WWE Celebrates 20 Years Of Shelton Benjamin! Will 2023 See More Prominence From WWE’s Workhorse Ironman?
Shelton Benjamin has reached a big milestone in his WWE career.
WWE Superstars and Legends discuss the influence and legacy of @Sheltyb803 as WWE celebrates the 20-year anniversary of his #SmackDown debut. pic.twitter.com/yARhn0YKkm
— WWE (@WWE) December 26, 2022
Benjamin was appreciative of the acknowledgement.
@WWE @WWEUniverse Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to do what I love entertain and live out my childhood dream. It has been one hell of a ride. I am thankful I am grateful I am NOT Done. Even After 20 year “Ain’t no stoppin me NOW”!! https://t.co/3wC8KPg0Yj
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) December 26, 2022
Here’s how WWE talks about Benjamin’s career.
There are few stories in WWE history quite like that of Shelton Benjamin. Growing up on the dangerous streets of urban Orangeburg, S.C., he lived in an area known for drug trafficking and weapons use, but rather than ending up on the wrong side of the tracks, he was accepted to the University of Minnesota, continuing his career as a stand-out amateur wrestler and eventually becoming a WWE Superstar.
And what a Superstar he became. At two different points in his WWE career, Benjamin enjoyed notoriety as one-half of the self-proclaimed “World’s Greatest Tag Team” with Charlie Haas. Their tandem initially started off as disciples of Kurt Angle, but eventually splintered off from the gold medalist and made a sizable impact in the tag team division.
In 2004, Benjamin cemented himself as a premier singles Superstar when he engaged in a highly competitive rivalry with none other than Triple H himself, defeating The King of Kings on numerous occasions. He was eventually chosen by the WWE Universe to challenge Chris Jericho for the Intercontinental Title at Taboo Tuesday, a match which Benjamin won. He captured the prestigious championship a second time in 2006 by defeating Ric Flair.
In November 2007, Benjamin ventured to ECW, where he tagged himself the “Gold Standard” of ECW in his efforts to become the next ECW Champion. From there, Benjamin went on to toggle between brands for the next several years, continuing to amass impressive accolades, including an almost year-long reign with the prestigious United States Championship.
Benjamin parted ways with WWE in 2010 but went on to compete all over the world, including New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he continued to dazzle crowds with his athleticism and appetite for risk-taking. After seven years of globetrotting, Benjamin returned to WWE in 2017, joining the SmackDown roster to team with former Olympic wrestler Chad Gable. Now on his own after the implosion of The Hurt Business, Benjamin is determined to seize the championship opportunities he feels are owed to him.
I’m hoping for a Hurt Business reunion in 2023 even minus MVP who is managing Omos.
Happy 20th Shelton.
