World Wrestling Entertainment has many superstars, but only one man can call himself the MVP.
Montel Vontavious Porter, that is.
One of the WWE's most popular "heels" (or villains, for the uninitiated), the brash, cocky MVP, 34, will be among the wrestlers taking to the ring Sunday when the WWE comes to the Pensacola Civic Center.
A Florida native, MVP (real name Alvin Burke Jr.) says he's looking forward to returning to his home state for Sunday's show. "Florida's my home state, so anytime I get the chance to come to Florida it's a bit of a homecoming," he said.
The WWE just went through its draft, which saw many wrestlers switch divisions between its two main groups, Smackdown and Raw. When MVP spoke to the News Journal over the phone (while having his hair braided), the card for Sunday's match hadn't even been finalized. In this interview, he talks about the impact of the draft and his career in the WWE.
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Q: Aside from your name, what do you think makes you an MVP for the WWE?
A: The fact that I'm the most valuable performer. When neccesary, I'm the most vicious predator. There's nobody better than me.
Q: How did the draft change the face of the game?
A: We have an excellent lineup (for Smackdown). We lost Batista, but gained Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Kennedy. Our lineup is stronger than ever. We added an icon of the industry and some of the hottest people in the game — behind me, of course.
It's been interesting to see how people have moved around. I think this put serious equity in the draft overall.
Q: What new challenges are ahead as a result of the draft?
A: New challenges for me ... my challenge is the same. I'm still the longest reigning United States Champion in the history of the WWE. When I relinquished my vice-like grip on the title, it was with the intention of becoming a world champion. With the addition of the new stars, it makes my job more interesting. But I'm half-man, half-amazing, so I will always rise to the top.
Q: I understand because of the draft, you may not yet know who you'll face in Pensacola. Does that make you nervous?
A: Never. I always say, when people are nervous, that comes from a lack of confidence. I'm very confident. The ring is my office, and I know my way around my office. I'm always prepared to conduct business in my office. But I will say this: For the fans of Pensacola, while there is no card yet, you will have some of the most entertaining icons of the business in the building. I guarantee some serious star power and one hell of a show. Not to mention that with these new additions, you'll have some brand new match-ups you've never seen before. The people in Pensacola will be among the first to see these new match-ups, That's a treat in and of itself.
I'm looking forward to crossing swords with Jeff Hardy, Triple H and possibly Mr. Kennedy, even.
Q: Jeff Hardy is the brother of your former tag-team partner, Matt. What happened to drive a wedge between the two of you?
A: Matt just wasn't holding up his end of the bargain. I had to carry that tag team. Matt was more concerned with stealing my championship, and I had to deal with that swiftly and aggressively.
Q: Now that Jeff is in your group, will your rivalry with his brother carry over?
A: I want to say Jeff is inconsequential, but I'd be lying. Jeff is a huge superstar and I know he's not going to sit on the sidelines. I'm sure Jeff and I will have problems because I'm certain he wants the same title I do. If he gets in my way, he'll receive the same treatment his brother did.
Q: Is there anyone else you're itching to beat down?
A: Well, you know, I look at it like this: As of right now, Edge is world champion. I want a title shot, and I don't care who is holding that title. I want to be world heavyweight champion. So does Triple-H, and he usually gets what he wants. I don't know what is going to happen. "Night of Champions" is coming up, and Edge and Triple-H are going to have to put their championships on the line. Whatever the case, I want to be the world champion.
Q: Who has given you the greatest challenge in the ring, and why?
A: I've given myself the greatest challenge, because I always expect bigger things of myself. I'm in the WWE, and we are the best of the best. The people I've faced have been icons and legends. All of these individuals have left a long lasting impression on the industry. So whenever I'm in the ring, I'm always facing a top-tier competitor. The challenge comes from within. It's not if I'm going to beat them, its how bad I'm going to beat them. I always say I'm perfection personified.
I want my name mentioned in the same breath with the icons of the industry. I'll do everything I have to to make that happen. That's my challenge, being the absolute best.
Q: Kane set you on fire once. Was that the toughest injury you've ever faced?
A: That was pretty rough. I've had several over the years. Being set on fire; in my indie days, I had my orbital cracked. You work through the sprains and breaks. Probably the most notable was the heart affliction I had (MVP was diagnosed with diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, an abnormal accessory pathway in the heart that cause an abnormal heart rhythm and increase the risk for a heart attack). But it's been corrected, and I'm back to my full ability. That never was a hindrance to me.
Q: Was dealing with the heart condition frightening?
A: It's interesting, because I had dealt with it before, the racing heartbeat. The first time it happened it was scary, but once I found out what it was ... the WWE doctors said it was possibly fatal. My own specialist said it probably wasn't fatal, but it was definitely uncomfortable.
It was a simple outpatient procedure, and within a few weeks, I was back in the ring.
I do want to say, it was the WWE wellness policy that detected it. A lot of people know that the wellness policy tests us for steroid use, but they don't know that all athletes are required to take cardio stress tests to prove we are healthy enough to do what we do. In my case, it found that I had a heart condition. So we erred on the side of caution. I don't think enough people know that about the WWE's wellness policy.
