It's easy to argue splitting Bobby Lashley and The Hurt Business again is a bad move. After all, it makes Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander low-level guys with not much to do -- a tag team run would help, but that isn't likely -- and it takes a stable out of the equation that fans were actually into. At the same time, one could also argue that a Hurt Business split is exactly the right thing to do when it comes to Bobby Lashley's singles career.
As The All Mighty heads towards a match with Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble, WWE needs to make him believable. Going at it on his own is really the only way to make him a credible and believable threat.
This Royal Rumble Match Is Massive
The WWE Universe has been waiting years to see Lashley vs. Lesnar. In fact, so has Lashley. This is a bout fans have wanted since Lashley made his return to WWE. He had a run with IMPACT Wrestling, but he also made a name for himself in MMA. As most fans know, Lesnar did too. If there was ever going to be a match between two heavyweights that fans could buy into, see as believable and actually wonder if this person could beat Lesnar, Lashley was the guy.
Now that WWE is finally delivering this match, it has to be done right. Whether Lashley wins or loses, he needs to be able to stand on his own as a threat that Lesnar comes to realize is the real deal. On Raw, Lesnar downplayed his opponent and disrespected the All Mighty's legacy. Over the next few weeks, expect that storyline to change. Lashley demonstrated how easy it was to dispatch of his former business associates. Lesnar will come to learn just how much Lashley means business and he's not relying on his former partners to make his Rumble match go his way.
Lashley Is A Threat On His Own
While MVP being by Lashley's side is acceptable, don't be shocked if The All Mighty even teases that he doesn't need his manager. The reason? WWE really wants to sell Lashley as a man who doesn't need anyone. He's big enough, he's powerful enough and he's legit enough that he can defeat Lesnar without help and any distraction or possible questions about Lashley getting the job done, only because he had help isn't something that will sit well with the former WWE Champion.
Removing The Hurt Business from the equation was the first step to selling Lashley as a badass that should be considered the toughest man in WWE.
WWE Can Always Come Back To This
We've already seen WWE bring the group back together. There's nothing that says creative can't do so again. The timing just needs to be right. As WWE and Lashley try to market him as a monster, any baggage tagging along takes away from what the creative team is going for as the two men prepare to lock horns. When the feud is over and Lesnar moves on to battle Roman Reigns in a title-vs-title match at WrestleMania, feel free to bring The Hurt Business back. No harm, no foul.
At this point, Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin are glorified security. While that might be underutilizing both talents, the pattern of how they've been booked to this point suggests WWE doesn't see them as much more than two guys who can be plugged in pretty much anywhere. When the time is right, plug them back in with Lashley and MVP.
Opportunity For A Real Swerve
It's a long shot, but The Hurt Business attacking Lashley opens up a window of opportunity with the Lashley vs. Lesnar match that few will expect. What if the idea is to turn Lashley babyface after The Royal Rumble while moving Lesnar on to face Reigns at WrestleMania? One way to get there is to have Alexander and Benjamin interfere and cost Lashley a win.
There's a way to book this so that Lashley looks like he might almost have Lesnar beat. And, if it weren't for Alexander, Benjamin (and maybe even MVP), Lashley might have won. That won't sit well with Lashley or the WWE fans who will want to see The All Mighty get his revenge. It would be a swerve, but it would also keep the Lashley character fresh heading into WrestleMania where perhaps The Hurt Business recruits someone like Omos into their ranks.