Bobby Lashley, who turned 50 in July, dismissed the notion that his age is a reason for him to step aside. He made it clear that he still has plenty to offer in pro wrestling.
Speaking with MuscleManMalcolm shortly after winning the 4th Rope Heavyweight Championship, Lashley criticized the constant focus on younger wrestlers.
“I still have so much left. I have a lot left in my tank. And see, that’s what people don’t understand because sometimes in this era right now, everybody’s talking about the young guy, the young guy, the young guy.”
It’s a much different stance than the one Lashley took in January 2022. At 45, while appearing on The Ringer’s MackMania podcast, he said:
“I don’t believe I should be wrestling when I’m 50 years old.”
However, Lashley left the door open at the time, noting that he would have no reason to stop if he still felt that good in two years. Nearly five years later, he was even more direct about it.
“I got a lot to give still to this business of wrestling, and I’ve done so much in it, and I don’t want to just throw it away because I’m a little bit older.”
Lashley won the title on Thursday at Heelmatic, a 4th Rope event held in partnership with Mass Appeal. The show took place at New York City’s Melrose Ballroom and streamed on Revolt’s YouTube channel. MVP, the 4th Rope commissioner and a member of The Hurt Syndicate alongside Lashley, had just awarded the vacant title to Joe Alonzo, forcing him to defend it right then and there. Lashley defeated Alonzo in about two minutes after connecting with a belly-to-belly suplex and a spear.
In the interview, Lashley said he’s hoping the title will give him the chance to wrestle other names from 4th Rope, calling the promotion’s roster “really, really good.”
With the win, Lashley now holds two titles outside of AEW, as he’s also been the ACW World Champion in Australia Championship Wrestling since his tour of Oceania in September.