Q: So in a manner of speaking, the WWE saved your life.
A: It's quite possible they did. The wellness policy did.
Q: You've wrested some of the biggest names in the business. Do you ever find yourself feeling intimidated when you're facing a wresting legend like Ric Flair or the Undertaker?
A: Not intimidated. If anything, it's a reward. I'm honored when I stand in the ring and see the Undertaker across from me, or find myself locked in a figure-four with Ric Flair. When I find myself across from an icon, I'm not intimidated, I feel like I'm being rewarded for hard work and dedication.
Q: Speaking of icons, you recently got a chance to interview a cinematic icon, Sylvester Stallone. What was that like?
A: That was real cool. Sly Stallone is somebody I literally grew up watching. He was an innovator as a modern action hero. He was huge, and interviewing him, he was a great interview, tremendously likable and talkative. It was more than an interview, it was a great conversation.
I have to add, I asked him who would win in a fight between MVP and Rocky, and he said MVP would make quick work of Rocky, and quicker work of Apollo Creed.
Q: A lot of WWE wrestlers have followed in Stallone's footsteps by becoming action film stars. Is that a path you hope to follow?
A: It's something I'm definitely open to. The WWE's film division has embarked on an ambitious schedule to put out four direct-to-DVD releases and two theatrical releases annually. With that ambitious goal, it gives the opportunity to all of the stars with acting abilities.
I'm excited. I recently read for a part, and I did exceptionally well. I got really good feedback.
I have every intention of branching out, but the WWE is my passion, so leaving the WWE to become a full-time actor, that's not something I'm looking at right now. Before I can pursue that as a full-time goal, I have a number of goals I want to achieve as a wrestler.
Q: Is it hard being thought of as a heel?
A: No, not at all, because I enjoy being a heel. I get a kick out of it. I look at it like this: To be a good heel, it's a task. Everybody wants to be cheered, most people can't handle being booed. I look at Edge, and he's one of the best heels of the modern era, and I enjoy watching him work and draw the ire of the fans. When you can get 18,000 people booing so loud that they drown you out on the microphone, you're doing something great. People forget that Hulk Hogan wouldn't exist without Rowdy Roddy Piper. What would Batman be without the Joker? What would Superman be without Lex Luthor?
Q: With that in mind, who is the Batman to your Joker?
A: Recently, I guess it would be Battista. He and I, we have unfinished business. But there are a number of super-heroes, and as a super-villain, I've got my sights set on them all, and they will all fall before the mighty MVP.
Montel Vontavious Porter, that is.
One of the WWE's most popular "heels" (or villains, for the uninitiated), the brash, cocky MVP, 34, will be among the wrestlers taking to the ring Sunday when the WWE comes to the Pensacola Civic Center.
A Florida native, MVP (real name Alvin Burke Jr.) says he's looking forward to returning to his home state for Sunday's show. "Florida's my home state, so anytime I get the chance to come to Florida it's a bit of a homecoming," he said.
The WWE just went through its draft, which saw many wrestlers switch divisions between its two main groups, Smackdown and Raw. When MVP spoke to the News Journal over the phone (while having his hair braided), the card for Sunday's match hadn't even been finalized. In this interview, he talks about the impact of the draft and his career in the WWE.
•
Q: Aside from your name, what do you think makes you an MVP for the WWE?
A: The fact that I'm the most valuable performer. When neccesary, I'm the most vicious predator. There's nobody better than me.
Q: How did the draft change the face of the game?
A: We have an excellent lineup (for Smackdown). We lost Batista, but gained Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Kennedy. Our lineup is stronger than ever. We added an icon of the industry and some of the hottest people in the game — behind me, of course.
It's been interesting to see how people have moved around. I think this put serious equity in the draft overall.
Q: What new challenges are ahead as a result of the draft?
A: New challenges for me ... my challenge is the same. I'm still the longest reigning United States Champion in the history of the WWE. When I relinquished my vice-like grip on the title, it was with the intention of becoming a world champion. With the addition of the new stars, it makes my job more interesting. But I'm half-man, half-amazing, so I will always rise to the top.
Q: I understand because of the draft, you may not yet know who you'll face in Pensacola. Does that make you nervous?
A: Never. I always say, when people are nervous, that comes from a lack of confidence. I'm very confident. The ring is my office, and I know my way around my office. I'm always prepared to conduct business in my office. But I will say this: For the fans of Pensacola, while there is no card yet, you will have some of the most entertaining icons of the business in the building. I guarantee some serious star power and one hell of a show. Not to mention that with these new additions, you'll have some brand new match-ups you've never seen before. The people in Pensacola will be among the first to see these new match-ups, That's a treat in and of itself.
I'm looking forward to crossing swords with Jeff Hardy, Triple H and possibly Mr. Kennedy, even.
Q: Jeff Hardy is the brother of your former tag-team partner, Matt. What happened to drive a wedge between the two of you?
