Montez Ford: Street Profits want to reassert themselves in WWE, talks Jade Cargill signing

It's new era in WWE for Montez Ford.

Ford, alongside Angelo Dawkins, have become a crowd favorite as the Street Profits since their debut in 2016, with their hype, solo cup-drinking-selves bringing a lit atmosphere to the tag team division. But the former WWE Smackdown and Raw Tag Team Champions have meant business recently, aligning themselves with veteran Bobby Lashley in what could become the next dominant faction.

The trio will have their first match together when they take on the LWO − Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar and either Joaquin Wilde or Cruz Del Toro − at Fastlane on Saturday, and Ford hopes it'll be a preview of what's to come from the rejuvanated team.

"This the hungriest we've ever been in our entire WWE stages," Ford told USA TODAY Sports.

What Bobby Lashley has taught the Street Profits

When it comes to accolades in WWE, Lashley has nearly done it all. He's a two-time WWE Champion and has held every other singles title throughout his two stints with the company that goes back nearly 20 years. He had success leading The Hurt Business during the COVID era of wrestling, and that same leadership has led to him working with Ford and Dawkins.

Ford said it's been wild to be able to work with someone he grew up watching in the ring, but Lashley has been doing anything he can to pass knowledge to show them "how to push forward and how to succeed." He would characterize this run with Lashley as a heel turn, but rather them being "a little bit more assertive."

"Just take the initiative, like don't hold back, just go. Don't sit there and second guess, don't get in your thoughts, just go," he said. "It’s bringing us to a different side of us that the WWE Universe hasn't seen just yet."

What's next for the Street Profits after Fastlane?

The Street Profits and Lashley expect a win at Fastlane, but after that? It's "all go," Ford said.

Ford previously told USA TODAY Sports he eventually wants a singles push, but noted that it's been more than two years since the Street Profits were champions. They did win the WrestleMania 39 fatal four-way tag team match in April, but it didn't result in any gold, so it's time to get back into the fold.

"Maybe the WWE universe, fans kind of forgot where we were. Now is our time of reasserting ourselves, letting people know and reminding them who you are, just putting more respect on our name," Ford said.

Since the Usos turned the the Raw and Smackdown tag team titles into the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship a year ago, there's been only one tag team holding gold on the main roster. Currently, Finn Bálor and Damian Priest of The Judgment Day hold the title, but they'll face Cody Rhodes and Jey Iso on Saturday.

There's been debate among wrestling fans as to whether the titles should go back to their respective brands, but Ford likes there being one set of champions "makes tag team championships means so much more."

"You have everyone gunning for this one team because one team is just being so dominant," he said. "By having one set of champions, I feel like it just puts the importance even higher."

But if The Judgment Day retains, it could pit the Street Profits and Lashley against them in what could be an enticing faction rivalry for fans. Ford praised The Judgment Day for being able to wreak havoc on all WWE shows in recent months, since "the success they've had about figuring it out is exactly what we want." But in his mind, there are better options to be the powerhouse of WWE.

"They represent the company very well. But we also feel like there's also better people to represent the company, which is myself, and Angela Dawkins and the almighty Bobby Lashley," Ford said.

Could Jade Cargill join the Street Profits, or start a feud with Bianca Belair?

The WWE got one of its biggest signings of the year when Jade Cargill signed with the company last week, and fans have already begun to theorize what will she do once she appears on WWE programming.

Lashley added another theory while on a radio show Wednesday, as he mentioned Cargill could join what he and the Street Profits are building. When told about it, Ford said he hadn't heard anything about it, and while he would welcome it, he wants to see what Cargill could do with her debut.

"Everyone's watching and anticipating what she's going to do next. And the possibility of her coming here, would that be great for the industry and everything? Of course, it would be monumental. But I feel like the focus is more on what her first movie is, which I think is intriguing in itself," he said. "I don't think it wouldn't be fair to her if our first move was based off of joining us because that wouldn't be fair to her."

But a popular option for the debut is something between Cargill and Ford's wife, Bianca Belair. Ford admitted with them in the same company, "it's only so long you could keep those two away from each other." Whether it's as a tag team, faction or a one-on-one feud, he says it's going to be great for wrestling to have the two powerhouses in the same ring. He even teased that something may be already in the works.

"Maybe the talks are happening, I don't know. Maybe my wife did talk to me. Maybe Jade did talk to her. I don't know," Ford said. "Can’t be spilling the beans right now."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Montez Ford on future of the Street Profits, WWE signing Jade Cargill