Tag: bobby lashley

Bobby Lashley says The Hurt Syndicate would be ‘unstoppable’ if Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods joined AEW 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Bobby Lashley commented on the possibility of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods being added to The Hurt Syndicate in AEW. 

Lashley stated in an interview with The Danny Ocean Show that The Hurt Syndicate would be unstoppable if Kingston and Woods joined the group. He praised their wrestling contributions and in-ring talents throughout the years.

“Man, I tell you what, I think the problem that we have right now is that the Hurt Syndicate is too strong. If we bring those guys on there, we’d be just unstoppable. I don’t think there’s any guess game in what’s going to happen next. I think Kofi and Woods, I think they’re just amazing talent, and I think that anybody and everybody is going to throw in their money to try to pick those guys up. Hopefully they come to AEW, and if they do, we’ll try to get them if we can because I would love to be able to work with those guys. I like those guys. I’ve worked with those guys for years over at the other organization, and if they came over here and wanted to be a part of The Hurt Syndicate, it’s game on.”

Kingston and Woods reportedly parted ways with WWE after being requested to restructure their deals. This comes after nearly 23 talents were released in April. 

Kingston and Woods issued statements on their exit, reflecting on their tenure with WWE, and expressing gratitude for the support during the past few days.

Bobby Lashley believes ‘healthy competition’ among promotions benefits wrestling fans 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Bobby Lashley gave his insight on ‘healthy competition’ in the wrestling industry. 

Lashley told Good Karma Wrestling that healthy competition among promotions in wrestling is beneficial if handled the right way. He spoke about maintaining friendships with talents across companies, sharing how they observe and exchange feedback on their character developments and storylines. 

“It helps out a lot, but it helps a lot when the guys understand that it’s healthy competition, it’s not negative. There’s a lot of guys that I know and am still friends with from other organisations I’ve been in, and I’ve been in multiple organisations, so I always want to see the best for those guys.”

“Those guys too, they watch what I’m doing and say ‘we love seeing you over there having a good time, still being able to take care of your family and enjoying this wrestling business’. I think that competition is good, because if that competition isn’t there, then the wrestling business owns what you can watch. But when the competition is there, the fans own what they can watch.”

“The fans, if they want to see wrestling, they can go tune into AEW and see some of the greatest wrestlers in the world. If they want to see storylines, or anything, you can tune into any program and see that. So it gives an opportunity for wrestling fans to pick and choose what they want to watch, or they can just watch it all and have a good time with it, because there’s great wrestlers everywhere you go.”

In the interview, Lashley also expressed how WWE fumbled with The New Day for releasing Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. 

Lashley made his AEW debut in 2024 and shortly after reunited with Shelton Benjamin and MVP to form The Hurt Syndicate. 

Bobby Lashley reacts to New Day’s WWE release: ‘That was a fumble’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Bobby Lashley thinks WWE made a “horrible” decision by parting ways with New Day members Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods.

In an interview with Good Karma Wrestling, Lashley reacted to the news that Kingston & Woods are no longer with WWE. He called the move a “fumble” on WWE’s part and indicated that he would like to see Kingston & Woods join the AEW tag team division — if WWE doesn’t reverse course by bringing them back before they ever hit free agency.

“It’s one of those things where it’s like — that was a fumble. That was a fumble,” Lashley said. “Bro, you retire those guys. You take those guys to the end and give them whatever they want, because they’ve given the business everything.

“I don’t think there’s a person in the business that says, ‘Hey man, I don’t like those guys,’ or, ‘Those guys treated me wrong,’ or, ‘Those guys weren’t good to me.’ There’s no one. And we saw that one time before when somebody else [R-Truth] got released. When somebody else got released, they had to bring him back because they were like, ‘Uh oh, this is a bad move.’

“Well, this is a horrible move also. But it could be a great move for someone else. So at the end of the day, we might see some different mix-ups and the tag team division might come really, really strong and interesting in AEW. And if so, a tremendous amount of fans will go over there because they’ll start kind of saying, ‘Hmm, what’s going on? Isn’t this business built on respect?’ And if you have respect for the business, you have respect for the people in the business. And these guys should have a lot of respect in the business, so what’s going on?”

Kingston & Woods were granted their WWE releases after being asked to restructure their contracts. They did not agree with the pay reduction TKO was offering, so Kingston & Woods chose to depart the company instead.

