Hassan “MVP” Assad brings his powerhouse presence to the stage to challenge misconceptions about masculinity. Drawing from his own journey from abuse to incarceration to stardom, he argues that seeking mental health support is a sign of strength, not weakness. Hassan Assad, known worldwide as Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), is an American professional wrestler, manager, and submission grappler. He is currently signed to AEW, managing The Hurt Syndicate, and is best known for his work with WWE and NJPW. A two-time WWE United States Champion, WWE Tag Team Champion (with Matt Hardy), and the inaugural IWGP Intercontinental Champion, MVP began wrestling in the early 2000s after training with Soulman Alex G and Norman Smiley. He debuted in WWE in 2006, where he held the U.S. Title for 343 days—the longest reign in SmackDown history. After stints in NJPW, TNA, and ROH, he returned to WWE in 2020 before joining AEW in 2024. Off the mat, MVP’s journey is one of resilience: tried as an adult at 16 for armed robbery and kidnapping, he served 9½ years of an 18½-year sentence. Today, he’s a respected veteran, motivational speaker, and social media influencer with over half a million followers. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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