Wrestling star: Pacquiao-Mayweather or nothing

Even the former World Wrestling Entertainment superstars who visited the Philippines over the weekend can’t help but talk about the possibility of a match between Filipino world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Some go out on a limb and say that they have no interest in seeing Pacquiao get into the ring with any other opponent, past or future.

“That’s the only fight that matters,” declared former WWE United States, tag-team and Intercontinental champion MVP (for Montel Vontavious Porter) who flew out yesterday after taking part in “WWFX: World Wrestling Fan Experience” at the Smart Araneta Coliseum Saturday night. “There’s nobody else. That’s the only fight I want to see. I don’t want to see him fight anybody else.”

MVP came to the country with 13 other wrestling stars from the WWE and other international wrestling organizations. He joined former WWE Intercontinental champion, five-time WWE tag-team champion, and ECW champion John Hennigan (aka John Morrison), former WWE Intercontinental, United States, and tag-team champion Carlito, former WWE Cruiserweight champion Hurricane Helms, former ECW champion Rhino, former WWE contender Snitsky, three-time WWE Intercontinental champion Shelton Benjamin, three-time WWE women’s champion and two-time WWE Divas champion Melina and others. MVP, a big boxing fan, also boxed for years as part of his cross-training, and is friends with the American boxing icon. He expressed surprise at Pretty Boy Floyd’s erratic behavior towards Pacman.

“I’ve known Floyd for a while. He’s full of himself – and he can be,” the wrestler, born Alvin Burke Jr., said frankly. “He can back it up. He’s a great boxer. So when he said he wanted a drug test (for Pacquiao) on the day of (the fight), I don’t know where that came from.”

Some of the other professional wrestlers who were on the card wished they had had more time in the Philippines to enjoy more local hospitality, and wished they could have met Pacquiao. Before and after their matches, the performers were treated by former WWE wrestler Dr. Don Moore, now a practicing chiropractor in Quezon City and a friend of the organizers. MVP was on the co-main event.

“It looked like Pacquiao vs. Marquez, right?” MVP joked afterwards about his upset win over chiseled fellow heavyweight Chris Master (aka “The Masterpiece”) in the co-main event. In their match, the massive 6’6” Master looked like he had the upper hand, until 6’2” MVP caught him with a blindside kick to the head, knocking him out cold and getting him counted out.

The wrestler, now affiliated with New Japan Pro Wrestling, enters the ring in a long leather overcoat emblazoned with his logo (the silhouette of a basketball player posed in the trademark follow through position of a jump shot). MVP said he’s been an admirer of Pacquiao for years and respected his achievements against Miguel Cotto and other opponents. 

“That last fight was the only question mark for me,” said MVP, the IWGP’s first Intercontinental champion. “I can’t say that Manny won, but maybe a draw.”

The organizers of WWFX are studying how to make the event bigger and more streamlined for local fans. The matches began at 8:30 p.m. and ended at almost midnight. Still, hundreds of fans lined up for the photo-op and autograph signing for close to two hours after the match. The wrestlers themselves were overjoyed with the reception they received.

“This is great, thank you so much,” smiled the 6’9” Snitsky, a former WWE villain who gave the fans a treat, chasing Carlito all around the coliseum and even into the upper box section during their match.

The organizers, who also promote wrestling events in Japan and India, have been meeting to discuss the feasibility of their next event in the country, as the wrestlers hope they will stay longer next time and get to meet local celebrities like the boxing pride of the Philippines.