In his first public statement since being released, Kingston made reference to how important it is to never accept more than what you’re worth.

Lashley is a former AEW Tag Team Champion as part of The Hurt Syndicate. He told Good Karma Wrestling that he feels like AEW is getting better and better every week, and there’s plenty of room for viewers to become AEW fans while still enjoying what is going on in WWE. He believes there is “healthy competition” between the promotions.

As for his goals in AEW, the 49-year-old Lashley still has his sights on becoming World Champion. He’s already held World titles in WWE and TNA and now wants to do so in AEW.

Hurt Syndicate return on AEW Collision and are ‘in the market for some new talent’

Posted on by Josh Nason

The Hurt Syndicate made their surprise return to AEW TV Thursday as part of Collision with some big news: Bobby Lashley is ready to return and they want to grow their group.

Lashley, Shelton Benjamin and MVP appeared in a pre-taped promo on the broadcast (seen below) where it was revealed by MVP that Lashley has been cleared, something Lashley himself revealed in a late-February interview.

MVP also said the trio are “in the market for some new talent and add someone to the ranks.” Their return date was not announced.

Lashley said in the aforementioned interview that he wasn’t hurt, but that was the reported reason for his absence since last November’s Full Gear when he and Benjamin were part of the inaugural National title gauntlet match.

Benjamin has also been used sparingly since then, wrestling three matches — the last coming in a January defeat to Jon Moxley in a Continental title eliminator.

MVP shares positive update on Hurt Syndicate’s AEW return

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

MVP shared a positive update on The Hurt Syndicate’s AEW return.

He posted on X that the group is back together and will make their AEW comeback soon. 

“The coolest thing is that we are back together in @AEW and we’ll be back in action SOON! Hurting people!!!” tweeted MVP. 

In a December 2025 edition of Collision, MVP announced that Bobby Lashley was injured but the details and nature of the injury remained undisclosed. During the recovery period, Lashley addressed potentially targeting the AEW World Championship upon his return. 

Lashley’s last match was at Full Gear the month earlier in a Casino Gauntlet match for the AEW National Championship. 

Meanwhile, Shelton Benjamin competed in the  Dynamite Diamond Ring 2025 Battle Royal and AEW Continental Title Eliminator against Jon Moxley. 

In the second half of 2025, the group was also in pursuit of the AEW Trios Championship but were defeated by The Opps in October. In January last year, Lashley and Benjamin captured the AEW Tag Team Titles, which also marked their first championship reign on the promotion. 

Benjamin, Lashley and MVP made their AEW debut in September 2024 as The Hurt Syndicate, a revamped version of their WWE faction, The Hurt Business.

Bobby Lashley gives update on his AEW injury status

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Bobby Lashley is healthy and ready to get back into action in AEW.

While appearing at the recent For the Love of Wrestling convention in the United Kingdom, Lashley clarified that he is healthy and looking forward to going after gold with his Hurt Syndicate stablemates MVP & Shelton Benjamin. Lashley is targeting the AEW Trios titles that are currently held by Hangman Page, Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey.

“All I want to do is win titles, so that’s where I’m really focused on. When we get back, between Shelton and MVP, we want to do things collectively. We want to do things as a group,” Lashley said. “So I think we’re going to go after the Trios guys. Let’s see what we can do with those guys. Because I think that that’s what we need, man. The crowd loves us over there. We have an opportunity to bring back what we have before. And it’s real, man.

“Shelton’s an amazing person, an amazing wrestler. MVP’s amazing at everything that he does. And same here. So it’s like, we just have a great group. And we’re all friends, so we all pull for each other. So anytime one of us is down, the other one pulls us up. And I think right now, they’re pulling me up. They’re yanking me back in. They said, ‘It’s ready. We’re ready to go back out there and win some titles.’

“So I am healed. Everybody thought I was hurt, I’m not hurt. You can’t hurt the All Mighty.”

Lashley has been sidelined since AEW Full Gear in November 2025. An undisclosed injury was reported to be the reason for his absence.

Going after the AEW World Championship would also make sense for Lashley given current champion MJF’s history with The Hurt Syndicate. However, Lashley is more focused on the Trios belts.

“MJF has the title, so I think everybody has some unfinished business with him,” Lashley told For the Love of Wrestling. “But, you know what, I have no hard feelings to anyone.”

Report: Injured AEW star to ‘miss quite a bit of time’

Posted on by Ian Carey

Bobby Lashley will reportedly be out of action for a while.