A: Matt just wasn't holding up his end of the bargain. I had to carry that tag team. Matt was more concerned with stealing my championship, and I had to deal with that swiftly and aggressively.
Q: Now that Jeff is in your group, will your rivalry with his brother carry over?
A: I want to say Jeff is inconsequential, but I'd be lying. Jeff is a huge superstar and I know he's not going to sit on the sidelines. I'm sure Jeff and I will have problems because I'm certain he wants the same title I do. If he gets in my way, he'll receive the same treatment his brother did.
Q: Is there anyone else you're itching to beat down?
A: Well, you know, I look at it like this: As of right now, Edge is world champion. I want a title shot, and I don't care who is holding that title. I want to be world heavyweight champion. So does Triple-H, and he usually gets what he wants. I don't know what is going to happen. "Night of Champions" is coming up, and Edge and Triple-H are going to have to put their championships on the line. Whatever the case, I want to be the world champion.
Q: Who has given you the greatest challenge in the ring, and why?
A: I've given myself the greatest challenge, because I always expect bigger things of myself. I'm in the WWE, and we are the best of the best. The people I've faced have been icons and legends. All of these individuals have left a long lasting impression on the industry. So whenever I'm in the ring, I'm always facing a top-tier competitor. The challenge comes from within. It's not if I'm going to beat them, its how bad I'm going to beat them. I always say I'm perfection personified.
I want my name mentioned in the same breath with the icons of the industry. I'll do everything I have to to make that happen. That's my challenge, being the absolute best.
Q: Kane set you on fire once. Was that the toughest injury you've ever faced?
A: That was pretty rough. I've had several over the years. Being set on fire; in my indie days, I had my orbital cracked. You work through the sprains and breaks. Probably the most notable was the heart affliction I had (MVP was diagnosed with diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, an abnormal accessory pathway in the heart that cause an abnormal heart rhythm and increase the risk for a heart attack). But it's been corrected, and I'm back to my full ability. That never was a hindrance to me.
Q: Was dealing with the heart condition frightening?
A: It's interesting, because I had dealt with it before, the racing heartbeat. The first time it happened it was scary, but once I found out what it was ... the WWE doctors said it was possibly fatal. My own specialist said it probably wasn't fatal, but it was definitely uncomfortable.
It was a simple outpatient procedure, and within a few weeks, I was back in the ring.
I do want to say, it was the WWE wellness policy that detected it. A lot of people know that the wellness policy tests us for steroid use, but they don't know that all athletes are required to take cardio stress tests to prove we are healthy enough to do what we do. In my case, it found that I had a heart condition. So we erred on the side of caution. I don't think enough people know that about the WWE's wellness policy.
Q: So in a manner of speaking, the WWE saved your life.
A: It's quite possible they did. The wellness policy did.
Q: You've wrested some of the biggest names in the business. Do you ever find yourself feeling intimidated when you're facing a wresting legend like Ric Flair or the Undertaker?
A: Not intimidated. If anything, it's a reward. I'm honored when I stand in the ring and see the Undertaker across from me, or find myself locked in a figure-four with Ric Flair. When I find myself across from an icon, I'm not intimidated, I feel like I'm being rewarded for hard work and dedication.
Q: Speaking of icons, you recently got a chance to interview a cinematic icon, Sylvester Stallone. What was that like?
A: That was real cool. Sly Stallone is somebody I literally grew up watching. He was an innovator as a modern action hero. He was huge, and interviewing him, he was a great interview, tremendously likable and talkative. It was more than an interview, it was a great conversation.
I have to add, I asked him who would win in a fight between MVP and Rocky, and he said MVP would make quick work of Rocky, and quicker work of Apollo Creed.
Q: A lot of WWE wrestlers have followed in Stallone's footsteps by becoming action film stars. Is that a path you hope to follow?
A: It's something I'm definitely open to. The WWE's film division has embarked on an ambitious schedule to put out four direct-to-DVD releases and two theatrical releases annually. With that ambitious goal, it gives the opportunity to all of the stars with acting abilities.
I'm excited. I recently read for a part, and I did exceptionally well. I got really good feedback.
I have every intention of branching out, but the WWE is my passion, so leaving the WWE to become a full-time actor, that's not something I'm looking at right now. Before I can pursue that as a full-time goal, I have a number of goals I want to achieve as a wrestler.
Q: Is it hard being thought of as a heel?
A: No, not at all, because I enjoy being a heel. I get a kick out of it. I look at it like this: To be a good heel, it's a task. Everybody wants to be cheered, most people can't handle being booed. I look at Edge, and he's one of the best heels of the modern era, and I enjoy watching him work and draw the ire of the fans. When you can get 18,000 people booing so loud that they drown you out on the microphone, you're doing something great. People forget that Hulk Hogan wouldn't exist without Rowdy Roddy Piper. What would Batman be without the Joker? What would Superman be without Lex Luthor?
Q: With that in mind, who is the Batman to your Joker?
A: Recently, I guess it would be Battista. He and I, we have unfinished business. But there are a number of super-heroes, and as a super-villain, I've got my sights set on them all, and they will all fall before the mighty MVP.