According to MVP, Harry Smith first introduced him to Barnett while backstage at a WWE show many years ago. Following that, Barnett then introduced MVP to legitimate grappling and later helped him in his training. Barnett’s training, alongside that of Rener Gracie (husband of former WWE star Eve Torres), proved to be so beneficial that MVP’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu classmates and coaches pointed out his “exponential” improvement afterward. MVP and Barnett have remained good friends ever since, with the two even squaring off at Bloodsport XII in November 2024.

Shayna Baszler also spent time training under Barnett, both in pro wrestling and MMA, which MVP says makes her “no joke” when it comes to legitimate fights.

“I think Grayson said that once me, Josh, and Shayna walked up, he just went and sat down,” MVP said, returning to the post-WrestleMania incident. “To be in a situation like that, I can think of a lot of guys. I’d much rather have Shayna Baszler on my side than some of those guys. It is pro wrestling. A lot of pro wrestlers got some muscles and pretend to be tough on TV, but they’re soft as cotton. They can’t really fight. If you book them to look strong, they look tough. But you slap them in the mouth, [they’ll say] ‘Hey man, what are you doing? I’m supposed to win.’ This is real life. I remember that moment, and it was just looking out for one of us. These guys were wrong. They were out of hand. It didn’t turn into anything. They f***ed off because they knew they were in deep, deep water.”

More than a year removed from the bar fight that almost was, MVP is now a member of the All Elite Wrestling roster. Meanwhile, Baszler is a free agent after leaving WWE as a talent in May, though she has reportedly worked backstage as a producer and even appeared on “WWE NXT” as a one-off.

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit “Marking Out” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.