MVP announced that Lashley was injured on Saturday’s episode of AEW Collision, although he did not reveal the nature of the injury or how long Lashley is expected to miss. On Sunday, Fightful Select posted an update, stating that while they were not told the specifics of the injury, they had heard Lashley is expected to miss “quite a bit of time.”

“We weren’t told of the specifics, but it was said he’s going to miss quite a bit of time,” the report reads.

It is not clear when or how Lashley suffered the injury. He has not wrestled since the Casino Gauntlet Match at AEW Full Gear on November 22. Lashley defeated Ricochet on the November 19 episode of Dynamite to earn the number one entry in the match, with his Hurt Syndicate partner Shelton Benjamin entering at number two and Ricochet entering at number three.

During Saturday’s Collision, MVP also announced that Benjamin will compete in the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royal on Wednesday’s Dynamite in Manchester.

MVP announces one Hurt Syndicate member is injured, another will be on AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: JJ Williams

Former AEW World Tag Team Champion Bobby Lashley is injured according to faction spokesman and member MVP.

He announced the news during Saturday’s AEW Collision from Cardiff, Wales, but didn’t give any details as to the injury or when is was sustained.

The 49-year-old last competed at last month’s AEW Full Gear as part of the Casino gauntlet bout to determine the inaugural National Champion.

MVP also revealed that Shelton Benjamin will participate in the Dynamite Diamond battle royal set for this Wednesday in Manchester, England. As has been the case in the past, the two remaining wrestlers will compete the following week to determine who will challenge the only man who has ever held the ring since 2019: MJF, assumed to be at Worlds End.

It will be the first time Benjamin enters the fray for the Dynamite Diamond ring.

AEW Holiday Bash Dynamite lineup | Manchester, England | This Wednesday

  • The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. Don Callis Family (Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita & Hechicero) with $1 million at stake
  • Dynamite Diamond battle royal
  • AEW Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) defend against The Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson & Austin Gunn)

MVP explains having to protect Bobby Lashley from being ‘way too giving’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

In their partnership, MVP feels like he’s had to protect Bobby Lashley from being too generous to his opponents.

A new episode of MVP’s Marking Out podcast premiered on Monday with MVP and co-host Dwayne Swayze discussing how important it is for wrestling giants like Omos and Satnam Singh to maintain their aura. MVP said, when he was paired with Omos in WWE, part of his job was protecting Omos from taking moves that a giant shouldn’t be taking from smaller opponents. That’s something MVP has needed to do as Lashley’s manager as well.

“That’s kind of how me and Bobby ended up together [in WWE] too,” MVP said. “Because Bobby’s way too nice for the damage that he can do. He’s one of the nicest guys around. And Bobby’s way too giving. So, you know, guys will want to do stuff to Bobby and Bobby will be like, ‘Ehh’ and I’ll be like ‘No. No. You can’t do that to him.’ Bobby will just be like, ‘Talk to P.’ Like, no. Would you do that to Brock Lesnar? No. Well, that’s Black Brock Lesnar. So, no you can’t suplex him. No, you can’t powerbomb him. Not you. So, protect your size, protect being a giant.”

MVP added that some of the best wrestling advice he’s ever heard is something that The Wild Samoans told Batista — work how you look.

“If you’re big and jacked up and got all the muscles, you ain’t got to do all that flipping and flying sh*t,” MVP said. “Because nobody — you look like, ‘Oh sh*t, he’s going to whoop some ass.’ Work like that.”

MVP revealed last month that he has signed a contract extension with AEW. He and Lashley are part of The Hurt Syndicate in the promotion alongside Shelton Benjamin.

First Casino Gauntlet entrants set for AEW Full Gear

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

The first two Casino Gauntlet match entrants for AEW Full Gear are now official.

In less than a week, All Elite Wrestling is set to host the much-awaited Casino Gauntlet match for the newly announced National Championship. In the opening match for tonight’s November 19th edition of Dynamite, Bobby Lashley quickly defeated Ricochet to finalise himself as the Casino Gauntlet match’s first entrant. Shortly after, the second entrant of the match was confirmed as well.

Toward the second hour of the show, Shelton Benjamin defeated Speedball Bailey in a closely fought match. Both men took each other to their limits before Benjamin sealed the win with a German Suplex, running knee, and a superkick.

