MJF’s status with The Hurt Syndicate has officially been terminated, and his ejection from the powerful faction came with a savage parting shot that was more brutal than any physical attack. On the July 30 episode of AEW Dynamite, Shelton Benjamin delivered a message on behalf of the group, not only kicking MJF out but also roasting him for his taste in gifts in a moment that left the “Salt of the Earth” speechless.
MJF Gets a Brutal Answer from The Hurt Syndicate
The drama unfolded during tonight’s show at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. MJF was seeking clarity after being left in limbo last week when Bobby Lashley gave him a silent but definitive thumbs-down. This week, MJF stood outside The Hurt Syndicate’s dressing room, demanding answers about his standing with the group. Instead of getting a meeting with the faction’s leader, MVP, he was met at the door by veteran member Shelton Benjamin, who made it clear he was there to deliver the final verdict. Benjamin curtly informed MJF that MVP wasn’t there, immediately setting a hostile tone for the conversation.
A Gift and a Savage Goodbye
What started as a professional rejection quickly turned deeply personal. Benjamin brought up a watch that MJF had previously given him as a gift, presumably to curry favor with the group. He then used it to deliver a scathing insult that cut right to the core of MJF’s persona.
“That watch you gave me… nicest thing I’ve ever seen come from Temu.”
The line, referencing the popular low-cost online marketplace, was a devastatingly witty jab at MJF’s perceived cheapness and lack of class. Benjamin didn’t stop there. After the verbal dagger, he slammed the door on any further discussion—and on MJF’s time with the group—with a blunt and final dismissal: “Kick rocks. You’re out.” The segment ended with a stunned MJF left alone in the hallway, officially on the outs with the faction he had desperately tried to align himself with.
What’s Next for the Solo “Salt of the Earth”?
The unceremonious and humiliating ousting from The Hurt Syndicate leaves MJF more isolated than he has been in years. For months, he had attempted to use the group’s muscle to his advantage, but now he finds himself completely on his own. While he has lost the powerful backing of MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin, MJF still holds one major trump card: a guaranteed contract for an AEW World Championship match, which he earned by winning the Casino Gauntlet match. This rejection could be the very catalyst that forces MJF to abandon his attempts at making friends and instead focus on what he does best: creating chaos and winning championships. His solo run is now official, and with a title shot in his back pocket, he remains one of the most dangerous men in All Elite Wrestling.
Following the segment, AEW’s social media channels posted a clip of a furious MJF storming out of the arena, refusing to speak to cameras. Now on his own, the question is not if, but when the spurned “Salt of the Earth” will decide to cash in his championship contract and remind the entire roster, and The Hurt Syndicate, exactly who he is.
Thanks for checking out this article. Make sure to follow Jeff Jarrett and all things GFE on Facebook.