’ attempted revival of The Wyatt Family.
There is a glaring lack of vulnerability with Dallas and the new Wyatt faction. It is more complicated than Dallas simply losing a few matches. The magic will be found if he can lose and remain relevant, but that is easier said than done.
Dallas and his crew are currently feuding with Karrion Kross and The Final Testament. That is wonderful news for Gable, who needs to move as far away as possible from Dallas and the rest of The Wyatt Sicks, especially as he continues to seek that breakthrough opportunity.
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