Benjamin’s victory means both members of The Hurt Syndicate will start the Casino Gauntlet match later this week on November 22nd, to crown the new National Champion. More participants will join the Casino Gauntlet match as it progresses, and the match can end at any time, even before all the entrants have appeared.

AEW Full Gear 2025 complete match card

Set to take place from the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey, here is the complete updated match card for Full Gear 2025.

  • Boom & Doom (“Big Boom!” A.J. and Q. T. Marshall) (with Big Justice) vs. RPG Vice (Rocky Romero and Trent Beretta)
  • Max Caster and Anthony Bowens vs. Bang Bang Gang (Austin Gunn and Juice Robinson) vs. Big Bill and Bryan Keith vs. The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd) – $200,000 Four-way tag team match
  • Kris Statlander (c) vs. Mercedes Moné – AEW Women’s World Championship match
  • “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. Samoa Joe – Steel Cage match for AEW World Championship
  • Brodido (Bandido and Brody King) (c) vs. FTR(Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) – AEW World Tag Team Championship
  • Kenny Omega and Jurassic Express (“Jungle” Jack Perry and Luchasaurus) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) and Josh Alexander – $1,000,000 Trios match
  • Casino Gauntlet match for the inaugural AEW National Championship
  • Kyle Fletcher (c) vs. Mark Briscoe – No Disqualification match for the AEW TNT Championship
  • Darby Allin vs. Pac

Tony Khan announces first time ever matches for AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Two first time ever AEW matches have been added to this Wednesday’s Dynamite with big stakes.

With just a day remaining before the three-hour AEW Dynamite/Collision special on Wednesday, Tony Khan announced a match between former WWE stars Bobby Lashley and Ricochet who will clash against each other for the number one spot in the AEW National Title Casino Gauntlet match at Saturday’s AEW Full Gear.

Currently feuding in AEW, the duo have only crossed paths in trios and other multi-man matches. While Lashley and Ricochet never been in a singles in match in AEW, they have had multiple singles bouts back in WWE.

Soon after, Khan announced Shelton Benjamin vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey for the number two spot in the gauntlet match.

AEW Dynamite lineup announced for Wednesday, November 19th, 2025 | Boston, MA

Apart from the announced Ricochet and Bobby Lashley match, the TV special episode from Boston, MA, is also set to feature several other huge matches and segments. Here is the current updated list:

  • Hangman Adam Page vs. Katsuyori Shibata
  • Double Jeopardy match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Mascara Dorada
  • AEW Women’s Tag Team title tournament quarterfinal: Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa vs. Riho and Alex Windsor
  • ROH Women’s Television title unification match: Mercedes Mone vs. Red Velvet
  • AEW Women’s Tag Team title tournament quarterfinal: TayJay vs. Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir
  • Kenny Omega appearance
  • Bobby Lashley vs. Ricochet for the no. 1 spot in the National title Casino Gauntlet match at Full Gear
  • Mike Bailey vs. Shelton Benjamin for the no. 2 spot in the National title Casino Gauntlet match at Full Gear

Four-way number one contender’s match set for AEW Fright Night Dynamite

Posted on by Josh Nason

As part of this Wednesday’s Fright Night edition of AEW Dynamite, four men will compete for the right to challenge AEW World Champion Hangman Page at next month’s Full Gear.

Announced during Saturday’s Collision, former champion Samoa Joe will take on Bobby Lashley, Ricochet and Hook in the four-way from Edinburg, Texas.

Joe would appear to be the favorite after he and The Opps turned heel following his failed challenge of Page at last Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream. Page called out Joe during a show opening promo Saturday, promising to do far worse than embarrass and beat Joe, and instead would ruin his life.

Lashley has only three singles bouts in AEW since debuting in 2024 and is undefeated. His recent rival in Ricochet has won three straight and is 9-1 in his last ten while Hook has won 12 straight including on Saturday’s Collision over Griff Garrison.

Current AEW Fright Night Dynamite card | Edinburg, Texas | This Wednesday

  • Samoa Joe vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Ricochet vs. Hook in a four-way no. 1 contender’s match
  • Don Callis Family summit

Updates made to AEW September to Remember lineup

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Nearly the full card for this Wednesday’s AEW September to Remember three-hour show was announced on Saturday’s Collision.

