Getting Over 12.04.06: Monty Brown (Part II)
Posted by Mike LaFave on 12.04.2006
Last time I left you with a cliffhanger…I’m such a prick! Come inside and find out how our story ends!
So I know everyone is just foaming at the mouth to find out where the story goes from where we left off part one. So with out any ado, here it is, part two of Getting Over Monty Brown
Getting Over Monty Brown Part Two :
No Way Out 2/18 - Tag Team Championship match, London/Kendrick vs. Brown/MVP. London and Kendrick use their obvious chemistry advantage from the sound of the bell and take command, using their speed and frequent tags. They appear to have their foes out classed, when London misses a missal drop kick attempt from the top rope. Monty and MVP cut off the ring and isolate London, using an array of power moves to gain near-falls on the champ. London gets close to his corner several times before the two bigger men use double team tactics to cut him off. MVP sends London into the turnbuckle and charges after him. London rolls out of the way and MVP rams into the corner. London crawls over to his partner and is able to make the hot tag. Kendrick flies into the ring with drop kicks for both of his opponents. Kendrick is firing on all cylinders! All the momentum ends when Super Bowl Monty Brown nails him with a clothesline, causing Kendrick to do a 360 in the air before landing with a thud on the mat. MVP then goes to work on Kendrick while London lies on the canvas, still recovering. Kendrick is able to mount a comeback and has MVP reeling. Brown notices that they are about to let the match slip away, so he enters the ring and runs full speed at Kendrick, only for Brian to move out of the way, causing Brown to Sack his own partner! London hops up and clotheslines himself and Brown out of the ring. Kendrick covers MVP and regains the tag team championship!
SmackDown! 2/23 - In an effort to mend fences, MVP and Super Bowl Monty Brown take on Scotty Too Hotty and Funaki. The match is a cake-walk for Porter and Brown as their size advantage is too much for the smaller team to overcome. Brown Sacks Funaki and sets him up for a Touch Down. Just when Brown lifts his opponent into the air, MVP slams a steel chair into his back! Funaki falls directly on top of Brown and the ref counts the pin fall. MVP walks backwards down the ramp, smiling all the way to the back.
SmackDown! 3/02 - When we return from the first commercial, MVP is in the ring sitting in front of a desk. Surrounding him are camera men and reporters. "Welcome ladies and Gentleman to my press conference. All the talk this past week has focused on Montel Vontavious Porter. I have a statement to make, and then at the end I will open the floor to questions. The question I'm sure is on all your minds is, why? Why did I turn my back on my teammate Super Bowl Monty Brown? It's an easy answer. I'm sure everyone has heard the old saying, there is no ‘I' in team. Well let me tell you this, there IS one in Champion! And that's what MVP is, a champion. Monty Brown has me to thank for even being in the WWE. And how does he repay me, by steeling my spotlight! Let me tell you this, Montel Vontavious Porter is such a star that there is no room for me to share the spotlight. Monty wanted the glory and what's worse is he doesn't deserve it. I'd be a double champion right now if he would have just stayed in the corner and let me handle business at No Way Out. But no, Monty decided he wanted to be the hero. He wanted to be the Quarterback who leads him team to a fourth quarter comeback. Monty, since you've been on SmackDown!, you've talked me into signing FREE autographs for the fans, MVP doesn't sign autographs with out a fee! You've stolen my spotlight; MVP needs all the spotlights this company has to offer. And the biggest penalty you made was costing me a championship. For that penalty you were cut from the team! That being said I would now like to field any and all questions. You, over there, the fat guy with the bad comb over, what can I answer for you"? Before the question is asked, we see Super Bowl Monty Brown hit the ring and sack MVP while he's still sitting in his chair. Monty begins to rain punches down on MVP's face. He picks him up and delivers a Touch Down to MVP through the press conference table as we cut to commercial.
