MVP Explains Why Backstage Promos Can Hit Harder Than Live Mic Moments

MVP knows a thing or two about cutting promos that land with impact—and according to him, sometimes doing it backstage, away from the live crowd, delivers a stronger punch than standing in the middle of the ring.

Speaking on the Marking Out podcast, MVP broke down the key differences between live in-ring promos and pre-taped backstage segments, admitting that while live promos come with an unbeatable energy, pretapes give talent way more control over the delivery.

“One of the beautiful things about professional wrestling is getting that mic and standing in that ring with that live audience and having thousands of people immediately interact with you, you know, and it’s this beautiful feeling when you have become good enough at your craft that you can get on that mic and you can control the reactions of thousands of people. I can make everybody in this building right now boo me. I can make everybody in here cheer me. I can make everybody boo you. You better be careful, you know?”

That live crowd interaction can be magic—but it can also be a distraction. MVP pointed out that fan chants, like the dreaded “what” interruptions, can throw off newer talent.

“You’re going to hear the fans. And sometimes that’s great because you can hear how they pop, you know, on a punchline or, you know, a reference of some sort. But sometimes you have really excited fans who want to participate… I have the microphone, not you. I’m in control here, not you. You can keep saying ‘what,’ I’m going to keep talking, you know, because I’m not talking to you people in the arena anyway—I’m talking to you people at home watching on television. You’re the people I’m talking to.”

MVP emphasized that pre-taped promos let talent skip the live chaos entirely, delivering their message clearly and cleanly—without fan interruptions or the risk of messing up in front of thousands.

“When you’re doing a pretape, the crowd isn’t involved, and they’re not influencing what you’re saying, your delivery, and how you want to deliver… with a pretape, if you screw it up, you can do it again.”

He also revealed how backstage promos benefit quieter performers like Bobby Lashley, whose subtle, sinister delivery can sometimes get lost in the noise of a live arena.

“Sometimes when he responds to something because of the crowd, you can’t hear him that well, you know? But in the backstage segment, when Bobby makes those subtle little things that he says, they sound so much more sinister, you know? Because this big, scary guy is, you know, saying it so nice—walks away, it’s like, whoa.”

MVP explained that even during pretapes, the goal is to nail it in one take—but the luxury of retakes gives room for fine-tuning the smallest details.

“The goal is to always knock it out in one shot… But sometimes somebody misses a beat, or just when watching it, you see, ‘Well, we can make this better by putting your hand here instead of here, because you’re blocking the face.’ So, you know, little adjustments that you can make.”

For MVP, there’s no denying the electricity of a live promo—but when it comes to precision, backstage promos can steal the show without anyone realizing the difference.