Between 2011 and 2013, following his WWE tenure, MVP competed in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). He has expressed that while he enjoyed his time there, it wasn’t without its difficulties. On his podcast, Marking Out, MVP discussed the toughest aspect of wrestling during NJPW’s annual G1 Climax Tournament, highlighting the demanding schedule as a major challenge. Transitioning from WWE to NJPW was a significant change, especially since WWE’s schedule involves being on the road almost year-round, with breaks only for injuries.
During his NJPW stint, MVP took more breaks than he did in WWE. He and tag partner Shelton Benjamin would typically travel for two to three weeks at a time before returning to the US for a few weeks at home. Occasionally, NJPW would bring them back for singular pay-per-view events. However, for the G1 Climax Tour, MVP was asked to stay in Japan for the full six weeks, which he agreed to, resulting in him living in hotels throughout the tour. Unlike WWE, NJPW’s schedule didn’t allow for home time during their extensive travel across Japan. After two years, MVP felt overwhelmed by the intense travel, leading him to return home, wrestle briefly in TNA and other promotions, then eventually go back to WWE before joining AEW in 2024.
Fan Take: MVP’s reflections reveal the grueling nature of professional wrestling outside WWE, adding depth to fans’ understanding of wrestler endurance. For AEW supporters, this insight highlights MVP’s experience and resilience, suggesting his journey could bring valuable perspectives to the evolving wrestling scene in AEW.
