MVP played a big part in revitalizing Bobby Lashley’s WWE tenure

Today, we’ve decided to take a look at how MVP revitalized Bobby Lashley’s recent run with WWE. And what a run it most certainly has been, dear readers.

He’s been in the company before, but as he mentioned to Stone Cold Steve Austin on a recent episode of The Broken Skull Sessions, MVP was an influence on Bobby’s career, and even before he ever returned to WWE after exploring the world of mixed martial arts and even wrestling for other pro wrestling promotions, specifically, TNA.

Lashley’s and MVP’s first WWE runs, and where it brought them

Bobby Lashley first started in WWE in 2005, after quite the military amateur wrestling career and a shot at the Olympics—a shot that ended when he was injured during a bank robbery (he ended up doing damage to his knee when getting down to the floor for cover during the ensuing robbery); he was there to “deposit some money; do some bank stuff,” as he told Steve during The Broken Skull Sessions episode he was on when a robbery took place. A case of wrong place, wrong time for sure.

But Bobby Lashley bounced back and his run in 2005 with WWE was an extraordinary one as well. It didn’t end in gold, as this one has progressed to the point of, but it put him on the map.

He would end up at TNA and would have an incredible run with that company and it was perhaps there that his relationship with MVP flourished, and that relationship would lead to this most recent WWE run… a run that culminated in a major championship reign for Lashley…one that can be considered thanks to MVP as well.

MVP first started with WWE via Deep South in 2005. It would be a year later or thereabouts, that he would premiere on WWE TV, specifically on SmackDown. He would go on to have a tremendous reign with the United States championship and achieve quite the level of popularity in the media as the years progressed, but his departure in 2010 was a disappointing turn of events.

But very much like Lashley above, he would go on to make quite the name for himself elsewhere.

Like so many other wrestlers who are given gimmicks in WWE, allowing the wrestling fans that watch to wonder “just how serious is this person about actually wrestling?” but then performing and even outperforming expectations put on them by the fans in other promotions, MVP did just that with his run with NJPW…a run that ran from 2011 to 2013.

It would be in 2014 that he would premiere in TNA. I would like to say…and the rest is history, but it isn’t as cut and dry as all that. An important thing happened on their way back to WWE…and it would happen in Impact. Many would argue that it was the progression of events, i.e., storylines and angles they themselves created while there in TNA, that would form what ended up happening in WWE with this most recent incarnation for both men…Lashley included.

If you look at segments from Impact at that time and juxtapose them with segments from Lashley’s run as “The All Mighty” and The Hurt Business, the similarities are plentiful to say the least. Even down to the crutches that MVP used back then…and yes, even the pretty ladies; not to mention his speaking on behalf of Lashley, and so much more. But I digress. Draw your own conclusions, friends.

Really, these men were creating the type of faction they were destined to be way before WWE Creative ever got mixed up in the writing of these two characters, and their time in TNA proves that.

MVP compared to a legend

Really, MVP is most certainly a legend. After all he’s done in the business for himself and now Lashley, he deserves to be called one. And now that he isn’t physically wrestling like he once did (something he was equally epic at), he is serving as confidante, counsel and creative pro wrestling mind equal only to that of one Paul Heyman.

Athletically, he was impressive; he had a ton of conviction as well, but it’s his mind that is showing just what an addition he has been to the roster since his return to WWE in 2018 (with occasional appearances) and in 2020 on a full-time basis.

So…how much has he done for Lashley, really?

Would Bobby Lashley have had the run he did recently enjoy without one Montel Vontavious Porter? Honestly, yes, as Bobby Lashley is a top performer and athlete, but maybe the overall direction would have been different. MVP’s knowledge on the business and level of conviction, as I mentioned earlier, is unparalleled, so he definitely helped Bobby, especially after the whole Lana fiasco storyline (a story that both men felt uncomfortable being a part of).

But from that, these two men rose from the proverbial ashes of a terrible storyline, and Lashley enjoyed one heck of a run with the WWE title, with MVP right by his side.

Bobby Lashley on MVP

According to wrestlingheadlines.com, when Bobby made an appearance on After The Bell back in August, he talked about the benefits of having MVP by his side.

"“I think MVP is great. He’s a great addition. When he had his Rumble match, it was one of those deals where he wanted to come back. When they threw him into a segment, they were like, ‘Wow, I didn’t know MVP could do that.” I’m like, ‘You didn’t know this about this guy?’ Me and MVP have been really good friends, and I think it’s fun to be able to do big things, make big money, and really do something special together. I always say this. I always say, ‘Sometimes you have to believe in somebody’s belief in you.’ That’s one thing that MVP was and that was that extra belief. Everybody that was in The Hurt Business, for Shelton, for Cedric, for myself, we keep running. We catch a lot of heat. Sometimes the crowd kind of turns, and they want to cheer for Bobby a little bit, but then MVP steps in there and squashes all that and gets us right back to where we need to be and lets them know what we’re about.”via Bobby Lashley /After The Bell"

Where is he now and where will he fit in now that the Hurt Business has reunited?

MVP is currently out of action because of a broken rib he suffered on September 13th…an injury he sustained after getting a vicious RKO from Randy Orton.

And with the Hurt Business back in action, we are left to wonder only what place is there for this man who got that faction where it undoubtedly is. I hope to see him by the sides of all three men sooner rather than later. And let’s just see if he and Lashley can’t get their heads together and garner for Lashley one more run as champ.