Montez Ford

Montez Ford Bio

Kenneth Crawford, best known by his ring name Montez Ford, is an American professional wrestler signed to WWE, where he performs on the SmackDown brand. He is one-half of the acclaimed tag team The Street Profits alongside Angelo Dawkins, and together they have become one of WWE’s most decorated and dynamic duos. Crawford has held the WWE Tag Team Championship twice, the World Tag Team Championship once, and the NXT Tag Team Championship once, establishing himself across all three of WWE’s primary brands.

Born on May 31, 1990, in Chicago, Illinois, Crawford brings a unique background to professional wrestling, having served in the United States Marine Corps before entering the sports-entertainment industry. His athletic foundation from military service contributed to his in-ring presence and work ethic as he built his career through the WWE Performance Center system. Over the course of more than a decade in the business, Crawford has evolved from a developmental talent into a featured main-event performer known for high-flying offense and sharp tag-team chemistry.

Early Life and Background

Kenneth Crawford was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 31, 1990. He was raised by a single mother on Chicago’s South Side, and later moved with his family to Anson County, North Carolina. Growing up in two distinctly different regions of the United States shaped Crawford’s formative years before he ultimately found his calling in professional wrestling. His childhood environment did not offer a direct path to WWE, and it was his military service that first provided him with the physical and mental discipline that would later serve him well in the squared circle.

Crawford enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served from September 2008 through 2012. During his time in the Marines, he also worked as a contractor for the United States Navy. He distinguished himself athletically by achieving a perfect 300 score on the United States Marine Corps physical fitness test, a rare accomplishment that reflected his elite conditioning. The combination of military discipline and natural athleticism laid the groundwork for his transition into professional wrestling following his honorable discharge.

Path to Professional Wrestling

After completing his service in the United States Marine Corps in 2012, Crawford turned his focus toward professional wrestling. He trained extensively to develop the in-ring skills and performance abilities required for a career in sports entertainment. His military background gave him a significant physical advantage entering training, particularly in terms of strength, agility, and mental toughness. Crawford’s path was not a quick one; he invested years in honing his craft before getting the opportunity that would change his trajectory.

On April 13, 2015, it was announced that Crawford had signed a developmental contract with WWE and would begin training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. The Performance Center is WWE’s primary training facility and serves as the proving ground for aspiring Superstars from around the world. Crawford made his in-ring debut at an NXT house show on September 26, 2015, competing in a battle royal to begin working matches in front of live audiences. He made his television debut on the March 16, 2016 episode of NXT, teaming with Angelo Dawkins in a tag team match against The Hype Bros. That pairing would eventually blossom into one of WWE’s most recognized tag teams.

Montez Ford Career

Early Career (2015-2017)

Crawford’s early years in WWE were spent developing his skills in NXT, the company’s developmental brand. Following his March 2016 television debut alongside Dawkins, the pairing was initially treated as a one-off, and Crawford continued to wrestle in tag team matches with various partners while building his individual résumé. He suffered an injury in May 2016 that temporarily slowed his momentum, but returned on the August 31 episode of NXT with a match against Steve Cutler. By December 2016, WWE gave him the ring name Montez Ford, a moniker that would become iconic alongside The Street Profits.

The early months of 2017 saw Ford establishing himself as a singles competitor in NXT while maintaining his tag team connection with Dawkins. Their chemistry as a unit was evident, and WWE creative began laying the groundwork for a more formal partnership. Ford’s athleticism and high-flying style quickly made him a fan favorite in the NXT live-event circuit, where he continued to compete and refine his performances.

The Street Profits in NXT (2017-2019)

The Street Profits officially coalesced on the July 12, 2017 episode of NXT, when Ford and Dawkins began appearing in weekly vignettes introducing their team persona to the WWE audience. They made their in-ring return as a unit on the August 9 episode of NXT, defeating The Metro Brothers to kick off their run as a full-time tag team. The Street Profits immediately went on an extended winning streak, establishing themselves as one of NXT’s most dominant teams with a combination of power from Dawkins and explosive aerial ability from Ford.

Their first taste of serious competition came on the January 17, 2018 episode of NXT, when The Street Profits suffered their first loss to the Authors of Pain. The match signaled that they were ready for the upper tier of NXT’s tag team division. In March 2018, they entered the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, defeating Heavy Machinery in the first round before being eliminated by the Authors of Pain in the semifinals. The experience further validated their standing among NXT’s elite tag teams.

