Celebrated MMA fighter Bobby Lashley had a tough year in WWE. Though he won a big match over Karrion Kross at WrestleMania 40, he didn’t get many opportunities afterward.
After WrestleMania 40, the former WWE champion had only six matches, and most of them weren’t even on television. In addition, he had to leave the King of the Ring Tournament due to injury.
When his contract ended in August 2024, he decided to leave WWE quietly.
Highlights
- Bobby Lashley has officially signed with AEW (All Elite Wrestling).
- The wrestler joined the roster along with his former WWE stablemate, MVP, and Shelton Benjamin.
- Lashley is expected to make his AEW debut soon.
Speculations of Bobby Lashley joining AEW had been making rounds for a while.
Last week, MVP made a surprise appearance on AEW Dynamite and confronted Prince Nana, hinting at a deal for Swever Strickland.
This made fans think Lashley, MVP, and Shelton Benjamin might reunite in AEW.
Recently, Benjamin made his debut on AEW Dynamite. During a backstage segment, Renee Paquette welcomed MVP, who was about to make a big announcement.
But then, Prince Nana interrupted, clearly upset about MVP’s comments from the previous week.
Nana reminded everyone that he used to be a wrestler and wasn’t afraid to get back in the ring.
MVP brushed off Nana’s complaints and gestured off-screen, saying, “he does.” That’s when Shelton Benjamin appeared, and the crowd went wild.
With the confirmation of Lashley’s deal with AEW, it’s like the last puzzle piece falling into place.
This trio, who were known as The Hurt Business in WWE are expected to reunite in AEW as “The Hurt Syndicate.”
Bobby Lashley Finalized His Contract With AEW A Few Weeks Ago
As reported by Fightful Select, Bobby Lashley, and his former WWE stablemates signed their contracts with All Elite Wrestling a few weeks ago.
The publication also revealed that MVP would mostly take on a managerial role. Meanwhile, both Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley are gearing up to wrestle.
This means Lashley’s debut in AEW is around the corner. With Lashley officially signed to AEW, fans are eagerly waiting for him to join his old teammates.
The Almighty has landed in AEW! 💥
— Sports Info (@sportsinfofeed) October 4, 2024
Bobby Lashley is ready to conquer new ground! 👊#BobbyLashley #WWE #AEW #AEWDynamite #sportsinfowrestling pic.twitter.com/5gcKpDw2MR
As mentioned above, MVP and Benjamin have already made their debut by confronting Prince Nana about his management of Swerve Strickland.
Now, it is only a matter of time before Lashley reunites with MVP and Benjamin, which will bring back the chemistry they had as “The Hurt Business in WWE.”
The difference is that they will be called “The Hurt Syndicate” in AEW.
Furthermore, the specific financial details of the wrestler’s deal haven’t been disclosed. However, it seems that AEW is investing considerably in bringing these high-profile talents on board.
Talking about his previous deals, the wrestler initially joined WWE in 2005. Soon after, he won the ECW World Championship and the United States Championship.
He left WWE in 2008 to pursue a career in MMA. In April 2018, the professional fighter returned to WWE.
In February 2018, he extended his contract with WWE for a multi-year deal. He reportedly earned a base salary of $1 million per year.
At that time, Lashley became a two-time WWE Champion and was a key figure on both Raw and SmackDown.
Additional Information
- Bobby Lashley, whose real name is Franklin Roberto Lashley, was born in Junction City, Kansas.
- His mother, Clara Lashley, raised the wrestler and his three elder sisters as a single parent. His father was reportedly a U.S. Army drill sergeant.
- As reported by Celebrity Net Worth, Bobby Lashley has a net worth of $4 million.
