Alvin Burke, Jr.
Born	(1973-10-28) October 28, 1973 (age 50)[1] Liberty City, Florida
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Antonio Banks Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP)
Billed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)[2]
Billed weight	[undue weight? – discuss][2]
Billed from	Miami, Florida
Trained by	Soulman Alex G[3] Norman Smiley Chris Benoit
Debut	1998

Alvin Burke, Jr. (also known as Hassan Hamin Assad, 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], where he is the reigning United States Champion.^[4]

Career

Early life and career

Burke entered professional wrestling in 1998 after serving 9½ years of an 18 year sentence in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping.^[1][5][6] At the start of his career he wrestled in many different companies on the independent circuit using the name Antonio Banks, as well as in both Full Impact Pro^[7] and early Total Nonstop Action Wrestling weekly pay-per-views.^{[8] [9]}

World Wrestling Entertainment

In 2005, after a number of house show and dark matches, Burke signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was assigned to their developmental territory Deep South Wrestling.^[3] 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.^[10]

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.^{[11] [12]} 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.^[13] 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"^[14], and openly mocked his ring gear and called him "pathetic" when the fans chanted Power Ranger at him. 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. 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^[15] and a cage match^[16] before losing to him in an Inferno match at Armageddon, from which he (kayfabe) suffered 1st degree burns.^[17] 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.^[18]

When the Kane feud died down, MVP began a new one with United States Champion Chris Benoit over Benoit's title.^[19] 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^{[20] [21] [22]}. When their match at WrestleMania 23 came around, MVP seemed to have Benoit's number, but still lost the match.^[23] A subsequent rematch at Backlash went much the same way, with MVP suddenly losing to an Inside Cradle after looking like he was about to win for much of the match.^[24] For Judgment Day, MVP secured a two out of three falls match against Benoit, and defeated him in two straight falls (both pins) to win the title^[25], his first in WWE.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves

• Playmaker (Overdrive)
• Malicious Intent (Spinning Capoeira kick to the face) - Independent circuit
• T.T.B. - Take it To the Bank / Tribute To Benoit (Crossface submission) - Independent circuit
• Sitout side powerslam
• Live From The 305 (Springboard shooting star press) - DSW
• Most Valuable Moonsault (Split-legged moonsault)
• Player's Boot (Running big boot to a cornered opponent's face / Mafia kick)
• Ballin' Elbow (Elbow drop with theatrics)
• Multiple side knee lifts to the opponent's face
• DDT
• Overhead belly to belly suplex

• Nicknames

• MVP
• The Franchise Player

• Theme music

• I'm Comin' by Silkk The Shocker, which can be found on WWE Wreckless Intent.

Championships and accomplishments

• Coastal Championship Wrestling
  • CCW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• Future of Wrestling
  • FOW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Punisher
• World Wrestling Entertainment
  • WWE United States Championship (1 time, current)
• Xtreme Wrestling Alliance
  • XWA Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

Trivia

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

Burke also has numerous tattoos: a portrait of Malcolm X on his upper left chest^[26], King Tut on his left upper biceps^[27], an Eye of Horus on the back of his left arm, and small writing with a small ring on his right upper backside.

References

External Links

• Montel Vontavious Porter's WWE.com Index