EXCLUSIVE: MVP opens up about how his five year old son inspired his WWE return and Vince McMahon we

MVP left WWE in 2010 to pursue his dream of wrestling in Japan and he did it.

The fact it took him a decade to return to WWE was not something that was ever really apart of the plan, but the birth of his son five years ago appeared to force his hand.

This Sunday, two-time United States champion MVP takes on current U.S. champion Apollo Crews at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules and it's a position just a year ago he never thought he'd be in again.

talkSPORT had the chance to talk to MVP ahead of his pay-per-view showdown and we discussed his desire to start a new stable HERE. In this chat, we got into how his return came to be.

On if he thought he'd be competing for titles on WWE PPV again before ultimately returning

I absolutely did not [think I'd be back working PPV matches with WWE]. I had all intentions of this being my final year, I had intended to retire.

But, I have a son who is five and he is a massive wrestling fan. I'm not exaggerating when I say he does picture perfect moonsaults off the bed. So perfect that Rey Mysterio said 'wow, I couldn't do that at five!' He dropkicks and suplexes his pillows.

The Royal Rumble was in Houston where I reside, so I reached out to WWE about being a surprise entry in the Rumble and I did it just because I wanted my son to see daddy.

That went so well that they asked me to come back the following night in San Antonio and I was given the opportunity to wrestle Rey Mysterio and, again, that was for my son.

Rey is his favourite wrestler, so he got to see daddy wrestle his favourite wrestler and at that point I was offered the position of a producer and I was content to finish up my indie commitments and move behind the scenes.

But, I was asked to do a VIP lounge, then another VIP lounge, then another segment, then a short match, another match and before I knew it I was asked if I could take on more of an on-screen role and my producer duties became less and less and now, here we are!

Where I'm back in a weekly capacity and its all because of my son. My son is either to thank or blame for MVP being back on WWE TV [laughs] and it's wonderful because my son gets to see daddy every week and we have a great time, so it means the world to me.

On whose idea it was for MVP to make a full-time WWE return

It was initially Paul Heyman's idea [to bring me back]. And Paul called me and asked how I felt about it and using me in roles. Vince loved it, then Vince and I had a few conversations, so I'm imagining it was a combination of the Chairman and Heyman.

Because when I originally left WWE 10 years ago to pursue my dream of wrestling in Japan, I asked for my released and Vince McMahon was kind enough to grant me my release.

He said 'the door is open here when you choose to return' and true to his word, when I came back it's been nothing but open arms and it was a decision that was made by the Chairman. It's been a great experience.

I didn't expect to be here at this point in my career. And the WWE Universe has welcomed me with open arms.

The reception has been awesome; the social media chatter, the young talent in the locker room. They've been so welcoming, this feels good all the way round.

On who put him and Bobby Lashley together and their chemistry

I'm sure that was a Paul Heyman, but Bobby and I are friends and have been for a very long time. As a matter of face, I'll tell you many years ago after I got called up, Bobby and I would ride together sometimes.

And Bobby was the one who bet me a steak dinner that I would be a future United States champion. So he was the first one to see that in me and here we are so many years later and we still have that chemistry. And I guess that's why it works so well, because it's real.

We're legitimately friends, we have similar outlooks when it comes to our views on wrestling and athleticism. It's one of those things where he doesn't necessarily have the gift of the gab and I do. He's a phenomenal physical specimen and I do a good job of presenting that. So it works very well.

Check out MVP in action for the United States title this Sunday at The Horror Show at Extreme Rules on the WWE Network and BT Sport

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