The Street Profits captured their first championship on June 1, 2019, at NXT TakeOver: XXV, winning the NXT Tag Team Championship in a four-way ladder match that also involved The Viking Raiders, The Forgotten Sons, and Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch. The victory came after The Viking Raiders vacated the titles, setting up a competitive tournament to crown new champions. The Street Profits successfully defended the NXT Tag Team Championship against the Forgotten Sons, Lorcan and Burch, and The Undisputed Era at NXT TakeOver: Toronto. Their reign ended on the August 28 episode of NXT when The Undisputed Era defeated them, closing their title run at 88 days.

The Street Profits on Raw (2019-2020)

In the latter half of 2019, The Street Profits transitioned to WWE’s main roster Monday Night Raw brand as part of the annual WWE Draft. They made their Raw debut in a backstage segment on the July 1 episode, quickly building a connection with the live audience through their charisma and natural tag team synergy. On the October 21 episode of Raw, The Street Profits defeated The O.C. in their debut match, marking an official main roster arrival. Their star power continued to rise when they challenged Seth Rollins and Murphy for the Raw Tag Team Championship at Super ShowDown on February 27, 2020, falling short in a competitive title effort.

The Street Profits captured the Raw Tag Team Championship on the March 2, 2020 episode of Raw, winning a Last Chance match with assistance from Kevin Owens. The victory gave the team their first main roster championships and set up a series of successful title defenses. They defended against Rollins and Murphy at Elimination Chamber on March 8, and against Angel Garza and Austin Theory on Night 2 of WrestleMania 36 on April 6, 2020. Their reign was marked by memorable moments, including a comedic yet chaotic segment at Backlash on June 14 involving the Viking Raiders, Akira Tozawa, and a group of ninjas that became one of the most talked-about moments of that period in WWE.

The Street Profits on SmackDown (2020-2023)

As part of the 2020 WWE Draft in October, The Street Profits moved to the SmackDown brand. A unique title trade occurred when they exchanged the Raw Tag Team Championship with The New Day, who had moved to Raw, in return for The New Day’s SmackDown Tag Team Championship. This transaction made The Street Profits only the second team in WWE history to complete the WWE Tag Team Triple Crown, having held all three of WWE’s primary tag team championships. On the December 18, 2020 episode of SmackDown, they successfully defended the SmackDown Tag Team Championship against Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode, but lost the titles in a rematch on the January 8, 2021 episode of SmackDown, ending their reign at 88 days.

In June 2021, Montez Ford suffered a partial rib fracture after an attack by Otis on the June 11 episode of SmackDown, an injury written into storylines to allow Ford to undergo voluntary surgery and step away from television temporarily. Upon returning, The Street Profits entered a heated feud with The Usos over the SmackDown Tag Team Championship in September 2021, challenging at Extreme Rules on September 26 and again in a Street Fight on the October 15 episode of SmackDown. They continued their championship pursuits in 2022, facing RK-Bro for the Raw Tag Team Championship at Day 1 on January 1 and in a triple threat match also involving Alpha Academy on Night 2 of WrestleMania 38 on April 3. The team also challenged The Usos for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship at Money in the Bank on July 2 and at SummerSlam on July 30, with Jeff Jarrett serving as special guest referee at the latter.

Key Moments and Alliances (2023-2025)

On the February 6, 2023 episode of Raw, Montez Ford earned a standout singles victory by defeating Elias to qualify for the Elimination Chamber match for the WWE United States Championship. At the Elimination Chamber event on February 18, Ford eliminated Bronson Reed and Damian Priest before being eliminated by eventual winner Austin Theory, marking a strong individual performance on a major stage. On Night 1 of WrestleMania 39 on April 1, 2023, The Street Profits won the men’s WrestleMania Showcase fatal four-way tag team match, delivering a signature WrestleMania moment for the team. On July 14, 2023, a returning Bobby Lashley appeared in a backstage segment with The Street Profits to propose an alliance. On the August 4 episode of SmackDown, The Street Profits turned heel for the first time on the main roster by attacking Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Butch, and Ridge Holland, aligning with Lashley as the group known as The Pride.

At Fastlane on October 7, 2023, The Pride competed in a six-man tag team match against Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, and a returning Carlito, falling short in their debut match as a trio. The Street Profits challenged The Judgment Day for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship on the November 24 episode of SmackDown, but interference from Rhea Ripley cost them the match and prompted a face turn. In early 2024, The Pride feuded with The Final Testament and allied with B-Fab. On Night 2 of WrestleMania XL on April 7, 2024, The Pride defeated The Final Testament in a Philadelphia Street Fight, delivering a decisive victory at WrestleMania. The alliance quietly disbanded on August 16, 2024, following Bobby Lashley’s departure from WWE.

