Wrestling legend reveals ‘cool’ idea for WWE supergroup was abruptly scrapped

Former WWE star MVP has revealed a rejected storyline that could’ve seen him teaming with John Cena and R-Truth.

The 52-year-old wrestler, who recently signed a new deal with rival company All Elite Wrestling (AEW), has opened up on the unseen plot which drew on the trio’s hip hop talents.

MVP recalled a time when he had invited current Intercontinental Champion Cena to his home studio to lay down a verse for a song.

Speaking exclusively to Metro on behalf of Adventure Gamers, he said: ‘It was a really cool beat. It had a slight guitar, Western sound to it and then this really heavy drumbeat, and I called it Urban Desperados.

‘Cena recorded a verse, I recorded a verse, and R-Truth was supposed to record a verse and we’d have the three of us, the three guys that could really rap in WWE at that time all on one song.’

MVP wanted to take things further by bringing the partnership on-screen, with him and his fellow former United States Champion acting as backup for Cena.

He explained: ‘John Cena would be in trouble and you’d hear that guitar lick and then Me and Truth would come out to help him and Truth liked it.

‘And Cena was like, “Man, I think that’s actually pretty cool. If the old man [Vince McMahon] approves it, then yeah, let’s go with it.”‘

Unfortunately, ‘the old man didn’t approve’ and the brief storyline idea never saw the light of day.

‘I just thought that a short, little storyline arc could push the song with the Urban Desperados,’ MVP added. ‘And most of the people that I spoke to thought it was fun, but Vince didn’t think very much of it. So that was the end of that.’

Cena is set to retire next month after 23 years in WWE, and MVP spoke fondly about his former colleague’s work ethic and dedication.

‘I used to watch the guy get out of the limousine from the jet where he just came from Australia shooting a movie. He’d fly nonstop, literally to the airstrip, to the building,’ he said.

He recalled how Cena would walk into the venue for Raw or SmackDown ‘with a script in his hand’, cut his promo, wrestle a ’20-25 minutes match’, and then head straight back in his limo to the jet and fly back Down Under to finish a film.

‘I got nothing but high praise for that guy and I tolerate no John Cena slander because most people would crumble under the pressure he thrived under,’ he said.

‘So John Cena, my colleague at work, I knew him well just because he was so awesome and he was such a leader. But the private John Cena, I don’t think I ever really got to know him.’

Meanwhile, after recently celebrating his 52nd birthday, MVP admitted he’s close to winding down his own in-ring career, although he’s ‘not ready to retire’ just yet with the Hurt Syndicate still a force in AEW.

‘I just turned 52, but I feel great. Last year I got stem cell treatment done,’ he revealed. ‘It definitely added years to my career.’

He underwent the treatment on the advice of WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio, while MVP has stayed fit with Jiu-Jitsu.

‘I’m still wrestling when needed. And I’m not ready to retire yet. I’ve still got some gas in the tank,’ he added.

When the time does come, the decorated star wants to make sure he’s in a position to give back to the business and lose to a rising star on the way out.

‘I want to work a programme with some younger talent and go out on my back,’ he said.

‘[But] as long as a Hurt Syndicate exists and until we run that course, I think I’d like to still be able to lace the boots up for the team when needed. So I don’t know, maybe a year or two. Somewhere around there. But I’m still okay and I’ve still got it.’

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