AEW World Tag Team Champion Bobby Lashley has explained the storyline decision to remove former AEW World Champion MJF from The Hurt Syndicate just weeks after he was welcomed into the group. Lashley cited a lack of trust and a feeling that MJF was on a “different path.”
Bobby Lashley On The Hurt Syndicate’s Core
Speaking on the F Y’all podcast, Lashley was asked about the decision to kick MJF out of the faction. He began by explaining how important the original version of the group, The Hurt Business, was to him in WWE and how protective he is of its legacy.
“When we had the Hurt Business originally… it was the realest thing I’ve been through in pro wrestling,” Lashley said. “It was a big deal, and it was a big deal because of who I was doing it with. Shelton Benjamin has been on top of the business forever… Cedric, the same thing. He was amazing… We all formed together to push each other.”
Why MJF Was Kicked Out
Lashley explained that because he is so protective of that core, he was hesitant to bring MJF into the new AEW version of the group, The Hurt Syndicate, from the beginning.
“Whoever we bring in, I’m going to be very protective of that core. With that being said, with MJF, I gave him the thumbs down because if I don’t trust you, that’s a big deal for me. I didn’t trust him, bringing him in originally,” Lashley stated.
He continued, “Since we’ve gotten in, I see he’s focused on his own path. Instead of having to stay with us and now we’re all moving in different directions, I was like, ‘Just go on your own path.’ You go on your path and we’ll go on ours. We’ll both be super successful. He’s very successful in AEW and I have no ill will towards him. He’s amazing. We have a different path than he does.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit F Y’all podcast with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
