Montel Vontavious Porter

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Antonio Banks United States
Born (1973-10-28) October 28, 1973 (age 50)[1]
Liberty City, Florida, USA
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Antonio Banks/Bank$
Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP)
Billed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Billed weight[undue weight? – discuss][2]
Billed fromMiami, Florida
Trained by"Soulman" Alex G[1]
Norman Smiley
Debut2003

Antonio Banks (born October 28, 1973[1]) is an American professional wrestler currently working for World Wrestling Entertainment on the SmackDown! brand under the ring name Montel Vontavious Porter, or MVP.[2]

Career

Early life and career

Banks entered professional wrestling in 2003 after serving 9½ years of an 18 year sentence in prison for robbery[3]. At the start of his career he wrestled in many different companies on the independent circuit using the name Antonio Bank$, as well as in both Full Impact Pro[4] and early Total Nonstop Action Wrestling weekly pay-per-views.[5] [6]

World Wrestling Entertainment

In 2005, after a number of house show and dark matches, Banks signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was assigned to their developmental territory Deep South Wrestling.[1] It was there that he first developed the Montel Vontavious Porter character: an arrogant, self-obsessed athlete.

SmackDown!

As Porter, he made his first appearance on World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) television on the August 4, 2006 edition of SmackDown!, being described by announcers as a coveted free agent.[7]

The initial storyline involved MVP appearing backstage and in arena crowds, often surrounded by women and a bodyguard, and talking to SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long about the contract his (unseen) agent was aggressively negotiating.[8] [9] MVP was often described by commentators as arrogant, as he would stop conversations in the middle to answer his cell phone and admire his own jewelry while people were speaking to him. His on-screen contract signing was held during a segment on WWE.com uploaded on September 27, 2006 view, leading to his in ring debut for the brand at October's No Mercy pay-per-view.

After a heralded entrance with an NFL-like inflatable tunnel and pyrotechnics, he defeated the unknown wrestler Marty Garner.[10] During the match, commentators Michael Cole and JBL decried the choice of opponent, since it had been implied that it would be someone "more competent"[11], and openly mocked his ring gear and called him "pathetic" when the fans chanted Power Ranger at him. After the match, MVP defended himself in a WWE.com interview, claiming that he did not pick his opponent and he should not be blamed for the nature of the match.

On the following weeks SmackDown! MVP demanded a tougher opponent to prove his mettle, and received just that in the form of Kane, who was making his SmackDown! debut after moving from RAW. MVP did his best to delay the match before actually fleeing the ring when Kane attacked,[12] beginning a feud between the two. Throughout the feud, MVP became an uneasy ally of Mr. Kennedy, who was feuding with Kane's (kayfabe) brother The Undertaker.[13] Despite being largely on the receiving end of their bouts, MVP started out the feud by narrowly scoring wins over Kane in a street fight[14] and a cage match[15] before losing to him in an Inferno match at Armageddon, from which he (kayfabe) suffered 1st degree burns.[16] Because of his burns he was put out of action for a short time, during which color commentator JBL expressed rage with the fans for cheering a match where the only way of achieving victory is to set an opponent on fire.[17]

When the Kane feud died down, MVP began a new one with United States Champion Chris Benoit over Benoit's title.[18] To warm up for his match with Benoit, MVP appeared on SmackDown! introducing various supposed Champions from around the world, giving them exaggerated measurements, then proceeded to defeat them in short order[19] [20] [21], but when their match took place at WrestleMania 23 he could not defeat Benoit. [22]

In wrestling

  • Finishing and signature moves
  • Nicknames
  • "MVP"
  • "The Franchise Player"

Championships and accomplishments

  • Coastal Championship Wrestling
  • CCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
  • Future of Wrestling
  • FOW Tag Team Championship (1 time with Punisher)
  • Xtreme Wrestling Alliance
  • XWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

Trivia

While in Deep South Wrestling, Banks utilized numerous references to "305", the local area code of Miami-Dade County, in the form of chants, hand gestures, and logos.

Banks also has numerous tattoos: a portrait of Malcolm X on his upper left chest, King Tut on his left upper biceps, an Eye of Horus on the back of his left arm, and small writing with a small ring on on his right upper backside.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Obsessed with Wrestling profile". Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  2. ^ a b c "WWE.com Superstars > SmackDown > Montel Vontavious Porter > profile". Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  3. ^ "Alan Wojcik interviews Antonio Banks". Retrieved 2006-12-21.
  4. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - Full Impact Pro results". Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  5. ^ "TNA.com Xplosion results - 2003". Retrieved 2007-04-07. April 16, 2003: Nashville, TN
    Erik Watts defeated Antonio Banks.
  6. ^ "TNA.com iMPACT! results - 2004". Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  7. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - August 4, 2006". Retrieved 2007-04-07. Montel Vontavious Porter (currently working for Deep South) asked Theodore Long to call him up the SD! roster..
  8. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - August 11, 2006". Retrieved 2007-04-07. Theodore Long wanted to talk business with Montel Vontavious Porter but he told him to contact his agent..
  9. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - August 18, 2006". Retrieved 2007-04-07. FEATURE: Montel Vontavious Porter is shown sitting in a skybox supposedly still in negotiations..
  10. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - No Mercy 2006 results". Retrieved 2007-04-07. MATCH: Montel Vontavious Porter (in-ring debut) defeated Marty Garner..
  11. ^ "WWE.com No Mercy 2006 results". Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  12. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - October 13, 2006". Retrieved 2007-04-07.
  13. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - October 27, 2006". Retrieved 2007-04-07. NO DQ MATCH: Mr. Ken Kennedy defeated Kane with help from Montel Vontavious Porter..
  14. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - November 17, 2006". Retrieved 2007-04-07. STREET FIGHT: Montel Vontavious Porter defeated Kane...
  15. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - November 24, 2006". Retrieved 2007-04-07. STEEL CAGE MATCH: Montel Vontavious Porter defeated Kane in a major upset!
  16. ^ "MVP remains in burn unit". Retrieved 2006-12-21.
  17. ^ "WWE.com - SmackDown! results - December 22, 2006". Retrieved 2007-04-07. Former WWE Champion JBL voiced his displeasures with the direction SmackDown has gone, and he placed the blame on Theodore Long for the burning of MVP. JBL also blamed the fans, calling them "sick human beings."
  18. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - March 9, 2007". Retrieved 2007-04-07. Montel Vontavious Porter then challenged Chris Benoit to a match at WrestleMania for the United States title..
  19. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - March 16, 2007". Retrieved 2007-04-07. MATCH: Montel Vontavious Porter defeated El Gran Latte (Undisputed Champion of Hondorous)..
  20. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - March 23, 2007". Retrieved 2007-04-07. MATCH: Montel Vontavious Porter defeated "Leichenstein Heavyweight Champion" Cedrick Von Haussen..
  21. ^ "Obsessed with Wrestling - SmackDown! results - March 30, 2007". Retrieved 2007-04-07. SQUASH MATCH: Montel Vontavious Porter defeated Viko Vatamongo (The Ethiopean Heavyweight Champion)..
  22. ^ At Backlash 2007, MVP got another title shot but failed after Benoit pinned him with an inside cradle."Obsessed with Wrestling - WrestleMania 23 results". Retrieved 2007-04-07. UNITED STATES TITLE MATCH: Chris Benoit defeated Montel Vontavious Porter to retain the United States title..
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