The Spotlight: The Alpha Male Monty Brown

Joe King

Before he became one of TNA Wrestling’s most explosive stars, Monty Brown had already experienced something very few professional wrestlers ever could—he had played on football’s biggest stage.

Born April 13, 1970, in Saginaw, Michigan, Brown established himself as a talented football player at Ferris State University, where his athletic ability and physical style helped put him on the NFL radar. Brown entered the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and became part of one of the most memorable teams in franchise history. He was on the Bills’ roster for Super Bowl XXVII, played on January 31, 1993, against the Dallas Cowboys. Although Dallas defeated Buffalo 52–17, Brown could forever say that he had been part of a Super Bowl team—a remarkable accomplishment that would later become an important part of his wrestling persona and story.

After his football career, Brown made the transition into professional wrestling. He received wrestling training from two legitimate wrestling legends, Dan Severn and Sabu. That combination helped give Brown a unique foundation: the athleticism of a former professional football player combined with experience learned from two very different but highly respected wrestlers. Brown eventually found his biggest opportunity with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

In TNA, Monty Brown became known as “The Alpha Male.” With his imposing physique, incredible explosiveness and intense personality, Brown quickly became one of the company’s most recognizable wrestlers. His greatest weapon was his devastating signature maneuver: The Pounce. Brown would explode across the ring and drive his opponent into the mat with tremendous force. The move perfectly represented his character—powerful, fast and completely unexpected.

During his time in TNA, Brown became a major part of the company’s early main-event scene and worked with some of the biggest names of the era. He shared the ring with stars including Jeff Jarrett, A.J. Styles, Abyss, Sting, Christian Cage, Diamond Dallas Page, and Kevin Nash. Brown was repeatedly positioned as a legitimate threat to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, although he never captured the title.

In 2007, Monty Brown made the move to World Wrestling Entertainment. He was brought into the ECW brand, where WWE presented him as a powerful new addition to the roster under the moniker Marquis Cor Von(later changed to Marcus Cor Von). Unfortunately, due to important family matters, Brown’s WWE run was relatively brief. After debuting in January, he asked for and was granted his release in June. He did get to live out almost every wrestler’s dream of performing at WrestleMania and defeated superstars such as Rob Van Dam, Tonmy Dreamer, Balls Mahoney, and The Sandman…but Brown would never receive the opportunity to reach the level many fans believed his talent and background warranted.

Monty Brown’s professional wrestling career was relatively short, but his impact—particularly during TNA’s early years—was significant. He was something different. He wasn’t simply a wrestler portraying an athlete. He was a former NFL player who had actually played in a Super Bowl, trained under Dan Severn and Sabu, and then reinvented himself as one of professional wrestling’s most explosive personalities. From Ferris State University, to the Buffalo Bills, to Super Bowl XXVII, and ultimately to the TNA ring as “The Alpha Male,” Monty Brown carved out a unique place in wrestling history. He may not have had the longest wrestling career, but “The Alpha Male” certainly left his mark.