For more than 25 years, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) has called the wrestling ring his home. Soon, that may change.
During a recent episode of “Marking Out,” MVP disclosed the timeline he’s envisioning for the end of his in-ring career. “Let’s be real, I’m 52. I don’t want to sprint back and forth across the ring,” he said. “I don’t want to get powerbombed and chokeslammed at this stage. I don’t want to do that and I don’t take bookings for matches anymore. I’m not officially retired, but that’s coming. I’m thinking, probably next year, I will have my final match. I’m pretty confident that my final match is coming soon. But even then on these last few shows, taking independent booking, people ain’t looking for MVP to go out there and put on a 20-minute five-star match. They want to see MVP come out, do the ballin’ elbow. They want to see the hits, that’s all.”
In recent years, the former WWE United States Champion has transitioned into a part-time wrestler, with his main focus centered on managing Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin. The trio previously worked together in WWE as The Hurt Business. In AEW, they’re now known as The Hurt Syndicate.
According to MVP, he’s very comfortable with his current job, which largely involves speaking for and representing his on-screen clients. In AEW, MVP has also wrestled alongside Lashley and Benjamin on five occasions, with the most recent seeing them challenge for the World Trios Championships on “AEW Dynamite” in October 2025.
MVP’s Contract Will Carry Him Through Several More Years
Last year, MVP revealed that he inked a contract extension with All Elite Wrestling. Now, he’s confirmed that it will carry him through several more years.
“Currently, my contract takes me through [age] 57,” MVP said. “I could be a manager, mouthpiece, consultant, contributor in other ways for a long time. I probably wouldn’t mind. I’m the vocal representative for the Hurt Syndicate and anybody else that may come along in the future. But to walk away, I love the fans. I love the adoration, the sound of the crowd. Even now, when I go out, just the organic ‘MVP’ chants, man, that warms my heart and it feels so good and it’s a beautiful validation of my career. But when I’m done, I’m done. No disrespect to the late great Terry Funk, but I’m not coming out of retirement multiple times. If I retire next year, I’m coming out of retirement to tag team with VIP.”
Recently, The Hurt Syndicate indicated that they’re open for business, whether it be for alliances or settling scores on behalf of someone else. Shane Taylor Promotions took up their offer, which led to a big eight-man tag team match on the August 15 edition of “AEW Collision.” Alongside Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty, Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley ultimately emerged victorious. Whether this alliance will extend beyond “Collision” has yet to be seen.
Earlier in 2026, MVP announced that, like himself, Benjamin signed a contract extension with AEW not too longer before then. The length of Benjamin’s renewal, however, was not disclosed. Benjamin, Lashley, and MVP all arrived to AEW in 2024.
If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Marking Out” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
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