MVP spent five years in WWE from 2005 to 2010 before deciding to leave and explore the rest of the world. He went to Japan, joined TNA, and worked with various Independent companies during his 10-year hiatus from WWE.
Appearing on Chasing Glory with Lilian Garcia, MVP detailed his decision to leave and what led him to NJPW.
"My dream was to wrestle in Japan. Norman Smiley introduced me to Japanese wrestling and I was like, 'Woah, that's intense.' I had a dream that I wanted to wrestle in the Tokyo Dome. I wanted to wrestle in New Japan. I had a year left on my deal and I asked Johnny Ace [John Laurinaitis] -- Johnny Ace made his career in Japan for All Japan -- there were many times we would drink a beer and we'd talk about wrestling and I'd drink up all of his stories about Japan. [WWE] was trying to get me to re-sign a five-year deal and I didn't want to at the time. The inner flame was flickering and Japan was calling. I needed that fire again. I always said, 'before I retire, I'm gonna go to Japan.' Vince McMahon said, 'Okay, the door is open for you to come back. Come back in a year or two and you'll be a bigger star.' It took me ten years to get back," he said.
MVP went on to say that he loved his time in Japan before taking a year off to train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He was ready to return to WWE in 2014, but TNA came calling with an offer he couldn't refuse, saying they were offering less work for the same money. After finishing with TNA, he was happy with his own schedule and wasn't quite ready to return to WWE.
Finally, at the 2020 Royal Rumble, MVP made his return to the company. It seemed like it would be a one-off appearance, but MVP has stuck around as a wrestler, manager, host, and producer. He is currently guiding Bobby Lashley to a WWE Title match against Drew McIntyre at WWE Backlash.
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