When Montel Vontavious Porter made his Royal Rumble appearance this past January, few realized that it would set a larger chain of events into motion. Granted, this was MVP’s first match in a WWE ring in roughly a decade. Keep in mind, though, that he was 46 years old at this time. Furthermore, in the Rumble, he was quickly dispatched by the dominant Brock Lesnar. On the surface, this was a one-and-done appearance. Little did fans know that this would spark a second opportunity for the wrestler self-proclaimed as “Half Man, Half Amazing.”
The year 2020 saw a number of WWE Superstars make their returns, some more surprising than others. From John Morrison making his way back to Friday Night SmackDown to the Edge emerging from retirement at the Royal Rumble, WWE hasn’t been short on surprises this year. However, one could argue that MVP has made the biggest return on investment. Given that he is, at his core, a businessman, this should come as no surprise. Without question, MVP has lived up to his name in 2020, hustling and performing at a high level in his second WWE run.
Montel Vontavious Porter Forms The Hurt Business
For the first couple of months, MVP’s presence in WWE could best be described as modest. He brought back his talk show, “The VIP Lounge,” prodding Royal Rumble winner Drew McIntyre. From there, MVP involved himself in the ongoing conflict between Lana and her storyline husband, Bobby Lashley. MVP wasn’t shy regarding his feelings on their marriage. To him, Lana was a leech, holding back Lashley, who MVP believed to be capable of much more.
This wasn’t the first of the dealings between Lashley and MVP. Roughly five years earlier, in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, they were part of the Beat Down Clan. In the BDC, Lashley won two of his four World Heavyweight Championships in the company. In theory, if anyone could set Lashley on the right path, it was MVP. Thus, Lashley separated from Lana, joining forces with MVP full-time. This would lead to the formation of The Hurt Business, arguably the most dominant faction of the year in WWE. Like any promising business, however, growth was the name of the game.
The Expansion of The Hurt Business
The next man to join The Hurt Business was Shelton Benjamin. Up until this point, “The Gold Standard” was down on his luck. Following a loss to Apollo Crews, Benjamin was given an offer by MVP. Before long, the same Benjamin that struggled to find success on TV became part of one of WWE’s prominent groups. During this time, Benjamin became a three-time 24/7 Champion. Despite the comedic nature of the belt, Benjamin was one of the title’s more formidable challengers, facing approaching wrestlers head-on as opposed to fleeing in fear. Under the supervision of MVP, Benjamin became more of a threat.
Always the savvy businessman, MVP understood that the future was integral to The Hurt Business. Enter Cedric Alexander, who had been at odds with MVP, Lashley, and Benjamin for several months. More often than not, Alexander found himself the victim of the group’s attacks. Nonetheless, MVP was particularly gracious to Alexander. He thought the former Cruiserweight Champion to be nothing more than a sidekick to the likes of Crews and Ricochet. Alexander was given a choice: cash in on an opportunity or fade into irrelevancy. In September, Alexander chose the former, abandoning his friends and becoming the newest member of The Hurt Business.
To say that MVP has created an empire would be an understatement. The group secured multiple championships and elevated its members. Lashley made the transformation from ill-tempered husband to undeniable powerhouse. Benjamin found himself out of catering and into fortune. Finally, Alexander enjoyed a boost of confidence and a surplus of success upon accepting MVP’s offer. Most recently, Benjamin and Alexander captured the RAW Tag Team Championship at WWE TLC. Simply put, when one joined MVP, they benefited. However, there’s much more to the story at hand.
MVP and Company Overtake RAW Underground
From early August to late September, WWE introduced a new initiative to shake up the formula of Monday Night RAW. Enter RAW Underground, a dingy fight club that attracted unknown combatants and established WWE Superstars alike. Whoever was hungry for competition would be welcome to try their hand. While many WWE Superstars saw this as a way to boost their stock, The Hurt Business viewed RAW Underground as an opportunity to expand.
On more than one occasion, The Hurt Business stormed RAW Underground, effectively overtaking the operation from Shane McMahon. Lashley had legitimate fighting experience under his belt, so the “All Mighty” one was more than apt at utilizing his power to dominate his opponents. Benjamin kept his offense low to the ground, implementing his amateur wrestling experience against less seasoned foes. Even MVP got in on the action, fighting dirty against anyone that approached him the wrong way.
RAW Underground was a short-lived experiment, to be certain. We may never know how far it would have gone if it had been approached differently from a creative standpoint. Whenever The Hurt Business showed up, though, the atmosphere changed. MVP led The Hurt Business into the proverbial lion’s den, asserting themselves as a group of alpha males. It’s unknown whether RAW Underground will return, but knowing MVP, it may be worth revisiting if there’s money to be made.
Bring the Hurt to Anarchy
This past summer, the WWE bore witness to the renegade group known as RETRIBUTION. Comprised of several Superstars with chips on their shoulders, their goal was simple: to dismantle the company. This was done by causing damage to the backstage area and attacking anyone in sight. While The Hurt Business was involved with Ricochet, Crews, and other on-screen babyfaces, RETRIBUTION continued to wreak havoc. This was when The Hurt Business stepped in.
Rewind to the September 14, 2020 episode of RAW. RETRIBUTION stormed the ring, throwing the main event with McIntyre and Keith Lee into disarray. This prompted the entrance of The Hurt Business, the group marching to the ring to confront RETRIBUTION. This set off a brawl, showing that while MVP, Lashley, Benjamin, and Alexander were far from heroes, they wouldn’t back down from a faction seen as a common enemy. At least on a temporary basis, The Hurt Business were on the same side as the Superstars, including the ones they were at odds with.
Much can be said about RETRIBUTION since their debut in the summer, from their general appearance to their ongoing development. However, if one positive can be taken from this, it’s that it added nuance to The Hurt Business. While both factions consisted of heels, they weren’t cordial to one another. The Hurt Business saw Monday Night RAW as their territory, which RETRIBUTION threatened. Though different battles with RETRIBUTION, The Hurt Business’ stock rose, MVP leading the charge all the while.
Montel Vontavious Porter in 2021
With 2020 nearly in the books, what’s next for the “Ballin’” WWE Superstar? The Founding Member of The Hurt Business, MVP, has taken what was a one-off Royal Rumble appearance and successfully transitioned it into a second WWE run. The true value of MVP in 2020 has been his ability to take others and elevate them. Lashley, Benjamin, and Alexander are prime examples of MVP and the positive influence he has. No matter where 2021 takes Montel Vontavious Porter, the WWE Universe would be wise to go along for the ride.
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