 MVP in 2019 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alvin Burke Jr. (1973-10-28)October 28, 1973 (age 52) Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Children | 1 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Antonio Banks Antonio Bank$ Lord of War[1][2] Montel Vontavious Porter MVP |
| Billed height | 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)[3] |
| Billed weight | 259 lb (117 kg)[3] |
| Billed from | Miami, Florida[3] |
| Trained by | Soulman Alex G[4] Norman Smiley[4] |
| Debut | June 29, 1999 |
Hassan Hamid Assad (bornAlvin Antonio Burke Jr.; October 28, 1973), better known by hisring nameMontel Vontavious Porter (MVP), is an Americanprofessional wrestler,manager, andsubmission grappler. He is signed toAll Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is the on-screen manager ofThe Hurt Syndicate. He has also worked inWWE,Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), andNew Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW).
After concluding his training underSoulman Alex G andNorman Smiley, MVP began wrestling for numerousindependent promotions, including a stint in TNA. He won various championships in singles competition. He first signed with WWE in 2005 and was assigned toDeep South Wrestling, one of the company'sdevelopmental territories at the time. After being promoted to theSmackDownbrand, he made his main roster debut in October 2006, and becametwo-timeWWE United States Champion, with his first reign being the longest in SmackDown history at 343 days. He is also a formerone-timeWWE Tag Team Champion withMatt Hardy.
After his departure from WWE in 2010, MVP joined New Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2011 and spent the next two years there, becoming aone-time (and the inaugural)IWGP Intercontinental Champion. He subsequently returned to the independent circuit and made appearances in TNA andROH. He returned to WWE in January 2020 and left in August 2024, debuting in AEW the following month.
Alvin Antonio Burke Jr.[5] was born in theLiberty City neighborhood ofMiami,Florida,[4] on October 28, 1973.[6] He grew up inOpa-locka, Florida. His father was a police officer.[7] He joined a gang when he was 12, describing it as a "graffiti gang" which later turned into astreet gang.[7] He spent six months in a juvenile detention center after a robbery,[7] and was later sentenced to 18 and a half years behind bars for armed robbery and kidnapping, of which he served nine and a half years starting at age 16.[6][8][9] He converted toIslam while in prison,[5][6] but is now anatheist.[10][11][12][13]
Assad entered the professional wrestling business through the help of a corrections officer in his prison who also worked as a wrestler in theindependent circuit.[14] After being trained by former professional wrestlersSoulman Alex G andNorman Smiley, Assad made his wrestling debut in 2002.[4][7] He worked for many different companies on the independent circuit using the name Antonio Banks, including appearances withFull Impact Pro (FIP) andFuture of Wrestling (FOW), where he won the latter's Tag Team Championship with Punisher.[5][7][15][16] During his time in FIP, he wrestledHomicide for theWorld Heavyweight Championship at theRing of Honor showDo or Die IV on February 19, 2005, but did not win the title.[5][17] He also made sporadic appearances forTotal Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and wrestled on the April 20, 2003, episode ofTNA Xplosion.[5][18] He appeared again for TNA on the August 6, 2004, episode ofImpact!, withSal Rinauro as his tag team partner, losing toAmerica's Most Wanted.[5][19] He also wrestled for Coastal Championship Wrestling (CCW) and Elite Wrestling Entertainment in 2005, competing against wrestlers likeJerry Lynn andD'Lo Brown.[5] In CCW, he won the Heavyweight Championship on August 20, 2005, by defeating Blackhart andBruno Sassi in athree-way match.[20]
In 2005, after a number oflive events anddark matches, Assad signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was assigned to their developmental territoryDeep South Wrestling.[5][4] He originally wrestled under his "Antonio Banks" ring name, but then developed the Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP)in-ring persona: anarrogant, self-obsessed athlete.[21] He was also on an episode ofSmackDown! on January 13, 2005, being one of the police officers in the ring withKurt Angle.
