Shelton Benjamin has explained why his partnership with Chad Gable did not go anywhere.

The Gold Standard was paired with the former American Alpha member in SmackDown upon his WWE return in 2017. This came after Gable’s former partner Jason Jordan was moved to the Raw brand to start his infamous storyline with Kurt Angle, quietly disbanding their team.

Benjamin opened up about working with the former Olympic Athlete during his appearance on Talk Is Jericho. He first offered big praise to the 38-year-old and proclaimed that Gable still hasn’t gotten his due:

“When I first arrived, they put me with Chad Gable and well, like, phenomenal worker. No, he has not [gotten his due]. He hasn’t. And to me, it sucks, because everyone has an excuse.

I said for every excuse, I can point out an example why that excuse makes no sense. That guy is special, whether fans realize it or not, he is. He’s got a blue-collar mentality. He’s Uber-talented. He’s dedicated. He’ll do whatever you need him to.”

• Shelton Benjamin Felt Betrayed by WWE After Helping Carry the Pandemic Era

We Just Didn’t Click: Shelton Benjamin

Though despite being compatible on paper, the team of Shelton Benjamin and Chad Gable did not find a lot of success. Their run lasted 8 months before they were split up during the 2018 Superstar Shakeup without ever holding any titles together.

Speaking about why the pairing did not work despite having similar backgrounds, Shelton Benjamin said that he never really clicked with Gable. He remembered his chemistry with Team Angle partner Charlie Haas and said that he never felt the same teaming with the current WWE star:

“When they put us together. Obviously, he’s actually from Minneapolis too. So it seemed right, especially, with Jason not being able to work anymore. But I don’t really think that tag team worked. We had some good matches. They threw us in some really zany matches. We had a great matchup with the Usos, but it, for me, it really wasn’t working. Through no fault of anyone.

The chemistry, it wasn’t like me and Charlie. Me and Charlie were like, Charlie’s the best partner I’ve ever had. So for whatever reason, me and [Gable] while we got along great, we just didn’t click the same way. It wasn’t the same but again, that being said, all due respect, that kid is phenomenal. Everything he’s done, he’s made work.”

• Shelton Benjamin Draws Avengers Parallel for AEW’s Hurt Syndicate

Shelton Benjamin has explained how the end of Hurt Business in WWE was mentally challenging for him.

The former WWE star was the most recent guest on Talk is Jericho. He discussed things such as his first WWE run, his experience working for NJPW in Japan, his tag team with Chad Gable, and more.

Benjamin also detailed his feelings about The Hurt Business’ time in the company. The Gold Standard first discussed how he had only been used in odd spots since his return to the promotion in 2017 and never given a proper chance to showcase his talents. The formation of the Hurt Business in 2020 was finally a storyline that could have elevated him so it was a big blow when the group was disbanded:

“In my opinion, Hurt Business and Roman Reigns carried the WWE during the pandemic era. And I felt a bit betrayed because I come here every week. I’ve never complained. I risked my life, just like everybody else. When other people wanted to stay home, you never had to question whether or not I will come to work.

So for us to, bear that burden….and mind you, obviously, we’re not the only ones. We’re not the only people, but the fact that we were always willing and we were actually producing for you, to just immediately turn around and just kill it….like what the fuck man.”

• Shelton Benjamin Draws Avengers Parallel for AEW’s Hurt Syndicate

Nothing’s Good Enough: Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin also revealed that he approached Vince McMahon directly when he first got the news of The Hurt Business’ end, and to this date he has gotten no clear answer on why their run was cut short:

“His comment to me was, ‘We’ve gone as far as we can with Hurt Business.’ The Hurt business was around for eight months before he pulled the plug. When he said that, it was almost like you want to cry inside.

Because it’s like, nothing I can do for this person seems to help, nothing’s good enough. I was really just insulted, I knew then, like, I don’t really have a future here. At this point this is just a job where I’m just collecting a check.”

The current AEW star noted that he’s always wanted to be the guy that helps build the momentum for the place he’s working in instead of taking advantage of other people’s work. The abrupt ending of the Hurt Business however, made it clear to him that he’ll never be afforded that chance in WWE.

• Shelton Benjamin Has Been ‘Pleasantly Surprised’ With His AEW Run

Shelton Benjamin is surprised by how well he has adjusted to life in AEW.

The wrestling veteran made his All Elite Wrestling debut during the Dynamite 5-year anniversary special in October. He reunited with his Hurt Business teammate MVP, establishing himself as a heel.

