Montel Vontavious Porter isn’t sugarcoating the truth about why some wrestlers never get to the top.
During a conversation on the Marking Out podcast, MVP explained why technical skill alone won’t get you anywhere in the wrestling business—and named names to prove it. Breaking down the industry from a business-first perspective, MVP said a lot of fans and even talent have the wrong idea about how success works.
“You have people that feel like, ‘Oh, well, I should be the champ.’ Yeah, but ain’t nobody buying tickets to see that, you know? No, you’re not selling any merch.”
He went even harder on the myth that great in-ring work should automatically earn someone a top spot.
“Just because you’re a good wrestler doesn’t mean that you should be the world champion. That’s not what it’s about.”
To drive it home, MVP used two of the biggest names in wrestling history—not to praise their in-ring skills, but to spotlight how charisma can carry a career.
“Hulk Hogan is a horrible wrestler… Ultimate Warrior, terrible wrestler… but the charisma, presence — they did just enough, just right, that people didn’t care about all that other stuff. ‘That’s my guy.’”
The conversation cut deep into the reality many wrestlers face: no matter how clean your moves are, if you don’t connect with the crowd in a way that makes them spend money, promoters won’t see you as a main-event player.
Whether you agree or not, MVP laid it out without filters. Charisma beats mat work, merch sales matter more than five-star matches, and in wrestling—being “good” just isn’t good enough.
Do you think MVP is right about what really earns a push in wrestling? Or should pure talent matter more than drawing power? Sound off in the comments and let us know where you stand.
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