As MVP, he made his first appearance on WWE television on the August 4, 2006 episode ofSmackDown!, during which announcers described him as a covetedfree agent.[22] The initialangle involved MVP appearing backstage and in arena crowds, often flanked by women and/or a bodyguard, and talking to SmackDown!General ManagerTheodore Long about the contract his (unseen) agent was supposedly aggressively negotiating.[23][24] Throughout his segments, commentators described MVP as arrogant, noting that he would stop conversations in the middle to answer his mobile phone or admire his own jewelry while people were speaking to him. Finally, on September 26, a video of a press conference announcing the signing of MVP to "the largest contract in SmackDown! history" was uploaded to WWE.com.[25]
MVP made his in-ring debut atNo Mercy on October 8 as aheel with a ring entrance featuring anNFL-likeinflatable tunnel, before defeatingMarty Garner.[26] During the match, commentatorsMichael Cole andJohn "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) decried the choice of opponent, since it had been implied that it would be someone "more competent", and joined in with fans mocking hisathletic suit styled ring gear, calling him "pathetic" while the fans chantedPower Ranger.[5][27][28] On the following episode ofSmackDown!, MVP made a demand for a tougher opponent to prove his mettle, which was answered byKane making his SmackDown! debut.[29] The twofeuded for the next two months, with MVP narrowly scoring wins over Kane in aStreet Fight, aSteel Cage match andtag team matches withMr. Kennedy against the reunitedBrothers of Destruction, before losing to Kane in anInferno match atArmageddon on December 17, from which he suffered storyline first-degreeburns.[30][31][32] Because of the burns he was "out of action" for a short time, during which on the December 22 episode ofSmackDown!, 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.[33]
When his feud with Kane ended, MVP began a feud with theWWE United States ChampionChris Benoit over Benoit's title.[34] During the buildup for a title match with Benoit, MVP appeared onSmackDown! introducing various supposed champions from around the world, defeating them insquash matches.[5][35][36][37] MVP lost to Benoit atWrestleMania 23 on April 1, 2007 and atBacklash on April 29,[38][39] but finally defeated Benoit in aTwo out of three falls match atJudgment Day on May 20, with MVP winning the United States Championship, his first WWE title, in two straight falls.[40] MVP credits his time working with Benoit for improving his in-ring skill.[28] In his first pay-per-view championship defense atVengeance: Night of Champions on June 24, MVP defeatedRic Flair to retain the title.[41]
His first major feud as the champion was againstMatt Hardy, whom he started claiming to be better than at everything, after defeating him atThe Great American Bash on July 22.[42] When MVP waslegitimately diagnosed with the heart conditionWolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, it was written into thestoryline, with MVP blaming the condition for his losing anarm wrestling match against Hardy on the August 3 episode ofSmackDown!.[43][44] When MVP was given an interview segment duringSmackDown!, theVIP Lounge, it was used to bow out of a scheduledboxing match on the August 18 episode ofSaturday Night's Main Event—withEvander Holyfield replacing him, and eventuallypunching out MVP during the bout.[45] On the August 24 episode ofSmackDown!, MVP bragged to General Manager Theodore Long that he was so good, he could win theWWE Tag Team Championship with anybody, prompting Long to grant him a championship match alongside the next person who entered the room, who turned out to be Hardy.[46] The following week on the August 31 episode ofSmackDown!, MVP and Hardy won the WWE Tag Team Championship fromDeuce 'n Domino, making MVP a double champion.[47] MVP and Hardy's contentious relationship had them competing with each other in various ways while MVP proclaimed himself "Captain" of the team. In the months coming, MVP started getting along better with Hardy, including helping him defeatFinlay on the October 19 episode ofSmackDown!.[48]
Their reign together came to an end on the November 16 episode ofSmackDown! after Hardy demanded a shot at the United States Championship, but MVP declined, and announced they had a WWE Tag Team Championship defense againstJohn Morrison and the Miz instead.[49] They lost the match and the titles, and immediately afterwards, MVP invoked the rematch clause, but they lost that match as well.[49] MVP then attacked Hardy, targeting his knee, which in storyline had been injured during the matches, and put him "out of action". Hardy suffered a legitimate ruptured appendix while he was off television, putting their feud on hold.[50] While Hardy recovered, MVP engaged in short feuds withRey Mysterio (losing a title match by countout atArmageddon on December 16) and Ric Flair (losing a career threatening match at theRoyal Rumble on January 27, 2008).[51][52][53][54][55] AtNo Way Out on February 17, he competed in the SmackDownElimination Chamber match for aWorld Heavyweight Championship opportunity atWrestleMania XXIV on March 30, but was eliminated by Finlay afterThe Undertakerchokeslammed him off the top of a chamber pod.[56] He would instead participate in theMoney in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania, and during the match, Hardy made an unannounced return and knocked MVP from the ladder with his signatureTwist of Fate maneuver, costing him the match and reigniting their feud.[57] AtBacklash on April 27, MVP lost the United States Championship to Hardy, ending his record reign at 343 days, which was at the time the longest reign of the WWE era, and the third longest in the entire history of the championship (the record has since broken byDean Ambrose in 2014).[58] He then subsequently failed to regain the championship in a rematch on the May 2 episode ofSmackDown.[59]
