FATP:- Why MVP is One of a Kind
Welcome along to this week’s edition of From Across the Pond. Thanks for all the feedback about last week’s column where I gave my opinions about WWE’s champions should be at the end of 2012. It’s awesome to know that something that’s going on inside my head could spark so much interest! For those of you who haven’t read any of my stuff before, I pick a different wrestling topic to write about each week and give my opinion. It doesn’t make it right or wrong, but it’s designed to get everyone talking!
This week I wanted to talk about a man who did something that’s very rare in wrestling today. He asked for his release from WWE in 2010. His ring-name is Montel Vontavious Porter (or MVP to you and me). In December 2010, MVP asked for his release from WWE and he was given it without any problems. I don’t know why he asked for it. Maybe he was frustrated at having little to no time to perform on TV, or maybe he just didn’t want to work there anymore. The fact is that he made a decision in order to give him peace and happiness, which is something he’s got now.
When he debuted in 2006, I was intrigued. In the crowd was this flashy guy wearing all this bling and he had either a bodyguard or a gorgeous woman sitting next to him. Sometimes both! Lucky guy! Haha.. MVP’s first two feuds were against Kane and CB (I can’t bring myself to type his name). Two solid in-ring veterans who MVP could learn from in terms of working WWE’s style of wrestling. He didn’t disappoint either and his performances against both men were tremendous, considering he hadn’t been wrestling for more than five years at that point.
The match that really made me think that MVP was gonna be a star was his match against CB at WrestleMania 23. Although he lost the match, he went toe-to-toe with CB and proved he could hold his own with one of the best wrestlers of his generation. He came up short again at Backlash, but he won the US Championship from CB at the Judgment Day PPV in 2007. MVP spoke very highly of CB before the tragic events of June 2007, crediting their feud with helping him to develop and improve his in-ring skills. In an interview with IGN Sports in May 2007, MVP said:
“For me, to find myself in a feud with CB and ultimately to beat him for the United States title, that defines who I am. At this point in my career, if I can beat CB for the United States title, there’s nobody who I can’t beat. His passion for our business, for our sport, is unrivalled and he recognizes the young guys around him who have that kind of passion…He’s been instrumental in my development.”
After winning his first singles gold in WWE, MVP held the United States Championship until Backlash 2008, where he lost to Matt Hardy. MVP’s 343 day run with the belt is the longest in WWE history and the third-longest reign in the entire history of the championship. That’s no mean feat, especially today when the belts are handed around like toys.
Most of his tenure on SmackDown centred around feuds with Shelton Benjamin and Matt Hardy until he was drafted to RAW in 2009. When he moved to Monday nights, I thought he was going to explode as this huge superstar. He was charismatic, great on the mic and in the ring, so what could go wrong? I don’t think RAW was a good fit for him. SmackDown always had the better wrestlers in the company and RAW focused more on entertainment than wrestling, something that still happens to this day. MVP always suited SmackDown better and he moved back there in 2010.
Surprisingly, he didn’t have much more success in the WWE after that. As a fan, it felt like something wasn’t right. It was as if he wasn’t enjoying what he was doing and that wasn’t something I’d seen from him before. Just over six months later, MVP asked for his release from WWE and it was granted. MVP’s wrestling in Japan at the moment for NJPW and he’s happy being there. He enjoys what he does and he’s reaping the benefits of taking the bull by the horns. He wasn’t happy so he did something about it and now he’s benefitting from it. I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t watch a lot of NJPW, but from what I’ve seen, the crowds in Japan are respectful about the business and the wrestlers love working there. I think it’s because they get freedom to express themselves and actually wrestle.
I’m someone that follows wrestlers on Twitter. Nothing wrong with that, I just like keeping up to date on what’s happening with those guys who don’t wrestle in WWE or TNA, like MVP, Colt Cabana or Carlito. MVP gets one question probably more than any other he’s asked: “When are you going back to WWE?”
Simply put, the decision that MVP made to walk away from WWE should answer the question those fans are asking. MVP decided that, for whatever reasons, he didn’t need WWE and wanted to expand his horizons. MVP doesn’t NEED to work for WWE again and right now; it comes across to me like he doesn’t want to. That’s because he’s happy in Japan. Life in wrestling doesn’t revolve around WWE or TNA. Just because you haven’t seen them wrestling for a while doesn’t mean they aren’t still doing it. As strange as it may seem, it is possible to be happy wrestling and not work for WWE or TNA.
Could WWE use him right now? I think so. He’s easily one of the better mid-card wrestlers out there, but he’s happy where he’s at. WWE’s loss has been Japan’s gain. Kudos to MVP for having the balls to make the decision to leave someplace where he wasn’t happy. If everyone else did the same thing when they weren’t happy, then I think wrestling in general might be in a better place. Throughout his career, I’ve always sensed something with MVP. He’s got the “IT Factor”. He oozes charisma and he draws you in to everything he does, whether it’s on the mic or in the ring. His passion for wrestling is plain for all to see.
