• Backstage News On Who Told Private Party To Transform Their Physique
Former AEW World Tag Team Champions Private Party’s future in All Elite Wrestling continues to raise questions, even as the duo remain under contract with the company.
Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy haven’t competed in AEW since January, and outside of a single House of Glory appearance, the team has largely disappeared from the ring. Yet despite their absence, the two have continued to generate buzz throughout 2025 – from contract speculation to reported outside interest from WWE.
Over the summer, Wrestling Observer first reported that Private Party’s contracts were approaching expiration, sparking immediate chatter about whether the team might test the free-agent market. Fightful Select later confirmed that WWE had been quietly monitoring the situation and maintained genuine interest in bringing the pair in if the opportunity arose.
One detail that caught attention internally, however, was the duo’s recent physical transformation. Sources said both men have noticeably bulked up and leaned into a powerhouse look – something that reportedly impressed several industry veterans.
That change might not be a coincidence. Fightful’s latest update suggests that The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley, MVP, and Shelton Benjamin) has been mentoring Private Party behind the scenes. MVP has previously expressed interest in working with them again, and people close to the situation claim members of The Hurt Syndicate encouraged Quen and Kassidy to dedicate themselves to a stricter training regimen in the gym.
Those same sources described the group’s guidance as “genuinely supportive,” helping the young tag team refine their presentation and long-term approach to the business.
Quen recently showed his one year physical transformation:
As for their AEW deals, both wrestlers remain contracted to the company, though the timeline for those agreements is murky. Fightful noted that the two may not share identical contract end dates, with the possibility of additional time being added due to injury-related extensions.
While there’s been no word on whether Private Party intends to stay or seek new opportunities, the uncertainty surrounding their status – coupled with WWE’s quiet interest – keeps them firmly on the radar heading into 2026.
• MVP Calls Former AEW TNT Champion “Superstar”
On TMZ’s Inside The Ring podcast, former TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher opened up about one of the most influential relationships he’s developed in AEW – his mentorship under WWE veteran MVP. Fletcher said the connection formed naturally backstage, long before anyone realized how important it would become.
He explained that when MVP and his group, The Hurt Syndicate, started appearing in All Elite Wrestling, he approached him with basic professional courtesy. “It kind of started very organically,” Fletcher said. “Whenever there’s a new coworker you go up, introduce yourself, and you’re polite.” But what began as cordial soon became meaningful, especially when Fletcher realized how much insight MVP was willing to give.
Fletcher said that he often approached MVP immediately after matches or promos to seek feedback. “There were a couple of times where I’d come back from a match or a promo, and he’d just be in the vicinity,” Kyle explained. “I’d ask him nicely, ‘Did you see any of it? Did you watch any of it?’”
According to Fletcher, MVP was always generous with his time. “He was super cool taking the time to dissect some things and praise some other things,” Fletcher said. The feedback wasn’t limited to match structure – MVP consistently pushed Fletcher to carry himself like a star. “The biggest piece of advice he gives me is to believe that I am a star, and to not let other people try to walk all over me,” Fletcher revealed.
He added that MVP constantly compliments the effort he puts into his appearance and demeanor. “He always praises the way I dress, the way I talk, the way I present myself,” Fletcher said; “He calls me ‘superstar’ every time he sees me because that’s what he thinks of me as.”
Fletcher said this kind of support means everything to him, especially at only 26 years old. “I am always trying to learn, trying to grow,” he said. “I’m more than grateful for him and everyone else I’m able to talk to.”
