Montel Vontavious Porter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Montel Vontavious Porter |
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MVP in 2019
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| Birth name | Alvin Burke Jr. |
| Born | October 28, 1973 Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Children | 1 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Antonio Banks Antonio Bank$ Lord of War Montel Vontavious Porter MVP |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Billed weight | 259 lb (117 kg) |
| Billed from | Miami, Florida |
| Trained by | Soulman Alex G Norman Smiley |
| Debut | 2002 |
Hassan Hamid Assad (born Alvin Antonio Burke Jr.; October 28, 1973), known by his ring name Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), is an American professional wrestler, manager, and submission grappler. He works for All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he manages The Hurt Syndicate.
MVP has also wrestled in WWE, TNA, and NJPW. He has won the WWE United States Championship two times. He was also a WWE Tag Team Champion once with Matt Hardy. In Japan, he was the first-ever IWGP Intercontinental Champion.
MVP started wrestling in 2002 after training with Soulman Alex G and Norman Smiley. He wrestled for many smaller wrestling companies, even appearing in TNA. He joined WWE in 2005, starting in their training league, DSW. He moved to the main roster on SmackDown in 2006. His first time as United States Champion lasted 343 days, which was a record for SmackDown at the time.
After leaving WWE in 2010, MVP joined NJPW in 2011. He wrestled there for two years before returning to other wrestling companies. He came back to WWE in January 2020 and left in August 2024. He then joined AEW the next month.
Contents
- Early Life and Challenges
- Professional Wrestling Journey
- Starting Out (2002–2005)
- Joining World Wrestling Entertainment
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2011–2013)
- Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2014–2015, 2019)
- Independent Wrestling (2013–2019)
- Major League Wrestling (2017–2018)
- Ring of Honor (2019)
- Return to WWE (2018, 2020–2024)
- Return to Independent Wrestling (2024–Present)
- All Elite Wrestling (2024–Present)
- Personal Life
- Other Media
- Championships and Awards
- See also
Early Life and Challenges
Alvin Antonio Burke Jr. was born in Miami, Florida, on October 28, 1973. He grew up in Opa-locka, Florida. His father was a police officer. As a young person, he faced challenges and spent time in a youth detention center. Later, he also spent time in prison. While in prison, he learned about Islam, though he is now an atheist. Because of his past, traveling to other countries for wrestling shows sometimes requires special permission.
Professional Wrestling Journey
Starting Out (2002–2005)
MVP got into wrestling with help from a corrections officer who also wrestled. After training, he started wrestling in 2002 as Antonio Banks. He wrestled for many smaller companies like Full Impact Pro (FIP) and Future of Wrestling (FOW). He even won the FOW Tag Team Championship. He also made a few appearances for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA). In 2005, he won the Coastal Championship Wrestling (CCW) Heavyweight Championship.
Joining World Wrestling Entertainment
Deep South Wrestling (2005–2006)
In 2005, MVP signed with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He was sent to Deep South Wrestling, which was a training ground for new wrestlers. There, he created his character, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP). This character was an arrogant and self-centered athlete. He even appeared briefly on SmackDown in 2005 as a police officer.
Rivalry with Kane (2006–2007)
MVP first appeared on WWE TV in August 2006 on SmackDown. He was shown as a highly desired free agent. His character was very proud, often talking on his phone or admiring his jewelry while others spoke. In September, WWE announced he had signed a big contract.
MVP had his first match at No Mercy on October 8, 2006. He came out of an NFL-like tunnel. He won his first match. Fans and commentators joked about his athletic suit, calling him "Power Ranger". MVP then asked for a tougher opponent, and Kane appeared. They had a rivalry for two months. MVP won some matches, but lost to Kane in an Inferno match at Armageddon. This match made it look like he had burns, so he was off TV for a short time.
Becoming United States Champion (2007–2009)
After his rivalry with Kane, MVP started a new one with United States Champion Chris Benoit. MVP tried to win the title at WrestleMania 23 and Backlash, but lost both times. Finally, at Judgment Day on May 20, he defeated Benoit to win his first WWE title, the United States Championship. MVP felt that working with Benoit helped him become a better wrestler. He successfully defended his title against Ric Flair in June.
His next big rivalry was with Matt Hardy. MVP often claimed he was better than Hardy at everything. MVP was later diagnosed with a heart condition called Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome. This was written into the story, with MVP blaming it for losing an arm wrestling match to Hardy. MVP also had his own interview show called VIP Lounge.
On August 24, 2007, MVP boasted that he could win the WWE Tag Team Championship with anyone. The General Manager, Theodore Long, made him team with the next person to enter the room, who was Matt Hardy. The next week, MVP and Hardy won the WWE Tag Team Championship, making MVP a double champion! Even though they argued, they worked well together.
Their tag team reign ended in November 2007 when they lost the titles. MVP then attacked Hardy, injuring his knee in the story. While Hardy was recovering, MVP had short rivalries with Rey Mysterio and Ric Flair. At No Way Out in February 2008, MVP competed for a chance at the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XXIV, but he lost.
