In a new interview, former WWE United States Champion MVP shared his thoughts on the “tribalism” between fans of different promotions, stating that he doesn’t understand the “pure hatred” and that he wants to see “all the wrestling companies to be successful.”
As a veteran who has worked for WWE, TNA, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and now AEW, MVP has a unique perspective on the global wrestling scene. He believes that the success of all promotions is ultimately what is best for both the performers and the fans.
Speaking on the Insight with Chris Van Vliet podcast, MVP addressed the intense negativity that often exists between the fanbases of different wrestling companies. He explained that as someone with friends and colleagues across the industry, he can’t comprehend why a fan would wish for another company to fail.
“I realize how fortunate I am. You know, over 20 years in this space, and I think about some of the people who haven’t had that opportunity. I have friends and colleagues that work for all the wrestling companies. Why would you want somebody to lose their livelihood? I want all the wrestling companies to be successful, the more successful they are, the better it is for us, the wrestlers, and you, the fans. So I just don’t understand that mentality, that kind of almost pure hatred, the tribalism, between brands.”
While he doesn’t understand the hatred, MVP did say that he gets the desire for fans to champion the “cool niche companies” over the mainstream product, as he was once a “tape trader” himself, seeking out international wrestling long before it was easily accessible. Ultimately, he encourages all fans to simply enjoy the variety that the current wrestling world has to offer.
“But one thing I do get, I do get the kids that want to be extra cool, [who say] ‘I don’t watch that mainstream stuff, dude, I watch the cool niche companies.’ I think that’s dope, because I was one of those guys before people knew what New Japan was. I was a tape trader, and wrestling was only WWE and WCW. They had some Japanese guys on there. Well, those guys have a whole career in a whole other country that you’re not aware of. So I’ve always just been hungry for wrestling. Whether Japanese wrestling, Lucha Libre, European wrestling, it’s all wrestling, just sit back and enjoy it.”
MVP is currently a member of the All Elite Wrestling roster as the leader of the Hurt Syndicate. You can hear his full interview on the latest episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit Insight with Chris Van Vliet with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
