MVP has directly refuted claims that he has backstage heat with AEW star “Speedball” Mike Bailey, insisting that there is “no issue there” between the two men. The rumors of animosity surfaced over the summer, alleging that MVP did not want his managed team, The Hurt Syndicate, to lose to the duo of Bailey and Kevin Knight, known as JetSpeed.
Speaking on his podcast, Marking Out with MVP & Dwayne Swayze, the manager for Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin addressed the reports head-on, clarifying the nature of his professional relationship with Bailey. “At no point did I ever say that I dislike ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey,” MVP noted.
He stated that their interactions are purely professional. “I don’t have an issue with Speedball. We work together, we see each other, we shake hands and we keep it moving. Like, there’s no issue there”.
MVP went on to praise Bailey’s disposition. He noted that he has a good working relationship with the talent in the company. “I don’t have any problems with any of the talent that I work with at AEW,” MVP stated. He added, “Mike Bailey is one of the nicest guys around. I don’t have a problem with him”. Both MVP and Bailey previously made jokes about the rumors on social media shortly after the initial report broke.
No “Legitimate Beef” in the AEW Locker Room
The veteran then gave a broader perspective on the current atmosphere and backstage environment within AEW. “And to be honest, as far as I know, amongst talent at AEW, I think everybody pretty much gets along amongst the talent,” MVP said.
He acknowledged that professional competition is natural in the wrestling business, where everyone is striving to be positioned at the top of the card. “I mean, yeah, you’re always going to have professional disagreements,” he conceded. “And everybody’s, you know, jockeying for a position. Everybody wants to be the top guy. So, yeah, you’re going to have rifts and you’re going to have issues”.
However, he was adamant that there is no major conflict within the locker room. MVP ended by stating, “But for the most part, I don’t know of anybody in the AEW locker room that has, like, legitimate beef with anybody”.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Marking Out with MVP & Dwayne Swayze with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription. You can listen to the full episode of Marking Out with MVP & Dwayne Swayze on major podcast platforms.
