AEW is building The Hurt Syndicate as a main event threat

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As a lifelong wrestling fan who has witnessed the ebb and flow of countless factions, I must say that Tony Khan is striking gold with The Hurt Syndicate in AEW. After watching WWE fumble what could have been a truly formidable group, it’s refreshing to see these three powerhouses being used effectively in AEW.

In WWE, The Hurt Business was a significant letdown. Conversely, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is leveraging the group, presenting them as formidable adversaries within their roster. Notably, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and Bobby Lashley have recently revived their alliance in another wrestling company. In a short span of time, AEW has portrayed them as an unyielding faction – a depiction that fans have longed for and anticipated.

Fans and detractors alike will debate about how WWE booked The Hurt Business at their height of power. Lashley grabbed the WWE Championship, while Benjamin and Cedric Alexander captured the WWE Tag Team Championship. Still, the way they were handled after the pandemic adds fuel to the idea that WWE never had any intention of truly booking them as a top faction.

In the year 2024, three members of their original group have joined AEW, where Tony Khan has experienced both triumphs and setbacks in managing ex-WWE performers. Some may criticize him for missteps with figures like Malakai Black, but there have been victories too, such as Toni Storm. Now called The Hurt Syndicate, Lashley, Benjamin, and MVP are trending towards the successes rather than the failures. How? By giving them the freedom to do what they excel at – inflicting pain on others.

Initially, let’s examine Benjamin’s wrestling record on Cagematch. He stands at 5 wins and 3 losses. Interestingly, his defeats were against notable figures such as Swerve Strickland, Kyle Fletcher, and Daniel Garcia, key players within the roster. Despite these losses, Benjamin appears no less formidable. Rather, spectators view him as a potential midcard champion soon, which seems fitting given his current standing.

After that, there’s Lashley. So far, he’s fought just two matches in AEW, but both times, he’s been portrayed as a significant menace. He pulverized two opponents in a handicap match, and then came very close to flattening Strickland at AEW Full Gear not long after. AEW effectively made Lashley appear dangerous by letting him quickly defeat a previous champion with minimal effort.

Looking forward to seeing what lies ahead for this group, as it seems likely that Ricochet could become a part of them, recalling their original formation in WWE. This could provide an engaging role for Ricochet following his move to AEW. With these four individuals united, it’s anticipated that they will each secure a title run, although it remains to be seen if this will indeed transpire. The Hurt Syndicate is currently off to a strong start; the question is whether their current momentum will continue.

Fans are keeping a keen eye on how Tony Khan manages The Hurt Syndicate. He needs to avoid repeating mistakes made with Miro and others. So far, things are off to a good start, and with a new year approaching, there’s a chance to develop this group into the top-tier faction fans have longed for.

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2024-12-23 01:15