Why Montez Ford is WWE's Next Breakout Star
WWE's influx of new blood in the last several months has effectively freshened up both Raw and SmackDown and several Superstars are being afforded an opportunity they weren't before to break through to the next level.
The call-ups of Roxanne Perez and Giulia from NXT have given the women's division a significant boost while former AEW world tag team champion Penta found his footing the day he debuted.
Even the recently returning Bronson Reed appears to be on the brink of main event greatness now he's aligned with Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman.
And Montez Ford must be WWE's next breakout star.
There's been nothing about his booking of late that would suggest the singles spotlight is in his immediate future, but that's exactly why he deserves to be in the conversation, especially as someone who is long overdue for a chance to show what he can do outside of the tag team ranks.
With the roster being as deep as it's been in ages, it won't be an easy feat for Ford to ascend to superstardom, but he has every tool necessary to excel on his own and is ready to establish himself as a hot commodity.
The Street Profits Have Run Their Course
1 of 6The Street Profits are unquestionably the greatest team to ever be called up from NXT.
With multiple reigns as Raw, SmackDown and WWE tag team champions to their name, the success they've attained speaks for itself, along with the connection they've formed with the fans and remaining a cohesive unit.
Having just regained gold for the first time in over four years and retaining the titles in an unforgettable TLC match in the main event of the post-WrestleMania SmackDown, there's nothing else for them to conquer as a team.
There aren't any fresh feuds left for them, and they've hit their ceiling with what they can accomplish in the division. If they eventually drop the belts to newcomers Fraxiom, they'll be right back to spinning their wheels and making sporadic appearances on WWE TV.
At this point in their respective careers, Ford and Angelo Dawkins are above that and should be showcased as singles stars for a change.
It isn't imperative that they formally break up and turn on each other, but having them go their separate ways while still being loosely aligned and teaming up occasionally would be best for both of them in the long run.
He's Made the Most of Every Singles Opportunity
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Perhaps what's most baffling about the booking of Ford in recent years is that, even during the Triple H regime of WWE, he's been given opportunities in singles competitions and made the most of every one, yet the follow-up has always been nonexistent.
The first of which came when he qualified for the United States Championship Elimination Chamber match at the 2023 installment of the same-titled event and had a stellar showing. He was then subjected to an inconsequential four-team tag match at WrestleMania 39.
He was also involved in a men's Money in the Bank qualifier that summer but came up short against LA Knight and was left out of the ladder match entirely.
The purpose of The Pride with him, Dawkins and Bobby Lashley should have ultimately been to elevate Ford, but that never materialized before The All Mighty got hurt the subsequent spring and later left the company.
WWE went so far as to document his ups and downs during this period and promote them as part of his Love & WWE reality series that dropped on Hulu in early 2024, only to let whatever buzz he had go to waste by doing nothing with him on television.
The Street Profits are such a strong tandem that WWE would rather stick with what works rather than risk them being worse off individually, but it won't know for sure until it tries.
Above-Average Abilities Across the Board
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As a tag team specialist, Ford's abilities are often overlooked and underestimated, but an assessment of his skills confirms he belongs at least in the midcard if not the main event mix with what he's capable of.
He is consistently a human highlight reel in many of his matches. The sensational spots he's pulled off over the course of his career must be seen to be believed, and they never cease to electrify an audience.
On the mic, he's one of the more dynamic performers on the roster in the sense that he can be entertaining and captivate a crowd but also be serious and straightforward when needed.
From a charisma standpoint, Ford is virtually unmatched and it's evident during all of his appearances. His energy can't be contained and gives him a certain presence that is usually exclusive to WWE's headliners.
He's proved to be the perfect ambassador for WWE thanks to his natural likeability and ability to do the media rounds required of top talent.
The multi-time tag team champ checks all the boxes of what WWE tends to look for in world championship-caliber competitors, making it all the more surprising that it hasn't already attempted to skyrocket him as a singles star.
He Can Excel as Both a Babyface and Heel
4 of 6Most main eventers in WWE can ideally portray a babyface and a heel exceptionally well, and Ford falls into the category of those who can pull off both roles.
The Profits have spent a vast majority of the last decade as faces, and from the moment they arrived on the NXT scene, they were instant fan favorites. That carried over to the main roster, leading them to winning the Raw Tag Team Championship in relatively short order.
Ford's awe-inspiring athleticism makes him easy to rally behind, but during his short-lived run with Bobby Lashley in The Pride, he showed signs of potential as a heel early on. WWE was eventually forced to turn the group back babyface because their cool factor made it impossible for fans to boo them.
The Profits resurfaced from a brief hiatus at the onset of 2025 as tweeners and exhibited more intensity than they ever had before. Although their updated attitudes have left some crowds confused as to how they should react, it's been a refreshing change of pace for the duo to develop their characters and test the waters as heels.
That can be applied to a solo run for Ford when the time calls for it.
Potential Pairing with Bianca Belair
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Regardless of whether he's positioned as a babyface or a heel, Ford has a ready-made pairing with his wife, Bianca Belair, waiting for him once he breaks out.
The two met shortly after joining WWE in 2016 and married in 2018. As seen on Love & WWE, their chemistry is off the charts, yet rarely have they been associated with each other on television.
On one hand, they have separate identities and have carved their respective paths to success. Their marriage has been acknowledged anytime they've teamed up for tag matches (which isn't as often as fans might think), but as an on-screen couple, they'd be tremendous together.
Both have reached a point where they'd truly benefit from being a part of the same storyline and possibly turning together. Belair, in particular, could use a heel turn soon and having Ford by her side would make her even more interesting.
Belair and Ford are a guaranteed main event act and should be booked as such imminently before any unforeseen circumstances prevent it from coming to fruition.
Time Still On His Side
6 of 6Shockingly, despite having spent almost an entire decade under the WWE banner between developmental and the main roster, Ford is only days away from his 35th birthday.
WWE has demonstrated that in this day and age, it's willing to push plenty of performers who are well into their 30s and early 40s, including for the first time.
It wasn't until after LA Knight turned 40 that the company finally capitalized on his momentum, not to mention Damian Priest winning the World Heavyweight Championship at 41.
Both late-stage pushes were warranted, and there's no reason to think Ford should be any exception being in his mid-30s.
That isn't to say WWE can afford to waste more time than it already has with Ford, though. He's been relegated to the tag team division far longer than necessary and it'd be a mistake not to try him out on his own while he's still in his physical prime.
Focusing on Ford may not be a priority for WWE brass at the moment, but the more noise he makes and the brighter he shines, his overwhelming momentum and groundswell of support among fans will become too much for the company to ignore.
Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.
