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MVP still wrestling for those smiles

Prior to a visit to Peoria, WWE star addresses Chris Benoit, drugs, the Rock and Richard Pryor

PEORIA - Montel Vontavious Porter, know by World Wrestling Entertainment fans as MVP, faced plenty of challenges during his first year with the company, but perhaps none were as big as dealing with the tragic death of Chris Benoit.

"We had a lot in common and he took me under his wing," MVP said recently about Benoit, whom he defeated May 20 to win the United States Championship title.

On June 25, a little over a month after the championship, Benoit, his wife Nancy and their 7-year-old son were found dead at their Georgia home. An investigation showed Benoit, a former World Heavyweight Champion with WWE, murdered his wife and son before hanging himself in a bizarre incident that garnered national media attention.

It also sent shock waves through the WWE locker room where Benoit had been respected by many of his peers, including MVP.

"We have to get through this," said MVP, who began wrestling with WWE's Smackdown brand about one year ago and has gone on to become its U.S. Champion and one of its tag team champions. "It's an absolute horror and travesty but an anomaly. We have to show those who are watching that we will continue to put smiles on people's faces and move forward."

MVP hopes many wrestling fans leave Peoria Civic Center's Carver Arena with smiles on their faces after WWE's "Smackdown/ECW Live!" event at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. The card, which is subject to change, features Rey Mysterio & The Undertaker vs. The Great Khali & Mark Heny, Kane vs. Finlay and MVP defending his U.S. championship against Matt Hardy, who happens to be his tag team partner.

"Matt Hardy, before teaming with me, was a seven-time World Tag Team champion," said MVP, a wrestling heel (short for "bad guy.") "I made him an eight-time tag team champion."

The self-assured Miami native is already being compared by some to another South Florida native and former professional wrestling superstar turned movie star: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

"To be compared to the Rock ... he's one of the best who ever did it," MVP said. "It's my goal to eclipse him."

And eventually be a movie star?

"I'm better looking than him," MVP said.

One silver screen star and comedian MVP considers a "legend" is the late Richard Pryor. He said he can immediately identify Peoria's connection as Pryor's native city.

"The first time I was in Peoria, Illinois, I asked if there was some sort of small museum for Richard Pryor or (a marker) for his original birthplace and someone told me no, there was none of that,'" MVP said. "I was surprised with that because Richard Pryor was one of the biggest stars in comedy."

While MVP's best days as a WWE grappler probably are forthcoming, he recently won a battle against a heart condition called Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome.

The condition was caught during an examination MVP had through the WWE's wellness policy. That same policy has caught some national media criticism since Benoit's death after it was reported that dozens of professional wrestlers have died at a young age for a variety of reasons including heart ailments.

"I don't know about all of (those past incidences), but in more than a few cases, some of those individuals were using drugs," MVP said. "I'm not a drug user nor do I have other issues."

Today, MVP said WWE's superstars are more likely to ditch the drugs and alcohol for something more healthier.

"In the old days, after a match, there would be guys out drinking beers," he said. "Nowadays, it's guys taking protein or amino acids. Most of the athletes ... we are so much more into health and fitness."

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My sources tell me congratulations are in order for Jim Cornette who recently got married.

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My sources also tell me that 300,000 copies of the Tommy Boy album (Universal Republic) sold with 7 of Jimmy Hart's songs on the album, and there were no music royalties given..  I do believe that was produced by Eric Bischoff and Jason Hervey Entertainment.  I smell a possible law suit here.

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