Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.
MVP Reportedly Expected to Leave WWE After Triple H Criticism
Veteran Superstar and manager MVP is reportedly expected to leave WWE in the near future amid apparent unhappiness over how he has been utilized.
According to Fightful Select (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News), MVP has been "outspoken" about WWE head of creative Triple H recently, and he is not expected to appear on television again for WWE before departing the company.
Speaking Monday on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer (h/t Bryan Rose of F4WOnline), said both MVP and Bobby Lashley's WWE contracts were set to expire "relatively soon."
Meltzer added that there had been "talk" of MVP and Lashley trying to revamp their Hurt Business stable in AEW.
It became clear last month that MVP had some gripes with WWE, as he responded to several comments on Instagram.
Per ComicBook.com's Liam Crowley, MVP's posts suggest he took issue with Triple H not allowing him and Lashley to reform The Hurt Business after it broke up, writing: "Triple H had the power to fix it. He chose not to. Go figure."
After being a key part of weekly WWE programming during the pandemic, The Hurt Business was broken up for good in January 2022 when Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin turned on Lashley.
A few weeks later, MVP turned on Lashley as well, opting to become the new manager for Omos, who would lose to Lashley at WrestleMania 38.
MVP was still managing Omos as of the last time he was featured on WWE programming, but it has been months since he was last seen on a WWE show.
Should MVP and Lashley leave WWE as is reportedly expected, they could join forces with Benjamin again since he is a free agent, although Alexander is still in WWE and recently began appearing on NXT.
WWE Reportedly Discussing Women's Midcard Titles
On the heels of recently introducing the Women's North American Championship in NXT, WWE is reportedly exploring the possibility of doing something similar on the main roster.
According to Fightful Select (h/t Jenkins), women's midcard titles for the main roster have been "discussed," although "they are not happening as of yet."
The women's division has long been a major focus in NXT, so it made sense to introduce a new title that some of the up-and-coming women's wrestlers could fight over and use to elevate themselves.
It has already been a success, as Kelani Jordan has reached new heights since becoming the inaugural Women's North American champion, and has competed in multiple memorable matches in the process.
Most notably, she and Sol Ruca put on an impressive display of athleticism in their match at NXT Heatwave earlier this month, which left fans buzzing on social media.
For as much women's talent as there is in NXT, it can be argued that there is just as much or even more on the main roster.
However, with the Women's World Championship feud focused only on Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley, and Bayley defending the WWE Women's Championship against Nia Jax, it leaves several female Superstars without a title to pursue.
Adding a women's midcard title to both Raw and SmackDown would perhaps open the door for so many other talent women's wrestlers to be featured more prominently.
The Intercontinental and United States Championships elevated many men's wrestlers to top-star status over the years, and creating women's versions of those titles could accomplish something similar in the women's division.
Terence Crawford Unsure of Interest in WWE Match
Superstar boxer Terence Crawford appeared on last week's episode of SmackDown, but he is undecided on whether he wants to pursue wrestling in WWE in the future.
During an appearance on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Crawford said the following when asked about possibly having a match in WWE at some point.
"I don't know. I haven't gotten into it that far," Crawford said. "The experience was second to none. It was electrifying. I was nervous doing it. It was different. It was dope and a good feeling. Not only was it my hometown, but it was WWE, a big platform."
Crawford, 36, is a perfect 40-0 in his boxing career and is the current holder of the WBA (Super) and WBO welterweight titles.
Since SmackDown was in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, last week, he was seated in the front row, and he handed WWE champion Cody Rhodes a steel chair to fight off Grayson Waller and Austin Theory.
Despite his uncertainty about having a match, Crawford made it clear that he is a longtime fan of WWE and enjoyed having some involvement in the show:
"It was dope. Got invited to actually go to SmackDown being in Omaha. I have been a big wrestling fan for as long as I can remember. As a little kid, growing up watching WWF and watching The Rock, Undertaker, 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. All these big wrestling stars. I always wanted to imitate the moves and the things that they did. Of course, I'm going to be supported by my city. I took my kids, they loved it. We did what we did and we make history again."
WWE has never been shy about bringing in celebrities or athletes to have matches, particularly those from the combat sports world.
In terms of boxing, Mike Tyson memorably served as the special enforcer for the WWE Championship match between Austin and Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14, and 10 years later, Floyd Mayweather Jr. had a match against Big Show at WrestleMania 24.
Given his dominance, Crawford still has plenty to give to the sport of boxing, but it does appear as though the door is open for him in WWE if he ever gets the itch to wrestle.
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