Bobby Lashley

Bobby Lashley (Franklin Roberto Lashley) is an American professional wrestler and former MMA fighter who is known for his explosive power and a suffocating submission game. He debuted on WWE television in 2005 after a standout amateur career that included multiple NAIA national titles and Armed Forces honors.

Early success on SmackDown led him to the relaunched ECW brand in 2006, where he won the ECW World Championship twice and gained mainstream attention at WrestleMania 23 in the “Battle of the Billionaires,” defeating Umaga while representing Donald Trump. He then left WWE in 2008 after injuries and a brief Raw run, and ended up splitting time between MMA and pro wrestling.

From 2009 to 2010 and again from 2014 to early 2018, Lashley worked for TNA/Impact Wrestling. He was able to establish himself as a major force, winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship on four occasions and earning the X Division and King of the Mountain titles during a powerful run in 2016. Alongside that, he built a 15–2 record in MMA, mainly competing in Strikeforce, Titan FC, and Bellator.

Lashley returned to WWE in April 2018 and steadily climbed back to the main event. With MVP as his mouthpiece, he formed The Hurt Business with Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander on Raw in 2020. The group framed Lashley as an untouchable closer, and he won the WWE Championship for the first time in March 2021 by defeating The Miz on Raw.

He retained against Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 37, then later regained the WWE Undisputed Championship at Royal Rumble 2022 by defeating Brock Lesnar after outside interference. Across this run, he also won the United States Championship multiple times and captured the Intercontinental Championship twice in 2019, rounding out an impressive WWE résumé. These were all the high-profile rivalries that shaped his modern image.

In 2023, he moved to SmackDown and teamed with The Street Profits, presenting a sharp, business-first trio that targeted established factions. Some outlets referred to the group as The Pride, although WWE rarely used a formal name on air. In mid-2024, Lashley publicly acknowledged a surgery following an in-ring accident at a non-televised show in France. He returned to training quickly, but his on-screen activity that year was limited.

In August 2024, his WWE contract expired, and he soon signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He debuted on October 30th, 2024, at Fright Night Dynamite, reuniting with MVP and Shelton Benjamin as The Hurt Syndicate.

In January 2025, he and Benjamin won the AEW World Tag Team Championship on Dynamite, then pivoted into trios programs while keeping the alliance active. At WrestleDream on October 18th, 2025, The Hurt Syndicate defeated The Demand to earn a shot at the AEW World Trios Championship.

Lashley wrestles a power-centric style with clean fundamentals. His signature moves include the Hurt Lock (full nelson submission), the Spear, a delayed vertical suplex, and the Dominator. He typically works as a composed powerhouse who pressures opponents, then closes with either a quick burst or a clinch into the Hurt Lock. When healthy and featured, he is presented as a credible world-title threat who can headline against any top name.