Beginning on the August 29 episode ofSmackDown, MVP developed a losing streak that lasted over five months, losing in both singles and tag team matches.[60][61][62] AtUnforgiven on September 7, he challenged for theWWE Championship in theChampionship Scramble match, but was unsuccessful, continuing his losing streak.[63] The losing streak meant that, in storyline, MVP did not receive "his contract incentive bonus", and also was no longer allowed his usual entrance with the NFL-like inflatable tunnel.[64] During this losing streak he had a short feud withThe Great Khali.[65][66] On the January 16, 2009 episode ofSmackDown, MVP finally broke the losing streak by defeatingBig Show in aLast Man Standing match with help fromTriple H, as he was fighting to ensure that Triple H would be allowed to compete in theRoyal Rumble match at theRoyal Rumble on January 25, in the process turning himface for the first time in his career.[67] On the 500th episode ofSmackDown on March 20, MVP won the United States Championship for the second time by defeatingShelton Benjamin.[68][69] AtWrestleMania 25 on April 5, MVP competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match for the second year in a row, but failed to win.[70]
On the April 13 episode ofRaw, MVP was drafted as the first overall pick to theRaw brand as a part of the2009 WWE draft. As a result of being the reigning WWE United States Champion, he transferred the title to Raw for the first time in history.[71] He lost the title toKofi Kingston on the June 1 episode ofRaw,[72] before beginning a feud withJack Swagger, which culminated in a match atSummerSlam on August 23, which MVP won.[73] He then formed a tag team withMark Henry, and they challengedJeri-Show (Chris Jericho andBig Show) for theUnified WWE Tag Team Championship at theBreaking Point pay-per-view on September 13, but they failed to win the championship. AtSurvivor Series on November 22, MVP and Henry made up part of Team Kofi, competing against TeamOrton in a5-on-5 tag team elimination match. Although both MVP and Henry were eliminated, Team Kofi would go onto to win the match.[74]
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After beginning afeud withThe Miz, MVP faced him for the WWE United States Championship at theRoyal Rumble on January 31, 2010, but was unable to win.[75] After the match, both also participated in the Royal Rumble match itself. MVP entered 14th and was surprise-attacked by The Miz (who was not yet an official entrant) who hit him with the United States title belt. MVP later recovered and entered the match (having not been eliminated) to eliminate both himself and The Miz.[75] MVP challenged The Miz for the title a second time at theElimination Chamber pay-per-view on February 21 but was once again unable to win after interference from Big Show.[76] He also competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match atWrestleMania XXVI on March 28, but was unable to win.[77]
As part of the2010 WWE supplemental draft, MVP was drafted back to theSmackDown brand.[78] He made hisSmackDown return on the April 30 episode, interruptingCM Punk's promo, and later teaming up with Rey Mysterio to defeat Punk andLuke Gallows.[79] On June 1, MVP was announced as the mentor ofPercy Watson for the second season ofWWE NXT;[80][81] Watson was eliminated from the competition on August 17, finishing fifth overall.[82] On the November 5 episode ofSmackDown, MVP fought in a triple threat match for the number one contendership ofDolph Ziggler'sIntercontinental Championship againstCody Rhodes andDrew McIntyre. The match was won by MVP, and the championship match was set for the following week'sSmackDown, but MVP was unsuccessful in winning the title.[83] MVP was announced as part of Team Mysterio, teaming with Rey Mysterio, Big Show,Chris Masters and Kofi Kingston to take on Team Del Rio (Alberto Del Rio,Tyler Reks,Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes) atSurvivor Series on November 21. At Survivor Series, MVP was the first man eliminated in the match by McIntyre, who was aided by Del Rio holding MVP's foot down so he could not kick out. MVP's team was able to win the match with Rey Mysterio and Big Show being sole survivors.[84] MVP's last match with the WWE aired on the December 3 episode ofSmackDown, teaming withKaval in a losing effort against Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler; afterward, he and Kaval were attacked by Kane. MVP was released from his WWE contract earlier on December 2.[85][86]
