Antonio Banks

Biography: Banks entered professional wrestling in 2003. At the start of his career he wrestled in many different companys on the independent circuit, including Coastal Championship Wrestling and Xtreme Wrestling Alliance, winning the Heavyweight Championship in both promotions, and Ring of Honor. 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. 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 conract 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 jewellery while people were speaking to him. His (kayfabe) contract was officially signed during a segment on WWE.com uploaded on September 27, 2006.

MVP made his WWE wrestling debut at 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 Rangers. 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. His attire looks like a "Power Ranger" costume.
Mvp won his first WWE title May 22.
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