The following is a new article from MiamiHerald.com:
WWE superstar MVP: A self-made man, persona
Montel Vontavious Porter has made the most of his second chance at life in the rings of World Wrestling Entertainment.
Serving more than nine years of an 18-year-sentence on armed robbery and kidnapping charges during the later part of his teenage years, MVP learned to let the time serve him.
He became a changed man with aspirations to become a professional wrestler.
The Miami native paid his debt to society and then paid his dues on the Florida independent wrestling scene under the guidance of Soulman Alex G., Rusty Brooks and Norman Smiley, who currently works as a trainer for WWE’s developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling, based in Tampa.
Whenever WWE was anywhere in the Sunshine State, MVP would usually be seen in the preliminary matches before the cameras began to roll. Through perseverance and a hunger to succeed, MVP was finally signed by WWE in 2005.
Since then, he has won countless championships, emerging as one of the company’s most popular superstars. His career came full circle in 2007, when MVP got a chance to perform in front of a hometown crowd at WWE’s Survivor Series pay-per-view.
“I think my first Survivor Series in Miami was the most emotional because it was the first time making it back since getting signed,” said MVP, who will return to the 3-0-5 Sunday, Nov. 21 as WWE Survivor Series once again comes to the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami.
“This time it’s a special treat. I guess the fact that I got five years in and coming back here is pretty substantial.”
Now established, MVP looks to help others.
“There are quite a few guys that I have befriended. Unfortunately I don’t get back home much to help the guys back at the schools or the up-and-comers,” MVP said. “Any time there are extras at the shows, I always try to give them advice and tell them things that worked for me trying to get into WWE. Some of the younger guys that are in WWE I try to give them advice.
“I’ve been so fortunate to have guys like the Undertaker, [Chris] Benoit and even Booker T, before he left. Those were guys that helped me out early on; so I try to pay it forward.”
The influx of new talent in WWE has led to what many have dubbed a youth movement. Despite the fresh crop of superstars, MVP, 37, isn’t nervous about getting left behind.
“There were a lot of the wrestling Internet sites that have been promoting this false information,” MVP said. “I never at any point felt threatened or was worried about my spot. I put it bluntly.
Check out the complete article online at MiamiHerald.com.
