Mike Bailey has directly addressed the ongoing rumors of backstage heat with MVP. Speaking on 94WIP, Bailey confirmed that explicit words were exchanged between them but dismissed the idea of genuine personal animosity, framing it as an expected part of the business.
“Yeah, he said f** you to me, and I said f*** you to him. But this is pro wrestling, right?” Bailey stated. “I think it’s silly to go online, read that two wrestlers don’t like each other, and believe it means we actually hate each other. This is a wrestling show.”
The situation stems from reports that surfaced in early August 2025, which alleged backstage friction regarding MVP’s creative influence over his faction, The Hurt Syndicate. A key part of these reports was a purported dislike MVP has for Bailey and his vocal opposition to The Hurt Syndicate losing matches to Bailey’s tag team, JetSpeed, which also includes Kevin Knight.
This is not the first time the two have publicly addressed the rumors. On August 6, shortly after the initial reports circulated, MVP and Bailey appeared in a social media video where they mockingly exchanged similar remarks. That interaction was widely interpreted as a satirical response to the speculation.
In his radio appearance, Bailey connected the perception of animosity directly to their on-screen rivalry, referencing the months-long storyline where JetSpeed pursued The Hurt Syndicate’s AEW World Tag Team Championships, culminating at All In: Texas.
“Kevin and I tried to take the Hurt Syndicate’s tag team championships many times for several months leading up to All In in front of 30,000 people, where they defended their titles successfully against us as well as Nick Wayne and Christian Cage,” he explained.
Bailey concluded his thoughts on the matter by emphasizing that the ultimate goal is to enhance the product for the fans, even if it means leaning into the narrative of real-life conflict.
“So, do we hate each other? [Chuckles] Sure, why not. At the end of the day, whatever makes the best show for the audience is what matters. If hating each other is part of that, then let’s roll with it.”