MVP has revealed that Ricochet, the man directly responsible for The Hurt Syndicate’s recent loss of the AEW World Tag Team Championships, was originally planned to be a member of the faction.
Speaking on his Marking Out show, MVP explained that before The Hurt Syndicate formally reunited in AEW, the plan was for Ricochet to fill a key spot alongside himself, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin. The group even had a specific moment planned to kickstart the storyline.
“We did that spot in the ring with Bobby when he snatched you up, and that was supposed to have been like, where we start initiating Ricochet and where his character changes,” MVP stated. The intention was for Ricochet to adopt the group’s mentality and begin to “hurt people.”
This revelation casts Ricochet’s recent actions in a new light. At Forbidden Door, Lashley and Benjamin defended their AEW World Tag Team Championships against Brodido and FTR. An attack by a masked Ricochet, alongside Gates of Agony, took Lashley and Benjamin out of the match, directly leading to Brodido capturing the titles without either member of The Hurt Syndicate being pinned.
According to MVP, the plans for Ricochet’s inclusion were ultimately scrapped. He cited the old industry adage, “card subject to change,” and noted that Ricochet’s career path organically went in a different direction.
Despite the missed opportunity, MVP acknowledged the current outcome. “Selfishly, like I wanted him in the Hurt Syndicate, but I dare say things worked out better for you as they are.”
With Ricochet and the Gates of Agony now a clear threat, The Hurt Syndicate finds itself at a numbers disadvantage. This has led to internal discussions about adding a fourth member to even the odds. Keith Lee, who has been away from AEW programming while recovering from surgery, is reportedly a name being considered for the role.
The faction’s current struggle follows a period of reported creative friction. The on-screen alliance between The Hurt Syndicate and MJF, which began in May, was abruptly ended on the August 6th episode of Dynamite. Reports suggest the decision to cut the storyline short was made at the request of a member of the group, not MVP.