SmackDown! 3/09 - Teddy Long has set up a non title match between MVP and Monty Brown. Monty dominates the action from the opening bell. Brown is a step ahead of MVP in every move he makes. Monty Brown hits a series of power moves that result in near falls. Super Bowl Monty Brown charges in to Sack MVP, but Porter is able to roll out of the ring just in time. The ref begins to count MVP on the outside while Brown stomps back and forth, calling for MVP to come back into the ring. At the counts of 7, MVP turns around and walks to the back, making Super Bowl Monty Brown the winner by count-out.
Smackdown! 3/16 - Due to MVP's actions the previous week, SmackDown! General Manager Teddy Long sets up a return match between Porter and Brown, only this time the U.S. Title will be on the line. Monty again dominates the action from the beginning. MVP tries to walk out a few times, only for Monty to chase him and return him to the ring. When it is apparent that he can not leave the match, MVP acts as a field goal kicker and sends Monty's family jewels through the uprights! The ref witnessed the cowardly act and rightfully disqualifies MVP.
SmackDown! 3/23 - "Ya know it's the Mack-Militant…" fills the arena and Teddy Long heads out from the back. "Ya know, as the General Manager of SmackDown!, I am the one who agrees on the terms of how much each SuperStar makes. Most of you will probably remember back to my contract negotiations with Montel Vontavious Porter. In the end, I signed him to the richest contract in SmackDown! history. Now, I may not have always got along with Mr. Porter, but he had been delivering, making me believe that I made the right decision. He even went on to become the United States champion, which confirmed that fact playas. But what we've seen from the MVP the past few weeks has made me question it again. Now, as General Manager of this great brand, I can not have unanswered questions lying around, ya feel me? So here's what I'm gonna do. At WrestleMania 23, it will be, Montel Vontavious Porter defending his U.S. title, against Super Bowl Monty Brown! But to make sure MVP's game plan doesn't include getting himself counted out or disqualified, I am adding a stipulation to the match. In the United States Championship match between Montel Vontavious Porter and Super Bowl Monty Brown at WrestleMania 23, it will be a pin fall only match! That's right MVP, the only way for either man to win this match and the U.S. Championship will be to pin his opponent's shoulders to the mat for a three-count! Now I know you feel that playas! Holla, holla holla"! When we come back from break, JBL informs the audience that Teddy Long has made a 6-Man Tag match for the main event tonight. On one team it's MVP, Finlay and Kennedy, and on the other, it's the World Champion Batista, Chris Benoit and Super Bowl Monty Brown!
Through out the 6-Man Tag match, MVP avoids Monty Brown, making quick tags whenever Brown enters the ring and often refusing tags if it means facing off against him. Monty becomes frustrated with MVP's antics and chases him around the ring. When he turns one of the corners on the outside he is met with a surprise clothesline from Finlay. The Fighting Irishman and MVP scoop Brown up and ram him head first into the steel post then roll him lifeless into the ring. Kennedy sees his opportunity and hits a Kenton Bomb, picking up the victory for his team
SmackDown! 3/30 - The show opens with Super Bowl Monty Brown already in the ring, franticly pacing back and forth with a mic in his hand. "I have remained quiet for far too long. No longer will I be silent but deadly, from now on, you're going to hear Monty Brown coming before he tackles your ass to the ground! MVP, you pulled an eggs Benedict Arnold on me, and I have to admit, I must not have scouted you very well, because I didn't see it coming. But at WrestleMania 23, you'll see Super Bowl Monty Brown coming, and you won't be able to do anything to stop me! You claim to be the most valuable player on the SmackDown! roster, but I got news for you; I think MVP stands for ‘mind vacant person', as you must be without a brain to mess with me. At WrestleMania 23, Super Bowl Monty Brown become the most valuable player of the Super Bowl of wrestling and in the process, I take your title! MVP, you're on the tracks and the train is coming through…PERIOD!" Monty's music hits and he walks to the back and through the curtain. Then we see him fall back out of the curtain and to the floor. MVP walks out yielding a steel chair in hand. He repeatedly bashes the chair into Brown's head leaving him in a pool of his own blood!