During a recent interview with Inside The Ropes, the former WWE star discussed his move from WWE to AEW. Shelton Benjamin noted that his biggest surprise has been the reaction of the fans:

“My biggest surprise is that the fans really appreciate what I bring to the table. I found that I have a lot of great chemistry with the guys I’ve been working. I feel like I’ve been having nothing but just great matches with pretty much everyone I’ve been in the ring with.”

• Shelton Benjamin Confirms Scrapped Plans For Hurt Business Reunion

The Biggest Surprise To Me: Shelton Benjamin

After joining the promotion of Tony Khan, Shelton Benjamin has gotten to share the ring with names such as Swerve Strickland, Kazuchika Okada, Sammy Guevara, and more.

Speaking about his experience working with his AEW rivals, the 49-year-old said that it’s a ‘pleasant surprise’ how well he’s been able to gel with the guys on the roster:

“Just the fact that I’ve been able to gel so well with guys who I never have worked with before and put on great performances, that has been the biggest surprise to me.

It shouldn’t be, because again, these are some of the best athletes in the world, some of the best professional wrestlers in the world. But it’s definitely a pleasant surprise.”

Shelton Benjamin also previously discussed his reaction to getting a big applause upon his AEW debut. You can check out his comments here.

• Shelton Benjamin Draws Avengers Parallel for AEW’s Hurt Syndicate

Both in WWE and AEW, the trio of MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin have been a dominant force, first as the Hurt Business and now as the Hurt Syndicate. Now, Shelton Benjamin has compared the faction to another dominant group in entertainment: Marvel’s The Avengers.

On the AEW Unrestricted podcast, Benjamin made his comparison to the superhero group, which includes Dave Bautista as Drax the Destroyer.

“MVP is clearly Tony Stark, I would like to say I’m somewhere between Thor and Captain America, but Bobby is clearly The Hulk [laughs]. That is the dynamic that I like.”

In both movies and comics, The Avengers boasts a large roster, and the Hurt Syndicate could soon be adding names to its ranks. Shortly after MVP’s arrival in AEW, he handed business cards to Mercedes Mone and The Acclaimed’s Max Caster, though neither have officially joined yet.

Much like The Avengers, which features an ever-expanding roster in movies and comics, the Hurt Syndicate appears poised to grow its ranks. Shortly after MVP’s arrival in AEW, he handed business cards to Mercedes Moné and The Acclaimed’s Max Caster. However, neither has officially joined the faction—at least not yet.

Recently, Ricochet hinted at aligning with the group, even teasing a heel turn during last week’s Dynamite. On this week’s episode, Ricochet’s attempt to ingratiate himself with the faction backfired when the business card previously handed to him by MVP was torn up. Despite this rejection, MVP and his allies left “The One and Only” unharmed, teasing that Ricochet’s hopes of becoming a member may not be entirely dashed.

Stay tuned to SEScoops for updates on the Hurt Syndicate and their evolving recruitment efforts.

Shelton Benjamin was very happy and grateful for the reaction of his AEW debut.

After surprisingly being released from his WWE contract in September 2023, Benjamin returned to the independent circuit. Following many months of rumors, he finally made his AEW debut during Five Year Anniversary special of Dynamite.

Speaking about his arrival in Tony Khan’s promotion on AEW Unrestricted podcast, the former US Champion noted that even 2 decades after his debut, he gets flattered when someone recognizes him:

“You know, having done this for so long — to this day, any time someone even recognizes me in the street, I’m honestly very flattered. So to have that reaction, especially [from] the AEW crowd, you know, being a quote-unquote ‘former WWE guy,’ I was humbled. I was overjoyed.”

• Shelton Benjamin Confirms Scrapped Plans For Hurt Business Reunion

It Was Very Heartwarming: Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin’s AEW debut came in a relatively quiet manner. He made his first appearance for the company in a backstage interview segment where MVP introduced him as his business partner.

Despite not getting a big spot, the fans were excited for the Gold Standard and there was a big pop when he was first shown on screen. According to the former WWE star, before the segment he was worried about how the fans would react:

“I was actually kind of worried about how the reaction would be. But like I said, the fans have stuck by me through thick and thin all these years. And it was very heartwarming is the best way I could put it. Because I really appreciate it, and I loved it, and I could rewatch that moment over and over and over.”

After wrestling in a couple of physical matches, Shelton Benjamin has been thrown into the deep end by AEW officials as one of the participants in the ongoing Continental Classic tournament. With a win and a loss each in the blue league, he currently holds three points in the competition.

Tony Khan continues to cultivate the scorecard for the ongoing AEW Continental Classic.