In 2011, Assad signed a one-year contract withNew Japan Pro-Wrestling, pursuing his noted passion forpuroresu.[87]TMZ reported that Assad's prior convictions had made it difficult for him to acquire a visa but that he would be debuting in February.[88] As WWE owned the rights to the name Montel Vontavious Porter, but not MVP, Assad was able to continue working under the abbreviated ring name.[89][unreliable source?] In storyline MVP was brought in to the promotion byNosawa Rongai, who wanted him to join the villainousKojima-gun, led bySatoshi Kojima.[90] In his debut match for the promotion on February 20 atThe New Beginning, MVP teamed with fellow Kojima-gun memberTaichi to defeatTogi Makabe andTomoaki Honma in a tag team match by making Honma submit to his Take it to the Bank crucifix neck crank.[91] On March 6, MVP entered the2011 New Japan Cup, used to determine the new number one contender to theIWGP Heavyweight Championship, defeatingKarl Anderson in his first round match.[92] On March 19, MVP suffered his first loss in New Japan, when he was defeated by Togi Makabe in the second round of the New Japan Cup.[93] The following day, MVP achieved a major victory when he tapped IWGP Heavyweight ChampionHiroshi Tanahashi out with the TTB in a tag team match, where he teamed with Satoshi Kojima and Tanahashi withHirooki Goto.[94] On May 3, the returningMinoru Suzuki took over as the new leader of Kojima-gun, after its members Taichi andTaka Michinoku had turned on Satoshi Kojima.[95]
In May 2011, MVP took part in theInvasion Tour 2011, New Japan's first tour of theUnited States. On May 13 inRahway,New Jersey, he entered the tournament to determine the first everIWGP Intercontinental Champion, defeatingKazuchika Okada in his first round match.[96] The following day inNew York City, MVP defeatedTetsuya Naito to advance to the finals of the tournament.[97] On the third and final day of the tour inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania, MVP defeatedToru Yano in the finals to become the firstIWGP Intercontinental Champion.[98] Earlier in the event, MVP showed his allegiance to Satoshi Kojima by saving him from the debutingLance Archer, thus breaking away from the newly renamedSuzuki-gun.[99] On June 18 atDominion 6.18, MVP made his first successful defense of the IWGP Intercontinental Championship by defeating Toru Yano. After the match, Yano attacked him and cut his hair.[100][101] The two would face each other in a third title match on July 18, where MVP was once again victorious.[102] After the match MVP was attacked and challenged by Yano'sChaos stablemateMasato Tanaka.[103] In August, MVP took part in the2011 G1 Climax, where he managed to win six out of his nine matches, but a loss to Karl Anderson on the final day of the tournament caused him to narrowly miss advancing to the finals.[104] On October 10 atDestruction '11, MVP lost the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to Masato Tanaka, ending his reign at 148 days.[105] MVP received a rematch for the title on December 4, but was again defeated by Tanaka, following interference from his stablemateYujiro Takahashi.[106]
On January 4, 2012, atWrestle Kingdom VI in Tokyo Dome, MVP teamed with Shelton Benjamin, making a special one-time appearance, to defeat Tanaka and Takahashi in a tag team match.[107] MVP reunited with Benjamin on June 16 atDominion 6.16, where they defeated Karl Anderson and Tama Tonga in a tag team match.[108] In August, MVP took part in his secondG1 Climax tournament, where he won four out of his eight matches and failed to advance to the finals.[109][110] In November, MVP took part in the2012 World Tag League, where he teamed with Shelton Benjamin under the tag team name "Black Dynamite".[111] MVP and Benjamin finished their tournament on December 1 with a record of three wins, one over the reigningIWGP Tag Team ChampionsK.E.S. (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer),[112] and three losses, failing to advance from their block.[113]
On January 4, 2013, atWrestle Kingdom 7 in Tokyo Dome, MVP teamed withAkebono,Manabu Nakanishi andStrong Man in an eight-man tag team match, where they defeatedBob Sapp,Takashi Iizuka, Toru Yano and Yujiro Takahashi.[114][115] On February 26, Assad announced that he had parted ways with New Japan and would be next focusing on a television project withLionsgate Television.[116] He later explained his reasons behind leaving the promotion, saying that he wanted to stay closer to his home in addition to just "recharging the batteries".[117]
At the January 30, 2014, tapings ofImpact Wrestling, Assad returned to TNA using the MVP name, where he was pointed as the storyline "investor" of TNA. As an authority figure, he signedThe Wolves and counteracting TNA PresidentDixie Carter's agenda.[118] Both feuded over the control of TNA untilLockdown, where two teams, representing MVP and Carter, face each other. MVP's team defeated Dixie's team with an assist from special refereeBully Ray, earning MVP total control of wrestling operations.[119]
However, MVP turned heel when, on the May 8 episode ofImpact Wrestling, he attacked TNA World Heavyweight ChampionEric Young and announced himself as the number one contender to the title atSlammiversary XII. However, MVP suffered a legit torn meniscus and was removed from the match. According to PWInsider, the original plans were to crown MVP as champion.[120] After that, MVP andKenny King helpedLashley win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship fromEric Young, but MVP was substituted by Kurt Angle as the on-screen authority figure. From there, MVP acted as Lashley and King's manager (and occasional partner after his knee's condition improved), while feuding with Angle in promos. He defeatedKazma Sakamoto atBound for Glory and, on the November 5 episode ofImpact Wrestling, MVP lost toBobby Roode in a TNA World Heavyweight Championship match.
