With a two decades-and-counting career in the professional wrestling business, one that’s spanned the world and given him runs at WWE, TNA, and AEW, Montell Vontavious Porter has seen things change for
Black wrestlers. He’s been openly joyful about the positive developments, and has called out some things that linger from wrestling’s more prejudiced past.
Our own Marcus Benjamin got a chance to speak to MVP for Andscape recently*, and asked for his current read on the state of the industry for Black talent. Porter’s answer specified some recent important milestones, and shared a goal his friend and Hurt Syndicate partner Bobby Lashley has him excited to be working towards:
“Bobby said something that I thought was really cool and changed my outlook on things a little bit: He wants to normalize Black champions in wrestling. That struck a chord with me because you don’t say ‘Michael Jordan is a six-time Black NBA champion.‘ You don’t say ‘Floyd Mayweather is a multi-time Black boxing champion.’
“And because for so long, there has been a dearth of Black champions in high positions in professional wrestling, it’s refreshing to see now — certainly in AEW — Swerve Strickland hold a title. And eventually, you will see Bobby hold the title. I’m sure Shelton [Benjamin] will hold a singles title; it feels good. Now, there’s still some work to do. There’s still a ways to go. But I’d love it if we could get to a place where we don’t have to talk about ‘Black’ wrestling champions because they’re so rare.“
It’s important to note that while MVP wants Black titleholders to become so commonplace it’s not worth singling them out, that’s not the same thing as “not seeing color”. Specifically, it’s important the world — and especially children of color — see minorities presented as successful, and as their authentic selves.
MVP and Marcus talked about what The Hurt Syndicate/Business means to the Black community. Porter said:
“I used to get DMs, and still do every now and then, of young Black men in suits saying they want to look like The Hurt Syndicate. One day, when I was getting measured for some suits, my son put on a little kid’s sport jacket and asked if I could start a Hurt Business Kids. It’s really inspiring when I see young men express that there’s somebody on television in the wrestling industry that they can aspire to be and who looks like them.
“Representation matters.”
Check out all of Marcus’ interview with MVP here.
* Just my guy’s latest byline at the ESPN-owned site. Hopefully you’re finding Marcus’ writing on culture, music, movies and television around the web…