Later in the program a clip is aired in the style of NFL Films, complete with the voice over and dramatic music. The piece chronicles the history of MVP and Monty leading up to their match on the grandest stage of them all, WrestleMania!
WrestleMania 23 4/01 - Super Bowl Monty Brown vs. MVP for the U.S. Title, no disqualifications, no count outs. The match starts with Monty Brown licking his chops at the idea of finally getting his hand on MVP. Porter circles Brown and fakes a charge a few times. MVP continues to stall as the crowd boos him. His stalling does work however, as a frustrated Monty rushes after MVP only for MVP to hit a knee lift into Brown's face. MVP works over Monty for a few minutes before Brown is able to make his comeback. The fight spills out to the floor and Brown press slams MVP into the steel post. Super Bowl Monty Brown doesn't let up, he hits MVP with everything he can find, steel chairs, television monitors, even chokes him with a cable. Brown tosses MVP back into the ring and goes for a cover, but is only able to pick up a two-count. MVP nails Brown with a low-blow and starts to regain the advantage. At the eight minute mark, MVP has control and rolls out of the ring and return with the ring bell. When he re-enters, to his surprise, he is met with a thunderous Sack, knocking him back out of the ring. Monty takes a few seconds to recover, before going out to retrieve MVP. When they get back to the ring they exchange blows, with Monty getting the better end of the bargain. Monty goes all out, hitting a series of power moves before setting up for his second Sack of the night. Just as he is about to run at MVP he is tripped up by an unidentified man. The man enters the ring and joins MVP in beating down Brown. The man removes a mask and it turns out to be Big Vito, out of drag! Michael Cole can't understand why the fun-loving Vito would join forces with a bully like MVP, but JBL infers it most be about the money. Vito nails Brown with a kiss of death (swinging implant DDT), knocking Super Bowl Monty Brown unconscious. MVP then casually lies on top of Monty and is able to retain his United States Championship!
Over the Top :
From there, it would be reviled that MVP did spend some of the money from his record breaking contract to hire Vito as a mercenary, dubbing Big Vito as his "muscle." This sets up a feud between Brown and Big Vito, with the pay-off coming on May 20th at Judgment Day when Super Bowl Monty Brown goes over Vito. While Brown is fighting Vito, MVP is free to take on other challengers for his United States Championship. MVP will remain U.S. Champ until Monty finally gets his rematch on July 22nd at The Great American Bash. At the Bash, Super Bowl Monty Brown will claim his first ever WWE title! All this would set up a rematch the following month at SummerSlam, how that turns out…you decide. But either way, the formula I've laid out introduces Monty Brown to the WWE with a strong, almost nine month program.
One of the things I wanted to do when booking Monty Brown was drop the persona TNA gave him. I dislike the "Alpha Male" tagline, and I don't understand the point of billing a man, who was born and raised in Detroit and played professional football in Buffalo and New England, as from the Serengeti. Often in the wrestling business the best character for a wrestler to play is one that is simply and off-shot of themselves. With a SuperStar like Monty Brown, it becomes even more essential because he has great history and credentials to play off of, which may be his best asset.
I have to be honest and say I'm no Monty Brown fan. His promos are spotty. When he's on they are good, when he's off they are reminiscent of the Ultimate Warrior's ramblings. And when he shrieks "Poooounce," it actually evokes a physical reaction from me, and I don't mean that in a good way. In the ring he's an average big man. I don't see Monty Brown having potential to be anything more than a secondary champ, at best, and that's only with a solid build up and a long running program. Luckily for Monty, that's exactly what I just wrote.
