10 Wrestlers Who Never Lived Up To Their Early Promise
5. MVP
Montel Vontavious Porter, the adroitly acronym-ed MVP, was something of a welcome aberration during his WWE run: a non-white character who wasn't a degradation, and whose act mainlined into the wider mainstream consciousness with his astute approximation of an elite, money-hungry athlete.
After an inauspicious start, MVP grew into an in-ring flow following a quietly excellent series with Chris Benoit. Gripping midcard feuds would become his trademark; his series with Matt Hardy was the sort of storied and unpredictable programme sorely lacking in today's product.
His in-ring skills developed to such an extent that, following his requested WWE release, his acclaimed New Japan Pro Wrestling exploits compelled the legendary group to create the Intercontinental title for him.
From there, he stagnated somewhat. Unlike his gaijin peers Giant Bernard and Luke Gallows, Porter hit a glass ceiling and departed the East having not improved a great deal since he first shored up.
After a brief TNA run, he botched his Lucha Underground deal in record time by violating a non-disclosure agreement earlier this year. Rumours circulated that he would be drafted in by WWE to prop up their split roster, but he hasn't materialised as yet.
If past form is any indication, he would, in 2016, he'd be staring at the lights more than he'd be basking in them.