In January 2015, MVP formed a new group, theBeat Down Clan with King,Samoa Joe,Low Ki, and Eric Young, helping Lashley to regain the championship from Roode. MVP attempted to present Lashley as the centerpiece of the Clan as well as a "founding member" (officially establishing the MVP-Lashley-King trio as the foundation of the BDC as a faction). However, Lashley turned on them and the Beat Down Clan attacked him. At Impact Wrestling:Lockdown (2015), Team Angle (Kurt Angle,Austin Aries,Gunner, and Lashley) defeated The BDC (MVP, Samoa Joe, Low Ki, and Kenny King) in aLethal Lockdown match. On February 27 broadcast ofImpact Wrestling, MVP faced Lashley for the title, but was defeated. In April, The Beat Down Clan started a feud against the newly formed The Rising (Drew Galloway,Eli Drake andMicah), having several matches between the stables until the June 24, 2015 (aired July 1) episode ofImpact Wrestling, where The Beat Down Clan defeated The Rising in a 4-on-3 Handicap match, forcing The Rising to dissolve. On July 17, 2015, MVP officially left TNA.[121] He was reportedly released in the fallout of a contract dispute between TNA andLucha Underground. MVP had pushed for TNA to signHernandez, even though he was at the time still under contract to Lucha Underground. When Lucha Underground contacted TNA, they released Hernandez and were forced to re-edit all segments he had been involved in at the past tapings.[122]
On September 13, 2019, he made an appearance for TNA, now known asImpact Wrestling at their Operation OverrideTwitch special. In the match, he challenged for WCR's World Class Championship against the championChavo Guerrero Jr.[123] Due to the disqualification finish, the two had a rematch at the following night'sVictory RoadImpact Plus Monthly Specials.[124]
MVP has made frequent appearances forTommy Dreamer'sHouse of Hardcore (HOH) promotion. He wrestled at the second and third events when the promotion was starting up in 2013.[125] After his stint in TNA, MVP defeatedMoose at House of Hardcore XVI in August 2016 in his return to the promotion.[126] He went on to appear at nine straight shows for the promotion in 2017, wrestling the likes of Jack Swagger, Tommy Dreamer,Billy Gunn andMatt Cross among others.[127] At December 1, 2018, he made his most recent appearance for the promotion, defeatingBig Cass at HOH 51.[128]
He announced on March 31, 2016, that he would be joiningLucha Underground. However, days later, on April 8, he announced his release from the company due to inadvertently violating terms of his contract by interviewing members of the roster for his podcast.[129] On October 10, 2016, MVP defeated Jody Kristofferson for theAll Pro Wrestling (APW) Universal Heavyweight Championship.[130] MVP foughtRob Van Dam for thePCW Ultra Heavyweight Championship on March 24, 2017, in a losing effort.[131] The following day, MVP lost the APW Universal Heavyweight Championship toLuster the Legend. His June 22, 2018, return to APW resulted in a loss toPenta El 0M.[132]
In early 2018 MVP wrestled two matches forBooker T's promotionReality of Wrestling. On February 25, 2018, he won a battle royal for the Big League Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship, a title he still holds. In March 2018 he wrestled inIstanbul, Turkey forTurkish Power Wrestling in the main event.[132] He debuted forAAW Wrestling on August 4, 2018, in a match where he beatEddie Kingston.[133]
During early 2019 he wrestled most frequently for World Class Revolution (WCR), a promotion based out ofOklahoma.[134] Also during 2019 he wrestled forOakland'sHoodslam Wrestling andAlberto El Patron's new Mexican promotionNación Lucha Libre.[135]
Due to his podcast onCourt Bauer's MLW Radio Network, MVP was chosen as one of the wrestlers for the newly relaunchedMajor League Wrestling (MLW). He appeared at their first show since 2004,One Shot beatingSami Callihan in a no-disqualification match October 5, 2017.[136] He also joined the company as anagent, producing talent promos and matches.[137] In February 2018, MVP participated in the tournament to crown a newMLW World Heavyweight Champion, the first one since the promotion's revival. He was beaten in the first round byTom Lawlor.[138] Two months later he made his debut on their new weekly programMLW Fusion in a match against Callihan, that MVP lost.[139] MVP continued his feud with Callihan by defeating one of Callihan's partners Leon Scott by DQ on the June 8 episode ofMLW Fusion.[140] On July 1, 2018, MVP revealed he had parted ways with MLW and MLW Radio.[141] His final match for the promotion aired on July 6, 2018. It was aBoiler Room Brawl that was won by Sami Callihan ending their feud.[142]