Montez Ford Career Wins

Montez Ford’s championship résumé spans WWE’s three primary brands and includes tag team titles across NXT, Raw, and SmackDown, reflecting a career built on sustained excellence as part of The Street Profits. His wins represent milestones at every stage of WWE’s developmental and main roster structure, making him one of the few performers to achieve championship success across the full breadth of the WWE ecosystem. In addition to tag team championships, Ford has earned notable singles victories and multi-man tag team wins at major premium live events including WrestleMania.

NXT Tag Team Championship

The Street Profits won the NXT Tag Team Championship for the first time at NXT TakeOver: XXV on June 1, 2019, in a four-way ladder match. Ford and Dawkins captured the titles in a match that also involved The Viking Raiders, The Forgotten Sons, and Oney Lorcan and Danny Burch. The victory represented the culmination of years of development in NXT and established The Street Profits as the brand’s premier tag team. Their reign lasted 88 days before The Undisputed Era claimed the titles on the August 28 episode of NXT.

Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships

On the March 2, 2020 episode of Raw, The Street Profits won the Raw Tag Team Championship, defeating Seth Rollins and Murphy with help from Kevin Owens in a Last Chance match. They successfully defended the titles at Elimination Chamber and on Night 2 of WrestleMania 36, cementing their place as main roster champions. Following their move to SmackDown in late 2020, The Street Profits traded the Raw Tag Team Championship to The New Day for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, making them the second team in WWE history to complete the Tag Team Triple Crown. Ford and Dawkins won the WWE Tag Team Championship for a second time on the March 14, 2025 episode of SmackDown, defeating #DIY. They successfully defended the titles against #DIY and Motor City Machine Guns in a tables, ladders, and chairs match on the April 25, 2025 episode of SmackDown.

Other Notable Wins and Performances

The Street Profits won the Evolve Tag Team Championship on October 28, 2018, defeating The Doom Patrol at Evolve 114 and successfully defending the titles multiple times before losing them at Evolve 123 in March 2019. In 2018, the team reached the semifinals of the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, defeating Heavy Machinery in the first round. Montez Ford also secured an Elimination Chamber qualifying victory over Elias in February 2023 and won Night 1 of WrestleMania 39’s men’s tag team showcase match alongside Angelo Dawkins. On Night 2 of WrestleMania XL on April 7, 2024, Ford, Dawkins, and Bobby Lashley defeated The Final Testament in a Philadelphia Street Fight.

Montez Ford Family

Family Background and Personal Life

Montez Ford was raised primarily by his single mother on Chicago’s South Side before relocating to Anson County, North Carolina during his youth. The early adversity of growing up in a single-parent household in two different regions of the United States contributed to the resilience and drive that Ford carried into his professional career. Details about his father are not part of the public record, and Ford has focused much of his personal narrative on the role his mother played in his upbringing.

Ford has two children from a previous relationship. On June 9, 2017, it was publicly announced that he was engaged to fellow WWE Superstar Bianca Nicole Blair, widely known as Bianca Belair. The couple married on June 23, 2018, and their partnership is one of the most prominent in WWE’s current roster. Ford and Belair are one of WWE’s most visible couples, regularly appearing together in storylines and promotional material. In November 2023, it was announced that Ford and Belair would star in their own reality television series, Love & WWE: Bianca and Montez, which premiered on Hulu.

2025 Season Performance

The Street Profits opened 2025 by establishing themselves as central figures in the WWE Tag Team Championship picture on SmackDown. Their pursuit of gold reached a pivotal moment at Royal Rumble on February 1, 2025, when The Street Profits attacked Motor City Machine Guns, costing them an opportunity to regain the WWE Tag Team Championship and clearing the way for #DIY to retain. The following weeks built toward a championship showdown, and on the March 14, 2025 episode of SmackDown, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins defeated #DIY to capture the WWE Tag Team Championship for the second time in their careers.

The Street Profits successfully defended their titles on the April 25, 2025 episode of SmackDown, winning a tables, ladders, and chairs match against both #DIY and Motor City Machine Guns. Their second reign demonstrated the team’s continued relevance and competitive edge on WWE’s blue brand. The championship run came to a close on the July 11, 2025 episode of SmackDown, when The Street Profits lost the WWE Tag Team Championship to The Wyatt Sick6, ending their second reign. The loss set up a new chapter for the team heading into the remainder of 2025, with Ford and Dawkins positioned to rebuild and pursue another run at tag team gold.