In a revealing new interview, former WWE star MVP has pulled back the curtain on his 2024 exit from the company and his subsequent move to AEW. The 51-year-old wrestling veteran, whose real name is Hassan Hamin Assad, didn’t mince words about the frustrations that led him to walk away after nearly two decades with WWE. Speaking on the “Insight with Chris Van Vliet” podcast, MVP cited unresolved creative decisions, backstage animosity, and a desire to reunite with his Hurt Business stablemates as key factors in his departure.
MVP’s candid remarks come amid his successful run in AEW, where he’s reformed a version of his iconic faction as The Hurt Syndicate. The group, featuring ex-WWE Champion Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin, has already captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship and positioned MVP as a key player in Tony Khan’s promotion.
The Hurt Business: WWE’s Missed Opportunity
MVP’s WWE tenure was marked by highs and lows, but few moments shone brighter than the formation of The Hurt Business in 2020. The stable—consisting of MVP as the charismatic mouthpiece, Lashley as the dominant powerhouse, and Benjamin as the technical wizard—quickly became a fan favorite. It propelled Lashley to the WWE Championship ahead of WrestleMania 37, delivering some of the most entertaining segments on Monday Night Raw.
But just as the group hit its stride, WWE pulled the plug. In early 2021, The Hurt Business was disbanded without much explanation, leaving fans baffled and the performers frustrated. MVP addressed this head-on in his interview, revealing the behind-the-scenes pleas that fell on deaf ears.
“Everybody knows that The Hurt Business got shut down in WWE for reasons that have never been made clear to me,” MVP said. “No one has ever said, and I begged Vince [McMahon], Bobby begged Vince, but please don’t do this. Vince had his ideas of what he wanted to do, and everybody genuinely agrees that we got shut down way too soon.”
The dissolution came amid WWE’s creative overhaul under Vince McMahon, who prioritized his vision over the group’s momentum. Lashley went on a solo run, Benjamin was underutilized, and MVP shifted to a managerial role without his crew. For MVP, it was a creative gut punch. “It was time to go,” he reflected. “When management changes, some people are out, other people are in, and I knew it was time to go. I wasn’t gonna re-sign.”
This wasn’t just a booking decision—it stung personally. MVP had invested years building the stable’s chemistry, drawing from his own experiences as a solo act and tag team specialist. The abrupt end echoed broader WWE critiques of the era, where midcard talents like MVP often felt sidelined despite proven drawing power.
Backstage Animosity: “People in Management I Dislike Immensely”
MVP didn’t stop at creative woes. He delved deeper into interpersonal conflicts that made staying untenable. The wrestler’s contract expired on August 16, 2024, moving him to WWE’s alumni section and signaling the end of his second stint with the company. By then, whispers of tension with the new regime under Triple H (Paul Levesque) had circulated.
“There are people there in management that I dislike immensely,” MVP admitted plainly. “The new management just wasn’t for me, and I ain’t for him.” He didn’t name names but implied a clash of philosophies. Triple H’s vision emphasized long-term storytelling and athleticism, which MVP felt overlooked veterans like himself. “I felt that it was definitely time to leave WWE,” he added, emphasizing the mutual mismatch.
This animosity reportedly simmered since The Hurt Business’ disbandment. MVP and Lashley pitched ideas to reform the group, but they were rebuffed. Shelton Benjamin’s 2023 release only fueled the fire—MVP saw it as a sign to rally his teammates. “I was in Bobby’s ear constantly like don’t re-sign,” he revealed. “Shelton got released. Don’t re-sign. Let’s you, me, and Shelton get back together. Let’s go to AEW.”
MVP’s persuasion worked. Lashley, a former WWE Champion, let his deal lapse, and the trio jumped ship together. It was a calculated risk, but one that paid off handsomely in AEW.
The Jump to AEW: Rebirth as The Hurt Syndicate
MVP’s AEW debut came on September 25, 2024, at Dynamite: Grand Slam in New York. He interrupted Prince Nana’s promo about Swerve Strickland, offering to manage the former champion and slyly critiquing Nana’s effectiveness. The crowd popped huge—MVP’s mic skills were as sharp as ever.
