MVP

Oct 2, 2009 - by Jamie Cruickshank

Real name: Hassan Assad (born: Alvin Banks Jr.)
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 252 lbs.
Date of birth: October 28, 1973
Hometown: Liberty City, FL
Pro debut: 2001
Trained by: Alex G.
Finishing move: Playmaker

Biography

– Starting aged 16, Banks served half of an 18.5 year prison sentence for armed robbery and kidnapping. While serving his sentence, he converted to Islam, leading to the name change
– Assad made his wrestling debut in 2001, after getting into the business on the recommendation of his corrections officer
– On August 31, 2002, Assad (as Antonio Banks) & Punisher defeated Animal House (Jeff Roth & Anthony Michaels) to win the FOW Tag Team Titles. They would hold the titles until the promotion closed the following year
– In 2003-4, Antonio Banks made several appearances in TNA
– On February 19, 2005, Assad appeared on a Ring of Honor show, as Homicide defeated Antonio Banks to retain the FIP Heavyweight Title
– On August 20, 2005, Antonio Banks defeated Bruno Sassi & The Blackhart in a 3-Way Match to win the CCW Heavyweight Title
– In 2005, Assad signed a WWE development deal and was assigned to Deep South Wrestling. Here he originally used the Antonio Banks ring name, but later developed the Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP) persona
– On August 4, 2006, MVP debuted on Smackdown, described as a ‘coveted free agent’. In the following weeks, his storyline involved his agent negotiating a contract with Teddy Long
– On September 20, 2006, it was announced that MVP had become a full-time Smackdown wrestler
– At No Mercy 2006, MVP made his WWE in-ring debut, defeating Marty Garner
– At Judgment Day 2007, MVP defeated Chris Benoit 2-0 in a two-out-of-three falls match to win the WWE United States Title
– At Vengeance 2007, MVP defeated Ric Flair to retain the WWE United States Title
– At The Great American Bash 2007, MVP defeated Matt Hardy to retain the WWE United States Title
– In August 2007, Assad was diagnosed with the heart condition Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. He underwent successful treatment with Dr Fred Feuerbach and didn’t miss any TV time, though he stepped back from in-ring competition for a short time
– On August 28, 2007, MVP & Matt Hardy defeated Deuce n Domino to win the WWE Tag Team Titles
– At Unforgiven 2007, MVP & Hardy defeated Deuce n Domino to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles
– At SummerSlam 2008, MVP defeated Jeff Hardy
– On March 17, 2009, MVP defeated Shelton Benjamin to regain the WWE United States Title
– At SummerSlam 2009, MVP defeated Jack Swagger
– At Survivor Series 2009, Team Kingston (Kofi Kingston, Christian, Mark Henry, MVP & R-Truth) defeated Team Orton (Randy Orton, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase & William Regal)
– At Survivor Series 2010, Team Mysterio (Rey Mysterio, The Big Show, Kofi Kingston, MVP & Chris Masters) defeated Team Del Rio (Alberto Del Rio, Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, Drew McIntyre & Tyler Reks)
– On December 2, 2010, MVP was granted a release from his WWE contract
– On May 15, 2011, MVP defeated Toru Yano in the final of a tournament to become the first IWGP Intercontinental Champion
– In June 2011, Assad released his first single, titled ‘Holla to the World’. The video, released in October, featured Carlito & Hernandez
– On June 18, 2011, MVP defeated Toru Yano to retain the IWGP Intercontinental Title
– On July 18, 2011, MVP again defeated Toru Yano to retain the IWGP Intercontinental Title
– In October 2011, Assad competed in the first season of Wrestling Retribution Project (WRP) as ‘Lord of War’
– At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom VI, MVP & Shelton Benjamin defeated Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi
– On the January 30, 2014 edition of Impact Wrestling, MVP was revealed as the mystery investor in TNA
– At NJPW Dominion ’12, MVP & Benjamin defeated Karl Anderson & Tama Tonga
– At NJPW Evolution ’12, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, Manabu Nakanishi & Strong Man defeated Takashi Iizuka, Toru Yano, Masato Tanaka & Yujiro Takahashi by DQ. This was MVP’s last match for NJPW
– At House of Hardcore 2, MVP defeated Sami Callihan
– At House of Hardcore 3, MVP defeated Big XLG
– On the January 30, 2014 edition of Impact Wrestling, MVP was revealed as the mystery investor in TNA
– In his first TNA match a week later, MVP defeated Rockstar Spud
– At Lockdown ’14, Team MVP (MVP, Willow, Davey Richards & Eddie Edwards) defeated Team Dixie (Bobby Roode, Austin Aries, Jessie Godderz & Robbie E) in a Lethal Lockdown Match to gain control of TNA
– At One Night Only: Rivals, MVP & Kenny King defeated Bobby Roode & Eric Young
– At Bound For Glory ’14, MVP defeated KAZMA
– In January 2015, MVP formed The Beatdown Clan alongside Kenny King, Low Ki, Samoa Joe and later, Eric Young
– In July 2015, MVP and TNA parted ways
– At House of Hardcore XVI, MVP defeated Moose
– On October 14, 2016, MVP defeated Jody Kristofferson to win the APW Universal Title
– On November 11, MVP defeated Jeff Cobb to retain the APW Universal Title
– At House of Hardcore XXV, MVP defeated Bull James
– At House of Hardcore 27, in Brisbane, Australia, MVP defeated Bull James
– At House of Hardcore 28, in Sydney, Australia, MVP defeated Matt Cross
– At House of Hardcore 29, in Bassendean, Australia, MVP defeated Jack Swagger
– At House of Hardcore 30, in Burwood East, Australia, MVP defeated Jack Swagger & Tommy Dreamer
– At House of Hardcore 31, in Morphettville, Australia, MVP & Tommy Dreamer defeated The Spirit Squad (Kenny & Mikey)
– At House of Hardcore 32, MVP defeated Jake Hager & Tommy Dreamer in a Hardcore Match
– At House of Hardcore 33, MVP defeated Rhett Titus
– On October 21, 2017, MVP defeated Damion Windsor to win the IWR Heavyweight Title
– At House of Hardcore 35, MVP defeated Lance Anoa’i
– At House of Hardcore 36, MVP defeated Jay Bradley
– On January 20, 2018, MVP defeated Ethan Carter III to retain the IWR Heavyweight Title
– On February 25, MVP won a 20-Man Rumble Match to win the vacant BLW World Title
– At House of Hardcore 40, MVP defeated Carlito
– On May 13, MVP defeated Matt Riddle & Bram to retain the BLW World Title
– At House of Hardcore 51, MVP defeated Big Cass
– MVP was a surprise entrant in the 2020 Royal Rumble. A few weeks later, MVP was hired as a backstage producer, but would soon transition into an on-screen role
– In May 2020, MVP aligned with Bobby Lashley, forming the stable which would eventually become The Hurt Business
– In September 2021, MVP was written off screen with an injury, but would continue with his behind-the-scenes roles with WWE

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