At WrestleMania XXIV, MVP was in the Money in the Bank ladder match. Matt Hardy made a surprise return and stopped MVP from winning, restarting their rivalry. At Backlash in April, MVP lost the United States Championship to Hardy. This ended his long reign of 343 days. He tried to win it back but failed.
In August 2008, MVP started a losing streak that lasted over five months. This meant he didn't get his bonus money and lost his special entrance. He finally broke the streak in January 2009 by defeating Big Show. This made him a good guy for the first time in his WWE career. On March 20, 2009, MVP won the United States Championship for the second time, defeating Shelton Benjamin. He tried to win the Money in the Bank match again at WrestleMania 25 but didn't succeed.
Teaming with Mark Henry and Leaving WWE (2009–2010)
In April 2009, MVP moved to the Raw brand. He brought the United States Championship with him, making it a Raw title for the first time. He lost the title to Kofi Kingston in June. He then had a rivalry with Jack Swagger, which MVP won at SummerSlam.
MVP then formed a tag team with Mark Henry. They challenged for the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship but didn't win. At Survivor Series, MVP and Henry were part of Team Kofi, which won their match.
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MVP started a rivalry with The Miz. He challenged Miz for the United States Championship at the Royal Rumble but lost. Both also entered the Royal Rumble match itself. MVP later challenged Miz again at Elimination Chamber but couldn't win. He also competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania XXVI but didn't win.
In April 2010, MVP moved back to SmackDown. He teamed with Rey Mysterio to defeat CM Punk and Luke Gallows. MVP also became a mentor for Percy Watson on WWE NXT. His last match in WWE was in December 2010, and he left the company.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2011–2013)
In 2011, MVP signed with New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in Japan. He was able to use the name MVP there. He made his debut in February 2011, winning a tag team match. In May 2011, MVP took part in New Japan's first tour of the United States. He entered a tournament to crown the first-ever IWGP Intercontinental Champion. He won the tournament, becoming the first champion!
MVP successfully defended his title against Toru Yano twice. He later lost the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to Masato Tanaka in October 2011. He tried to win it back but was unsuccessful.
In January 2012, MVP teamed with Shelton Benjamin at Wrestle Kingdom VI, winning their match. They teamed up again in June. MVP also competed in the G1 Climax tournament, a big wrestling competition. In November, MVP and Shelton Benjamin teamed up as "Black Dynamite" in a tag team tournament.
In January 2013, MVP wrestled at Wrestle Kingdom 7. In February, he announced he was leaving New Japan. He said he wanted to be closer to home and "recharge."
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2014–2015, 2019)
MVP returned to TNA in January 2014. He was introduced as an "investor" in the company. He acted as an authority figure, signing new wrestlers and going against TNA President Dixie Carter. They had a rivalry over who would control TNA. MVP's team won a big match, giving him control of wrestling operations.
However, MVP later turned into a bad guy. In May 2014, he attacked TNA World Heavyweight Champion Eric Young and announced he wanted the title. MVP got a knee injury, so he couldn't wrestle for the title. After that, MVP helped Lashley win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. MVP then managed Lashley and Kenny King. He wrestled Kazma Sakamoto and lost to Bobby Roode in a title match.
In January 2015, MVP formed a new group called the Beat Down Clan. This group included Kenny King, Samoa Joe, Low Ki, and Eric Young. They helped Lashley win the championship again. But Lashley later turned on them. The Beat Down Clan then had a rivalry with another group called The Rising. MVP left TNA in July 2015.
He made another appearance for TNA (now called Impact Wrestling) in September 2019.
Independent Wrestling (2013–2019)
MVP has wrestled for many independent wrestling companies. He often appeared for Tommy Dreamer's House of Hardcore (HOH) promotion. He wrestled there many times between 2013 and 2018.
In 2016, MVP announced he would join Lucha Underground, but he left soon after. In October 2016, he won the All Pro Wrestling (APW) Universal Heavyweight Championship. He lost it in 2017. In 2018, he won the Big League Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship. He also wrestled in Istanbul, Turkey and for AAW Wrestling. In 2019, he wrestled mostly for World Class Revolution (WCR).
Major League Wrestling (2017–2018)
MVP also joined Major League Wrestling (MLW) when it restarted in 2017. He won his first match against Sami Callihan. He also worked as an "agent," helping other wrestlers with their promos and matches. In 2018, he competed in a tournament for the new MLW World Heavyweight Champion but lost in the first round. He continued his rivalry with Sami Callihan. MVP left MLW in July 2018.
Ring of Honor (2019)
On January 25, 2019, MVP returned to Ring of Honor (ROH). He teamed with Kenny King, bringing back the Beat Down Clan name. They won their first match in a tournament, but lost in the semi-finals.
Return to WWE (2018, 2020–2024)
Special Appearances and Comeback (2018, 2020)
On January 22, 2018, MVP made a special appearance on the 25th-anniversary episode of Raw. This was his first time in WWE since 2010.