On January 25, 2019, MVP made a return toRing of Honor (ROH) at their Road To G1 Supercard show inHouston, Texas. This was his first appearance for the company since one match in 2005, where he wrestled as Antonio Banks. At the show he debuted as a surprise partner ofKenny King, reforming theBeat Down Clan.[143][144] They would go on to defeat the team ofWillie Mack andColt Cabana advancing them in the Tag Wars tournament.[145] The winners of Tag Wars were set to receive aROH World Tag Team Championship title shot at ROH's 17th-anniversary pay-per-view and a spot in theCrockett Cup tournament.[146] However, MVP and King lost in the semi-finals of the tournament toBrody King andPCO.[147]
On January 22, 2018, MVP made a special appearance on the25th-anniversary episode ofRaw as a guest WWE legend, in a poker segment also involvingThe APA (Bradshaw andRon Simmons), andTed DiBiase.[148] This marked his first WWE appearance of any kind in since December 2010, at that point.[149]
WhenPaul Heyman worked as executive director of the Raw brand, Assad called him asking for a spot on the Royal Rumble match, since it was going to be held in Houston. Heyman agreed if he had also one match onRaw the next day. At the end, WWE and Assad made an agreement to work as a wrestler, manager, producer and commentator.[150] On January 26, 2020, at theRoyal Rumble pay-per-view, MVP would return again, as a face, as a surprise entrant at #12 in the Royal Rumble match, where he was quickly eliminated byBrock Lesnar; this marked MVP's first time in a WWE ring in 10 years.[151] The next night onRaw, MVP had a match withRey Mysterio, which he lost.[152] On the February 10 episode ofRaw, MVP brought back "The VIP Lounge," with his guest being 2020 Royal Rumble winnerDrew McIntyre.[153] During the segment, MVP turnedheel for the first time since 2009, insulting the fans, and trying to advise McIntyre to be managed by him. However, McIntyre disregarded the advice and subsequently attacked MVP.[154] The following week, MVP announced that he was hired by WWE as abackstage producer, while still being an on-screen performer.[155] On the April 20 episode ofRaw, MVP facedApollo Crews to qualify for theMoney in the Bank ladder match, but was defeated.[156]
AtMoney in the Bank on May 10, MVP was scheduled to faceR-Truth, but was replaced byBobby Lashley, who quickly defeated Truth.[157][158] The following night onRaw, MVP aligned himself with Lashley.[159][160] AtBacklash, MVP managed Lashley as he challenged Drew McIntyre for theWWE Championship, but he was unsuccessful in capturing the title due to an altercation between MVP and Lashley's storyline wife,Lana, that distracted Lashley and allowed McIntyre to retain his championship.[161][162] The following night on Raw, Lashley had a rematch against McIntyre for the WWE Championship in a tag team match that also involved MVP and R-Truth, but he lost again when the latter pinned MVP.[163] On the July 20 episode ofRaw,Shelton Benjamin joined his stable, now known asThe Hurt Business.[164]
MVP then started a feud with theUnited States ChampionApollo Crews, after MVP would offer him his services but Crews turned him down.[165] During the storyline, MVP proclaimed himself the real United States Champion when he unveiled a new belt design.[166] AtThe Horror Show at Extreme Rules, Crews did not appear for their scheduled match, so MVP declared himself as the champion.[167] However, MVP faced Crews two times, one atRaw and the other atSummerSlam, failing both times.[168][169] AtPayback, Lashley defeated Crews to win theUnited States Championship.[170][171] On the September 7 episode of Raw,Cedric Alexander joined The Hurt Business when he betrayed Crews andRicochet during a six-man tag team match, attacking them and helping The Hurt Business win the match.[172] AtTLC, he was present when Alexander and Benjamin won theRaw Tag Team Championship. In early 2021, MVP suffered a leg injury and began using a crutch to move around, taken him out of in-ring action. He was present when Bobby Lashley won theWWE Championship on the March 1 episode ofRaw.
