Montel Vontavious Porter
| Antonio Banks | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 28, 1970 Liberty City, Florida |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Antonio Banks / Bank$ Montel Vontavious Porter |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) |
| Billed weight | 252 lb (114 kg) |
| Billed from | Miami, Florida |
| Trained by | "Soulman" Alex G and Norman Smiley |
| Debut | 2003 |
Antonio Banks, (born October 28, 1970)[1], is an African-American professional wrestler working for World Wrestling Entertainment on their SmackDown! brand, under the name Montel Vontavious Porter, or MVP.
Career
Early life and career
Banks entered professional wrestling in 2003 after serving 9½ years in prison for robbery[2]. At the start of his career he wrestled in many different companies on the independent circuit using the name Antonio Bank$, including Coastal Championship Wrestling and Xtreme Wrestling Alliance, winning the Heavyweight Championship in both promotions, and Ring of Honor.
World Wrestling Entertainment
Deep South Wrestling
In 2005 Banks signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was assigned to their Deep South Wrestling "farm territory". It was there that he first developed the Montel Vontavious Porter character, an arrogant and self-obsessed wrestler.
SmackDown!
Montel Vontavious Porter made his first appearance on World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) television on the August 4, 2006 edition of SmackDown!, being described as a coveted free agent.
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. 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 jewelery while people were speaking to him. His (kayfabe) contract was officially signed during a segment on WWE.com uploaded on September 27, 2006, leading to his in ring debut for the brand at Octobers No Mercy.
After a heralded entrance with an NFL-like inflatable tunnel, he defeated the unknown Marty Garner. During the match, commentators Michael Cole and JBL decried the choice of opponent, since it was recently implied that it would be a "more competent" opponent, and openly mocked his ring gear as well as calling him "pathetic", as fans chanted Power Ranger. After the match, MVP defended himself in a WWE.com interview, claiming that he did not pick his opponent and that they was no reason to blame him for the nature of his match.
On the following weeks SmackDown! MVP demanded a tougher opponent to prove his mettle, and received just that in the form of the debuting Kane, who had just moved over from RAW. After attempting to delay the match multiple times, Kane attacked and MVP fled the ring, effectively beginning a feud between the two. During this Feud, Kane and MVP would face each other in a street fight (Which he would win with help from Ken Kenady (although The undertaker would come to Kanes rescue and prompt MVP and Kenady to flee the ring)) and steel cage match which is yet to be Telivised.
In wrestling
- Finishing and signature moves
- Malicious Intent (Spinning Capoeira kick to the face)
- Playmaker (Overdrive)
- T.T.B. - (Tribute To Benoit / (Take It) To The Bank) (Crossface submission)
- Live From The 305 (Springboard shooting star press)
- Most Valuable Moonsault (Split-legged moonsault)
- Player's Boot (Running big boot in the corner to the opponent's face)
- Multiple side knee lifts to the opponent's face
- Catchphrases
- "Read between the lines"
- "No contract, no contact"
- Nicknames
- The Hottest Free Agent of All Time
- The Franchise Player
- MVP's entrance theme is I'm Comin' by Silkk Tha 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 – with Punisher (1 time)
- 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.
Appears in the film The Longest Yard along with other past and present wrestlers.