That’s what he loves to do, but it’s not everything that he loves to do. MVP’s always had an interest in music and his single “Holla to the World” was released a few months ago on iTunes. He posts “Sessions” every so often on his official website (www.mvp305.com) and sometimes, you might see a familiar face or two appearing! I hope he continues to be creative and entertain us for years to come! This column’s been a little different for me. Normally I don’t dedicate it to just one wrestler, but I felt like thinking outside the box to talk about the guy that’s “half-man, half-amazing”, MVP.
OK guys, I wanted to introduce something that will be exclusive to Wrestling Rambles from hereon in. It’s called the “Wrestling Throwback”, where I post a video of something in wrestling that sticks out in my memory. To give you a bit of background, I wrote a column for http://www.bleacherreport.com a while ago where I listed my top 5 WWE promo videos of all time. Check it out here if you’ve not seen it already!
The one video that stood out to me involves one half of the WrestleMania 27 main-event, The Miz. It’s his entrance video from the event, where the song they used for it was “Hate me Now” by Nas. I chose that video because the production was slick and I actually felt that it was a massive f*ck you from Miz to all of his haters that said he’d never make it. Well guess what, he did, and he beat the leader of the Fruity Pebble Brigade, John Cena, to retain his title. Congratulations Miz, you earned it! Here’s the video.
That’s all from me this week. Remember, if you want a video of your choice highlighted in the Wrestling Throwback section, send me a tweet @georgec1982 and I’ll put it in next week’s column. As always guys, thanks for reading and I’ll see ya back here next week!
Peace,
George
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Big Things Poppin, Little Things Stoppin!
Haha.. true.. His mic work’s under-rated IMO
You can say Chris Benoit you know? Anyway good column.
I completely agree with you, MVP was a real character and I know he says he’s happy in NJPW but if he ever wants to return to WWE, the door is wide open for him. Very smart move. I respect him a lot more because he’s not doing wrestling for the glitz and glamour of WWE or TNA, he’s doing it as his passion for wrestling.
His best feud to me by far was with Hardy, those two worked extremely good with each other. I looked forward to SD every week to see who would out do each other in their ”I’m better than you” feud.
Awesome to see you’re doing Wrestling Throwback exclusively for WR! Good idea.
You know what Ray? I physically can’t. It sickens me. Just how I feel about him, that’s all. I wasn’t censoring for the site, I’m censoring me cos I can’t type that madman’s name.
Couldn’t agree more. MVP was far more charismatic than people gave him credit for. Some guys do it for the $, he wrestles cos he loves it, and you can see that when he works.
I thought when he went to Raw, we were gonna get an Orton/MVP feud, but it never happened. That could’ve got him to main-event. He could easily be up there now as well!
Thanks man, am open to suggestions!
So Benoit is like Lord Voldermort…minus the magic powers?
Harry Potter refs go over my head dude.. Explain it again?
Lord Voldemort is the main villian and even after he has gone away, the magical community is scared to say his name.
If you are into the whimsical at all, you may want to check them out. 7 books in total. The first one are “kids” books, but a bit deeper. As the series goes on, they get darker and darker(tons of social commentary) and the final book is a bloodbath. The books get LONG too!
Dude, regardless of what he did outside the ring, no one can deny CHRIS BENOIT was an awesome wrestler! I chose to remember him for that. If you can’t you’re missing out
Sorry Helen! As amazing as he was in the ring, the lasting memory of him won’t be his matches. It’ll be what he did to his wife and kid 5 years ago. Not saying he wasn’t a great wrestler, but his final act is what he’ll be remembered for. It’s a shame, but that’s just the way it is IMO
Unfortunately, that’s what he’ll be remembered for, he will remain the one who shan’t be named! A shame his achievements have been forgotten by some and by WWE! Still, better wellness policies and health care for wrestlers may now ensure that it will NEVER happen again
They still don’t have healthcare, because they’re not employees; they’re “independent contractors”.
Many companies now hire people as temps. That way, they can get rid of them in a few years(legally without cause) and they don’t have to give ANY benefits. People take the jobs, because they need it, not because they want it.
Well I don’t mind if you dislike as many people do but you must really despise him if you can’t type out is name! lol
Always loved the “Half-Man, Half-Amazing” line!
It’s something that’s really simple, but you always remember. Weird huh?
Perfect for a shirt.
Definitely! Surprised WWE missed that!
It’s WWE and Vince.
Yeah Capt. that line was just sick!
Give it some chicken soup.
MVP was great. If they brought him back now he would be far more popular than before
Yeah! I mentioned it to someone else earlier (possibly Ray), that if he was used right, he could STILL main-event
Ah MVP
1.) good mic work
2.)He was cool
3.)He didn’t have to change his character much which i like
4.)MVP was just great
I think him leaving was just that a want/need for more privacy but also i think more rights on numerous ocasions wrestlers that wrestled for WWE and now wrestle in japan love the privacy but also the lack of strick rules in the sense of being them instead of some “character” i could not tell you what wrestler but i remeber a former WWE wrestler who wrestles in japan now talking about how in WWE if you want to get a new tattoo you have to ask and get it approved but in japan he could just get the new tattoo and everyone would comment that they like it. I have a feeling even though MVP was sort of about fame he wanted alittle bit more rights to his character and such but that could just be me.