On the March 29 episode ofRaw, Lashley attacked Alexander and Benjamin due to them losing the Raw Tag Team Championships and losing to Drew McIntyre in a 2-on-1 handicap match, thus kicking the tag team out of the faction in the process. Lashley would proclaim that The Hurt Business was over.[173] MVP later stated on Twitter that The Hurt Business is still in action, comprising now of just him and Lashley, and that it was open for new members.[174]
On the July 5 episode ofRaw, MVP wrestled for the first time since his injury earlier in the year, in a tag match with Bobby Lashley againstKofi Kingston andXavier Woods, also known asThe New Day. The team of MVP and Lashley lost the match.[175] On the August 30 episode ofRaw, MVP and Lashley would challengeRK-Bro for the Raw Tag Team Championships, but were unsuccessful in winning the titles.[176] On the September 13 episode of Raw, MVP suffered a broken rib after receiving an RKO from Randy Orton, which put him out of action indefinitely.[177] He returned on the November 8 episode ofRaw, accompanying Lashley to the ring for his match withDominik Mysterio.[178]
On the April 4, 2022 episode ofRaw, MVP turned on Lashley and aligned himself withOmos.[179] MVP helped Omos defeat Lashley atWrestleMania Backlash.[180] This led to a 2-on-1handicap match atHell in a Cell, where MVP and Omos lost to Lashley, ending their feud.[181] He would accompany Omos to the ring throughout 2023 and 2024. His last appearance was accompanying Omos to the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on the SmackDown beforeWrestleMania XL. On August 16, 2024, MVP’s contract expired and his profile on WWE's website was moved to the alumni section officially ending his second tenure with the promotion.[182]
Prior to MVP's departure from WWE during a June 2024 interview, it was revealed that The Hurt Business was planned to be reformed but afterVince McMahon retired in 2022, a new creative regime led byPaul "Triple H" Levesque was against the reformation of the group.[183] MVP also accused WWE of stealing the stable's gimmick and giving it toThe Bloodline.[184]
On July 28, 2024, MVP debuted forGame Changer Wrestling (GCW) atJosh Barnett's Bloodsport XI, where he announced that he'd be leaving WWE and challengedJosh Barnett to a match.[185] On November 24 atJosh Barnett's Bloodsport XII, MVP was defeated by Barnett viatechnical submission.[186]
On September 25, 2024 atGrand Slam, MVP made his surprise debut forAll Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he interruptedPrince Nana's interview aboutSwerve Strickland's condition and offered to take over for Nana as Strickland's manager, accusing Nana as the reason for Strickland's recent losses.[187] The following week onAEW Dynamite'sfifth anniversary episode, MVP introduced former Hurt Business memberShelton Benjamin as one of his business partners.[188] MVP and Benjamin would go on to reform The Hurt Business under the new name "The Hurt Syndicate" and established themselves asheels.[189] On October 12 atWrestleDream, MVP confronted Strickland, who responded by rejecting MVP's services and remained loyal to Prince Nana.[190] On October 30 atFright Night Dynamite, MVP and Benjamin reunited withBobby Lashley, as the trio beat down Strickland and Nana to close the show.[191]
On January 15, 2025 atMaximum Carnage, MVP made his AEW in-ring debut, teaming with Benjamin and Lashley to defeatMark Briscoe andPrivate Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen).[192] On the March 12 episode ofDynamite, MVP confrontedMJF and offered him a spot in The Hurt Syndicate.[193] On the March 26 episode ofDynamite, MJF initially accepted the offer, but would be turned away by Benjamin and Lashley.[194] On May 14 atDynamite: Beach Break, Lashley, Benjamin, and MVP accepted MJF as a member of the group.[195] On the July 23 episode ofDynamite, The Hurt Syndicate (minus MJF) would turn intotweeners as they would be briefly hired byCope to assist him in his feud withFTR (Cash Wheeler andDax Harwood).[196] After weeks of tension, The Hurt Syndicate kicked MJF out of the group due to his selfish attitude on the August 6 episode ofDynamite.[197][198][199] In September 2025, The Hurt Syndicate then began a feud withThe Demand (Ricochet,Bishop Kaun, andToa Liona), losing to them atAll Out on September 20 in a regular trios match, but defeated them in a rematch atDynamite: Title Tuesday on October 7 in aStreet Fight and on October 12 atWrestleDream in atornado trios match to become the number one contenders for theAEW World Trios Championship, but failed to defeatThe Opps (Samoa Joe,Powerhouse Hobbs, andKatsuyori Shibata) for the titles after Ricochet interfered.[200][201][202][203]
