In September 2023, Shelton Benjamin was released by WWE.
Shelton celebrated his 20-year anniversary in December 2022, but hadn't been featured much on WWE television throughout 2023.
After a run on the independent scene, Benjamin made his way to AEW, rejoining MVP and Bobby Lashley, who departed WWE in the summer of 2021, as the Hurt Syndicate.
Speaking to Donnie DaSilva and Jimmy Korderas on Huge Pop!, MVP was asked if there would have been a conversation with AEW had Lashley and Benjamin not been involved.
"There wouldn't have been a conversation. Bobby and I came to the conclusion that it was time to move on. I made it very clear that I was ready to go. I was able to convince Bobby to come with me. Shelton, at that point, had already been released, unceremoniously. I thought it was....it left a bad taste in my mouth, how Shelton was just cut after all these years. Not even offered to be a trainer or a producer. Just, 'See ya.' I was like, 'Bobby, let's get the team back together and let's go to AEW. We got one last ride.' Fortunately, everything worked out and we were able to do this," said MVP.
Benjamin & Lashley are the reigning AEW Tag Team Champions.
Elsewhere during the interview, MVP commented on AEW being the last run for the Hurt Syndicate. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
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