In recent years, when a wrestler leaves WWE, it usually means a change in gimmick and name. MVP, however, has continued to go by that name -- even during stints with New Japan Pro Wrestling and TNA.
MVP discussed how he was able to accomplish this feat of trademark derring-do during a recent interview with the Miami Herald, conducted from a Brainbuster Pro event that MVP was attending.
According to MVP, he and the promotion worked out an agreement that "allowed me to maintain the ownership of the whole MVP persona.
"They could use it, but they acknowledged that it's my intellectual property and I'll always be grateful for that, because they didn't have to do that and I was a young, green guy. I would have gone along with whatever deal, but they took care of me."
In WWE, MVP had two reigns as U.S. Champion and a tag title reign with Matt Hardy. A longtime fan of the Japanese style of wrestling, he quickly signed with New Japan Pro Wrestling after his time in WWE ended in January of 2011.
"My dream was Wrestle Kingdom for New Japan Pro Wrestling, and I experienced that, but my goal was WrestleMania. People have goals and we have dreams and I was fortune enough that I was able to achieve both (WrestleMania and Wrestle Kingdom)," MVP said. "To be on the biggest stage in the biggest company on the biggest wrestling show in the world multiple times, it's unbelievable and I will always be grateful for those opportunities."
Since leaving TNA in 2015 and having his tenure in Lucha Undeground end without ever appearing on camera because he had wrestlers on the roster appear on his podcast, MVP appears to be enjoying being a freelancer, which has led to him working for promotions in the U.S, United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico in recent months.
"I'm in an awesome sweet spot because I was so fortunate that I had the WWE run that I did, and left on my terms," he said. "I left WWE to go to Japan to realize my dream of wrestling in Japan, and then I left Japan, and had a stint in TNA and I've had enough TV time and I've accomplished enough in the business, that I'm at a point in my career now where I don't have to be contractually obligated to anyone."
MVP added that he only accepts dates on the weekends because he has a 2-year-old son.