Over There:
Everyone who has read me in the past should be able to tell I'm somewhat of a mark. I also tend to be a bit of a WWE homer. But like I said in my debut column, when I see something I dislike going on in the E, I'll say it. And folks, I see something wrong…
There are two men in the WWE who have the potential to be tremendous main event stars, but are lucky to even get air time on Raw. These two men have shown us glimpses of greatness both in terms of character and ring work, but haven't been given the opportunity to show us they can deliver the goods on a weekly basis. I'm talking about a man I've already wrote a GO for, Shelton Benjamin and my personal favorite current WWE SuperStar, Carlito.
Benjamin has all the tools to be one of the greats. Some question his mic work and that's a fair inquiry. He has proved, in short doses, that he can be adequate on the stick. But some people confuse playing a character with promo ability. Those are two separate skills that when put together can help get a bad in-ring wrestler over, not to mention what it can do for someone who brings the goods to the ring. Shelton still does need to develop his mic skills, like I said, he's shown promise but it's not there yet. While he develops that talent, a simple solution would be to toss an Arn Anderson, Ric Flair or even Armando Alejandro Estrada in his corner.
The point is the same, Shelton could be a main event SuperStar, but instead he goes weeks without even making an appearance on Raw. Why? Every time they look like they are giving him a push, it gets put on the back burner. When he was drafted to Raw, it looked like he was getting a push. After his amazing Raw match against HBK it looked as if he would get a push. Even the lack-luster Mamma Benjamin angel made it appear as if he was getting a push. And when he stole the show in both Money in the Bank Ladder matches (sorry RVD fans, but it's true) it looked as if he would get a push. But each of these events was met with the same result…nothing. Why? I don't understand why someone with so much potential and ability gets so little air time. Someone please explain this tragedy to me.
All that being said, Shelton Benjamin's non-push is nothing compared to the crimes that are being committed to the apple spitting Puerto Rican. Lex Lugar, eat your heart out buddy, the Cool One is the true total package. Carlito can cut a promo better than 90% of the roster, he plays his character to perfection, was receiving big pops even as a heel, sells a ton of merchandise (look around the crowd either on television or at a live event, you'll spot out countless Carlito shirts and wigs) and best of all he is gold in the ring. He has the basic ring psychology down and tells a story in the ring with the best of them, despite his young age. He also adds an aerial move set second to none and creativity that aspiring writers and artists could only dream of having. So where does having it all get him? In a rehash Chris Masters feud that gets little to no air time.
Carlito was getting a decent push back in his SmackDown! days, then hit a bit of a snag when he was moved to Raw. It didn't take him long however to get past that bump in the road, as he had an amazing Road to WrestleMania 22. He was the star of the Elimination Chamber match at New Year's Revolution, had a strong showing in the Royal Rumble and was excellent when he announced the Money in the Bank Ladder match WHILE squashing a jobber. So he doesn't actually make it into the match. Fine, he's got a history with Masters and they are going to challenge for the tag team championships at Mania, I can live with that. So they don't actually win the match and are beaten pretty quickly. Fine, it looks as thought they are setting up Carlito to turn on Masters, so I can live with that. Then after he goes over Masters, Carlito goes…nowhere? How can that be, the man was on a roll! Fast forward a bit and Carlito is flirting with Trish Stratus and taking part in a mini-feud with Edge. Things are looking good for Carlito right? Wrong! It all turns out to be a tease, as the mini-feud goes nowhere and as soon as Trish retires, Lito is put right back on the shelf. Now they are bringing the Masters feud out of the storage unit. This time with a poor-man's Trish by his side. This is a man who should win the Money in the Bank Ladder Match at Mania this year and go one to become the WWE Champion at SummerSlam. At this rate Carlito would be lucky to be wrestling the Brooklyn Brawler at SummerSlam, with Me Young by his side. Has anyone seen Cryme Tyme lately, because a felony is being committed!
Over and Out:
Alright guys, hope you enjoyed the Monty Brown story and my little rant. I've honestly missed writing the column and more than that the feedback that went along with it. I'll be off for another couple weeks, but when the semester is over I'll be back in action. Until then, keep the feedback coming, Over and Out!
