In a recent interview on “The F Y’all Podcast,” members of The Hurt Syndicate, MVP and Shelton Benjamin, voiced their opinions on remarks made by their ally, Bobby Lashley, at the AEW Full Gear 2024’s after-party press scrum.
In the press huddle, reporters inquired Lashley about his feelings on confronting an erstwhile black World Champion in AEW.
Lashley famously reacted at that time,” I feel discomfort whenever people use the term ‘Black champion.’ I am just a champion. We should have normalized this by now, that’s what I want to push for. Calling someone a ‘Black champion’, especially when there are other Black champions, is unnecessary. It’s time we do away with that term and just say champion.”
MVP emphasized that while he champions Lashley’s stance, the significance of adequate representation shouldn’t be discarded.
Some important points from the podcast are shared below:
MVP’s expression on Bobby Lashley’s preceding statements: Nevertheless, I’m well aware that representation has significance. As a kid, there were no Black superheroes to look up to, Black GI Joes were unheard of. This is something that did not exist while we were growing up.”
On the vitality of role models: “Being able to see a champion who shares your appearance carries weight. Personally, I remain convinced of the importance, especially for Black men, of having Black figures to idolize and relate to.”
Shelton Benjamin on the evolution of his career: “For 25 years, I’ve been in this field and spent most of my journey with WWE. I recall when I joined WWE, Black champions were only seen in the tag team category. So, that was all I really aspired to until I embarked on this journey and realized my potential. I clinched my tag team title just three months into my full-time career, which made me question myself – now what’s next?”
MVP on the scarcity of world champions of color apart from The Rock until Booker T’s rise: “Certain things are glaringly obvious, right? When people brush it off as ‘Why does everything revolve around race?’ Because it frankly does. No doubt, I am going to receive backlash on this, but guess what this podcast is about? It’s F*** Y’all.”