MVP: Most Valuable Phony?
By Zack Zeigler
October 8, 2006
Montel Vontavious Porter was victorious in his first match as a SmackDown Superstar at No Mercy. But, the self proclaimed “greatest athlete on the planet” may not have lived up to the hype he created for himself by taking on Marty Garner as his first opponent. Who is Marty Garner? Exactly.
In arguably the most highly anticipated debut on SmackDown of any newcomer, MVP’s decision to compete against a virtual unknown who has defeated no reputable WWE Superstar on the active roster was a major letdown to WWE fans. SmackDown color commentator JBL stated it perfectly when he said MVP “overpromised and underdelivered.”
After holding out for months and putting General Manager Theodore Long through strenuous contract negotiations, MVP inked a deal to join SmackDown on Sept. 27. Throughout negotiations and even after the deal was signed, MVP used every opportunity to boast about his mat skills and how he’d transform the world of sports-entertainment.
As the crowd expressed their displeasure with disapproving chants, SmackDown announcer Michael Cole asked, “all this contractual stuff, the back and forth, the loudmouth talking and this is what we get?”
On the final edition of SmackDown leading into the pay-per-view, MVP bragged that “history will be made at No Mercy; every time I step into the ring history will be made.”
Unfortunately for MVP, history will remember his first match as an enormous disappointment. While he may have beaten Marty Garner and left 1-0, MVP proved he can obviously talk the talk, but, perhaps, not walk the walk.
-wwe.com