During a recent interview on Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia, MVP discussed leaving WWE to go to Japan, joining TNA and returning to WWE.
Below are the highlights:
"My dream was to wrestle in Japan. When I started professional wrestling, I was first introduced to Japanese wrestling. Norman Smiley introduced me to Japanese wrestling. He wrestled in Japan for some time. [After watching some videos of Japanese wrestling] I was like Woah, thatās intense, wow!
So, I had a dream that I wanted to wrestle in the Tokyo Dome. I wanted to wrestle for New Japan Pro Wrestling. I had a year left on my deal, and I asked Vince McMahon actually, I asked Johnny Ace [John Laurinaitis] at the time, and we talked. A lot of people donāt know Johnny Ace made his career in Japan for All Japan.
So, there would be times where me and John would drink a beer, and weād talk about pro wrestling. Weād sit there, and I would drink up all of his stories about all the guys I used to watch on VHS tapes, and how he used to work with those guys.
I had a year left on my deal, and they were trying to get me to re-sign a five-year deal. I just didnāt want to at the time. My inner flame was kind of flickering, and Japan was calling me. I needed that fire again.
I will say this: love Vince McMahon or hate Vince McMahon, no matter what you feel about him, he has always treated me well. He gave me an opportunity when no one else would. He let me go fulfil a dream.
He didnāt have to let me out of my contract. He couldāve said no. But, he said, āOk, come back. The door is always open for you to come back. Come back in a year, two years. Youāll be a bigger star when you come back.ā Johnny Ace [agreed] saying, āYouāll only get better.ā It took me 10 years to get back."
"When I was ready to come back to WWE, I got a call from TNA, and they offered me a really good deal. It was, you know, less workload, a consumable amount of money, and I was thinking all right, maybe I should try this for a little while.
When things wrapped up over at TNA, I wasnāt ready to come back to WWE yet at that time. I was working on the indies, which I enjoyed. I was making my own schedule, working when I wanted to work and then going ok, Iām going to go back to working 52 weeks a year, 3-4 nights a week. It was a big jump."
"My son is 5 years old and heās a massive wrestling fan. So, the reason I came back, was because I wanted my son to see me as he calls it in āWW Wrestling.ā
I had intended to retire. Iām 46 now, you know. I was ready to start winding down. They offered me a producerās position ā I accepted it. But, they still valued me as MVP.
[Theyād say] āHey MVP, could you do an MVP Lounge segment? Hey MVP, could you do this match real quick?ā The next thing I know, Iām doing TV stuff more than Iām doing producer stuff.Ā
Then, the COVID-19 hit and the next thing I know, all these layoffs start to hit, and fortunately, Iām still on TV."