On January 26, 2020, MVP made a surprise return at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. He entered the Royal Rumble match but was quickly eliminated. The next night on Raw, he had a match with Rey Mysterio, which he lost. On February 10, MVP brought back his "The VIP Lounge" segment. During this, he turned into a bad guy again, trying to advise Drew McIntyre to let him be his manager. McIntyre refused and attacked MVP. The next week, MVP announced he was hired by WWE as a backstage producer, while still performing on screen.
The Hurt Business (2020–2022)
At Money in the Bank in May 2020, MVP was supposed to wrestle, but Bobby Lashley took his place. The next night, MVP teamed up with Lashley. At Backlash, MVP managed Lashley in a match for the WWE Championship, but Lashley lost.
On July 20, Shelton Benjamin joined MVP and Lashley, forming a new group called The Hurt Business. MVP then started a rivalry with United States Champion Apollo Crews. MVP even showed off a new United States Championship belt, claiming he was the real champion. At Payback, Lashley defeated Crews to win the United States Championship. In September, Cedric Alexander joined The Hurt Business, helping them win matches. In December, Alexander and Benjamin won the Raw Tag Team Championship.
In early 2021, MVP got a leg injury and used a crutch. He was there when Bobby Lashley won the WWE Championship in March 2021. Later, Lashley kicked Alexander and Benjamin out of the group. MVP said The Hurt Business was still active, just with him and Lashley.
MVP wrestled again in July 2021, teaming with Lashley. In September, he suffered a broken rib, which kept him out of action. He returned in November, accompanying Lashley to the ring.
Managing Omos and Leaving WWE (2022–2024)
On April 4, 2022, MVP turned on Lashley and teamed up with Omos. MVP helped Omos defeat Lashley at WrestleMania Backlash. They later lost to Lashley in a handicap match, ending their rivalry. MVP continued to accompany Omos to the ring throughout 2023 and 2024. His contract with WWE ended on August 16, 2024.
Return to Independent Wrestling (2024–Present)
On July 28, 2024, MVP debuted for Game Changer Wrestling (GCW). He announced he was leaving WWE and challenged Josh Barnett to a match. He lost to Barnett in November.
All Elite Wrestling (2024–Present)
On September 25, 2024, MVP made a surprise debut for All Elite Wrestling (AEW) at Grand Slam. He interrupted an interview and offered to manage Swerve Strickland. The next week, MVP introduced former Hurt Business member Shelton Benjamin. MVP and Benjamin reformed The Hurt Business under a new name, "The Hurt Syndicate".
At WrestleDream, Strickland rejected MVP's offer. On October 30, MVP and Benjamin reunited with Bobby Lashley. The three attacked Strickland and his manager. On January 15, 2025, MVP had his first match in AEW, teaming with Benjamin and Lashley to win.
Personal Life
In August 2007, MVP was diagnosed with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome. This is a rare heart condition that makes the heart beat faster than normal. It was found during a routine check-up in WWE.
MVP has many tattoos. These include a picture of Malcolm X, the sarcophagus of King Tut, and the Eye of Horus. He also has tattoos related to his youth.
He enjoys playing video games and is a fan of the English football team Manchester United FC. He became a Muslim while in prison but is now an atheist.
MVP practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He has won gold medals in competitions and has earned a brown belt in the sport. In April 2024, he received his black belt. He trains with fellow wrestler Dave Bautista.
Other Media
MVP had a small role in the movie MacGruber in 2010. He appeared alongside other WWE Superstars.
He has also released several hip hop songs. His first song, "Holla to da World," came out in 2011. He released "Tokyo" in 2013 and "Return of the Ronin" in 2014. "Return of the Ronin" also became his entrance music in TNA.
MVP has been a playable character in several WWE video games. These include WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 through WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011, and more recently WWE 2K22, WWE 2K23, and WWE 2K24.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | MacGruber | Vernon Freedom |
Championships and Awards
- All Pro Wrestling
- APW Universal Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- The Baltimore Sun
- Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (2007)
- Big League Wrestling
- BLW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- CBS Sports
- Comeback Wrestler of the Year (2020)
- Coastal Championship Wrestling
- CCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- DDT Pro-Wrestling
- Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)
- Future of Wrestling
- FOW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Punisher
- Imperial Wrestling Revolution
- IWR Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- IWR Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with D Money, Marce Lewis, Montego Seeka and Nytronis A'Teo
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- IWGP Intercontinental Championship (1 time, first ever)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Comeback of the Year (2020)
- Ranked No. 23 among the top 500 singles wrestlers in 2008
- Southern Championship Wrestling Florida
- SCW Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- World Class Revolution
- WCR Heavyweight Championship (3 times)
- World Wrestling Entertainment/WWE
- WWE United States Championship (2 times)
- WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Matt Hardy
- Slammy Award (1 time)
- Trash Talker of the Year (2020) as The Hurt Business, shared with Lacey Evans
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Most Improved (2007)
- Most Underrated (2008)
See also
In Spanish: MVP (luchador) para niños