Benjamin arrived shortly after, released from WWE, and Lashley followed in October 2024. Together, they reformed as The Hurt Syndicate, a nod to their WWE roots but with an edgier twist. MVP’s vision? To “finish telling our story,” free from creative constraints.
The group wasted no time. In November 2024, Lashley and Benjamin captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship from Ricochet and The Gates of Agony at Full Gear. Their reign lasted until July 2025’s Forbidden Door, where they lost to Ricochet and the Gates in a controversial finish. MVP’s promos—delivered with his signature suit-and-cane swagger—have been gold, positioning The Hurt Syndicate as heels who “hurt people” with style.
MVP even stepped back into the ring on January 15, 2025, at Maximum Carnage, teaming with his stablemates for a win over Mark Briscoe and Private Party. At All Out on September 20, 2025, in Toronto, MVP will compete in a six-man tag against Ricochet and The Gates of Agony, seeking revenge.
Tony Khan’s faith in the group has been vindicated. “Thank you to Tony Khan for seeing something in us and believing in us,” MVP said gratefully. “Giving us an opportunity to end The Hurt Syndicate in AEW, and for us to finish telling our story.” It’s a far cry from WWE’s abrupt end— in AEW, they’re thriving.
Public and Industry Reactions: From Shock to Celebration
Wrestling fans on X and Reddit lit up after MVP’s interview. Posts like “MVP spilling the tea on WWE’s mishandling of Hurt Business—AEW got the W” racked up thousands of likes. The subreddit r/SquaredCircle debated his management digs, with users noting Triple H’s booking favors youth over vets like MVP. One thread read: “MVP’s right—Hurt Business was gold, and WWE fumbled it. AEW letting them cook is chef’s kiss.”
Industry insiders echoed the sentiment. Chris Van Vliet, the podcast host, praised MVP’s honesty: “He’s always been real— this is MVP unfiltered.” Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter called the WWE disbandment “one of the biggest creative blunders of the Triple H era,” crediting AEW for capitalizing on the talent.
Some WWE loyalists pushed back, arguing MVP’s style didn’t fit the “new era.” But the consensus? His move was smart. Lashley’s AEW success—main eventing Forbidden Door—validates the jump.
Impacts on U.S. Wrestling Fans, Economy, and Beyond
For American wrestling enthusiasts, MVP’s story underscores AEW’s appeal as a creative haven for WWE alumni. With 1.2 million weekly viewers on TBS and TNT, AEW’s ratings spiked 15% post-Hurt Syndicate debut, per Nielsen. Fans get the reunions and feuds WWE denied, boosting merchandise sales—Hurt Syndicate shirts flew off shelves at All Out pre-sales.
Economically, the move highlights wrestling’s $2 billion U.S. industry, where talent mobility drives competition. AEW’s signing of Lashley and Benjamin (combined net worth $15 million) signals Khan’s aggressive roster building, pressuring WWE amid its $5 billion Netflix deal.
Politically neutral, it ties to broader labor debates—wrestlers as independent contractors fight for better creative control. Lifestyle-wise, it inspires fans to chase passions, much like MVP mentoring young talent. Sports crossovers? Lashley’s MMA background draws UFC fans to AEW, blending worlds.
Conclusion: MVP’s Move Signals a New Chapter in Wrestling Wars
MVP’s candid take on his WWE exit—blaming unclear creative kills and management clashes—paints a picture of a wrestler reclaiming his narrative in AEW. With The Hurt Syndicate thriving and All Out looming, his gamble has paid off, proving second acts can eclipse first.
As AEW and WWE vie for supremacy, MVP’s story reminds us: In wrestling, the real drama often happens off the mat. Fans, tune in September 20— the Syndicate’s revenge could be legendary.
SEO tags: MVP WWE departure explanation, MVP joins AEW Hurt Business, MVP interview Chris Van Vliet, Hurt Syndicate AEW success, Bobby Lashley Shelton Benjamin AEW, WWE creative decisions Hurt Business, MVP dislikes WWE management, AEW vs WWE talent moves 2025, MVP Hurt Business disbanded Vince McMahon, All Out 2025 Hurt Syndicate match