The show will feature three tag team qualifiers with the winners moving on to a four-way AEW World Tag Team title ladder match at All Out. Champions Brodido will defend against the winners of the Young Bucks vs. Gunn Club, Luchasaurus & Kip Sabian vs. JetSpeed, and Top Flight vs. Josh Alexander & Hechicero.

The rivalry between Queen Aminata and Thekla will continue with a singles match. Thekla will challenge AEW World Women’s Champion Toni Storm in a four-way at All Out. There will also be a spotlight feature on Storm ahead of the match.

Bobby Lashley will compete in his first singles match on AEW TV since January when he takes on Toa Liona. Both men will be on opposite ends of a trios bout at All Out.

Ahead of their All Out match, FTR and Christian Cage & Adam Copeland will have a face-to-face confrontation with no physicality.

After the events of Collision, former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley faces Roderick Strong.

The additions join the previously announced Unified title qualifying match between The Beast Mortos and CMLL’s Mascara Dorada. The winner moves onto a three-way for the title at All Out against champion Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita.

Current AEW September to Remember card | London, Ontario, Canada | This Wednesday

  • All Out tag title match qualifier: Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. Gunn Club (Juice Robinson & Austin Gunn)
  • All Out tag title match qualifier: Luchasaurus & Kip Sabian vs. JetSpeed (Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight)
  • All Out tag title match qualifier: Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin) vs. Josh Alexander & Hechicero
  • Thekla vs. Queen Aminata
  • All Out Unified title match qualifier: The Beast Mortos vs. Mascara Dorada
  • Bobby Lashley vs. Toa Liona
  • Jon Moxley vs. Roderick Strong
  • FTR face-to-face with Adam Copeland & Christian Cage
  • Toni Storm feature
  • Riho vs. Robyn Renegade

Bobby Lashley announced for indie show in France

Posted on by Ian Carey

Bobby Lashley is headed to France shortly after Forbidden Door.

The AEW Tag Team Champion has been announced for French Touch on August 30 in Gennevilliers, a suburb of Paris. The event is a joint production by Belgian promotion Banger Zone Wrestling (BZW) and France’s Association les Professionnels du Catch (APC).

It takes place six days after AEW returns to London’s Wembley Stadium for Forbidden Door on August 24. AEW Dynamite will also be held in Glasgow, Scotland on August 20.

Bobby Lashley potentially interested in MMA return

Lashley attended BKFC 47 on June 1 in Fort Worth, Texas, and was interviewed during the broadcast. When asked about a potential MMA return, Lashley said he had spoken with the promotion’s president and founder David Feldman and may have “one more in the tank.”

“I talked to Dave Feldman a little bit, and I think I might have one more left in the tank. Some of the familiar faces I see around here and some of the new guys, I like it,” he said.

Lashley’s last MMA fight was a win over Josh Appelt at Bellator 162 on October 21, 2016.

The Hurt Syndicate explain goals for AEW run

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The Hurt Syndicate don’t want to just elevate young talent in AEW — they’re hoping to make some true stars.

Appearing on a live episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet that was recorded last month and uploaded today, MVP said he, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin understand this is their last run. Before their careers end, they want to identify the right young talent in AEW and help make them stars.

“When we decided that we were going to get the band back together, we knew that — realistically speaking — this is the last ride. This is it. This is our last run and then we’re going to ride off into the sunset,” MVP said. “Even though we’re in tremendous shape, we are still in our later years. The whole idea with what we want to do on our way out the door is make some stars. And it’s one thing just to put guys over. No, that’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about trying to take some of the equity that we’ve built up through the years and now reestablish that equity at AEW. And then when the time is right, with the right young talent, transfer that equity and make somebody.”

Benjamin reiterated that, while he wants to help elevate people, he still has the goal of being a World Champion in a prominent company before he retires.

“I’m working every day to make sure that dream stays alive,” Benjamin said.

Lashley responded “yes” when Van Vliet asked if he sees another World Championship in his own future.

MVP — the manager of The Hurt Syndicate — said he’s not retired from the ring yet and still has a little bit left. His one match for AEW so far was a six-man tag match that took place earlier this year. MVP said he felt good in the ring during that match.

The current AEW Tag Team Champions, Lashley & Benjamin have held the belts since January. They voiced praise for Private Party, The Gunns, and The Outrunners during the Insight episode. MVP noted that he was looking forward to Lashley & Benjamin facing Brian Cage & Lance Archer before plans for that match were derailed by Cage suffering an injury.