In August 2007, Assad was diagnosed withWolff–Parkinson–White syndrome, a rare condition that causes the heart tobeat faster than normal. The condition was found in his time with WWE, when he had undergone a routine check-up in accordance with WWE's Talent Wellness Policy, which otherwise would have gone undetected until it was too late.[43][204]
Assad has acquired many tattoos through his life, including a portrait ofMalcolm X on the upper left portion of his chest,[8] the sarcophagus ofKing Tut &the pyramids on his left upper biceps,[8] the word MonteCristo with the phrase "the best revenge is living well" in script on his right forearm, both references to the bookThe Count of Monte Cristo,[8] theEye of Horus on the back of his left arm,[8] and a star on his right shoulder. He also has a number of homemade gang-related tattoos that he had done when he was a teenager.[8]
Assad enjoys playing video games and took inspiration for the finishing move he used on the independent circuit, aspin kick calledMalicious Intent, from a similar move performed byTekken characterEddy Gordo.[204] He has been a fan of English football teamManchester United FC since age 13, citingEric Cantona as his favorite player.[205]
Due to Assad's criminal record, his visits to other countries on wrestling tours are subject to permits and background checks for recent behavior.[14] Assad converted toIslam during his time in prison, but is now anatheist,[11][12][13] and because of that, he was unable to attendWWE's shows in Saudi Arabia, where his status as aMuslim-turned-atheist is consideredpunishable by death.[206]
Assad practicesBrazilian jiu-jitsu, in which he gained the rank of purple belt after winning the gold medal at the Houston Open in the Masters 3 Ultra Heavyweight Division. He also won gold in the Open Division at the Houston Open, and silver at the IBJJF Masters World Championship in the Masters 4/Male/Purple/Ultra-Heavy Category.[207] In December 2020, he won a gold medal at the IBJJF masters world championship in the Masters 4/Male/Purple/Ultra-Heavy Category, and was promoted to brown belt at the medal presentation.[208][209] He continues to train in the sport with former professional wrestler-turnedHollywood actorDave Bautista.[210] In April 2024, he was awarded his black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu by Andre Santos at Gracie Barra Boca Raton.[211]
Assad made a cameo appearance in the filmMacGruber, alongside fellow WWE SuperstarsChris Jericho,The Great Khali,Big Show,Kane, andMark Henry.[212]
MVP released his firsthip hop song titled "Holla to da World" featuring Dwayne Swayze in June 2011.[213] A music video for the song, featuring cameos fromCarlito and Hernandez, was released the following October.[214] The song was released as a single throughiTunes on April 5, 2012.[215] On March 18, 2013, he released his second song entitled "Tokyo".[216] On January 30, 2014, MVP released his third single, titled "Return of the Ronin".[217] The song also became MVP's entrance theme in TNA.[218]
MVP has been featured as a playable character in the video gamesWWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008,WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009,WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010,WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011, andWWE 2K22, his first WWE licensed video game in 11 years. He also appeared inWWE 2K23 andWWE 2K24.[219]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | MacGruber | Vernon Freedom |
Jeff Katz's Wrestling Revolution Project taped its first season in Los Angeles this past week. [...] MVP is now The Lord of War, and dresses up and wrestles like Masahiro Chono, including using the STF and Yakuza kick as his big moves.
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