As WWE Survivor Series set to commence on Saturday evening, the AEW President took to social media to announce a round two fight for the round robin tournament. It will be Shelton Benjamin taking on Kyle Fletcher for the 12/4 episode of AEW Dynamite. Khan hyped the match, noting that Benjamin are the two top names in their “league” going mono-a-mono.

“The current Top 2 in the C2 Blue League will fight 1-on-1: Shelton Benjamin vs Kyle Fletcher. THIS WEDNESDAY!”

The Continental Classic started up on the pre-Thanksgiving episode of AEW Dynamite as Shelton Benjamin defeated former ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe via a clean pinfall following a powerslam.

As for Fletcher, the adversary of Will Ospreay upended the Beast Mortos on this week’s episode of AEW Collision after nailing the bullheadecd luchador with a brainbuster. The match-up itself provides to be an intriguing one as Benjamin and Fletcher are both top heels in the company, also being involved in their respective heel factions. Benjamin is notoriously apart of The Hurt Syndicate alongside MVP and Bobby Lashley while Fletcher is a member of the revamped Don Callis Family. Fletcher will look to continue the hot hand as he ended up definitively defeating Ospreay earlier this week at AEW Full Gear. Ospreay is aiming to rebound from that loss as on that same episode of Collision, he defeated Juice Robinson in the ‘Gold League’ side of the Classic. Unfortunately, Robinson ended up getting injured in the fight.

The former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley has shared his thoughts on MVP and Shelton Benjamin joining All Elite Wrestling. The free agent appeared on the Lame Guys Podcast and touted what they bring to AEW.

Wrestling fans complaining about AEW signing ‘ex-WWE guys’ are missing the big picture. MVP and Shelton Benjamin bring a ton of life experience, still have gas left in the tank, and have the ability to elevate others.

“The fans need to understand… You need established guys to help elevate others.”

Bryan Danielson, Adam Copeland, Samoa Joe and Christian are among the former World Champions who have done just that.

Lashley does not plan on accumulating ring rust following his WWE exit. The Dominator has teased that fans can expect something big from him over the next few weeks. As for wether or not he’ll follow MVP and Shelton Benjamin to AEW, he’s keeping his options open.

“You think they have enough money for me?”

– Bobby Lashley on the prospect of joining AEW

Catch the full interview here:

MVP has made his presence felt in AEW in recent weeks. An impressive in-ring debut for Shelton Benjamin only further reinforced their collective potential as individual talents and, all the more so, as a unit.

All too often, though, fans have seen acts start out hot in AEW, only to get lost in the shuffle. While the easy critiques on MVP, Benjamin, and other talents who may or may not joint them—particularly Bobby Lashley—is that they’re WWE alumni and that they’re relatively old, there’s still plenty of potential for them to change the game in AEW.

The Hurt Is Back In Business

WWE’s Hurt Business was a landmark faction. They were one of the coolest parts of WWE programming in the pandemic era and the group succeeded in finally getting Bobby Lashley all the way over as a WWE Champion after stop-start pushes and never quite reaching the mountain top throughout either of his WWE tenures prior to that point.

The Hurt Business experiment fizzled, though, with Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander fading further and further into the background and MVP on the outs. Lashley enjoyed some successes, including fans seeing a lot of potential in him teaming up with The Street Profits, but it never went anywhere and The All Mighty’s final months in WWE were conspicuously quiet.

Now, MVP and Benjamin have shown up in AEW, launching The Hurt Syndicate. WWE has done a nice job of slow-playing this act, including creating initial intrigue between MVP and Swerve Strickland, before rolling out Benjamin and immediately establishing him as far more of an in-ring threat than he got to play for most of his WWE career.

AEW Can Push Black Talent To The Moon

While WWE has been on fire under Triple H’s creative leadership, one critique that’s only gaining momentum is that The Game hasn’t done enough to push black talent. Fans have noticed an absence of black men in particular from PLE cards. Moreover, Helmsley’s attempt at quieting the haters in the Bad Blood post-show press conference came across as uncharacteristically tone deaf and outdated as he claimed not to see color.

It doesn’t seem fair to actually think of The Cerebral Assassin as actively racist, but he has nonetheless left an opening for AEW to distinguish itself by more overtly pushing black stars. Swerve Strickland’s celebrated run as AEW Champion laid some strong groundwork. MVP and The Hurt Syndicate have the tools to take things to the next level.

A Swerve Strickland Vs. Bobby Lashley Feud

Swerve Strickland and Shelton Benjamin look as though they’re on a collision course right now in AEW, but between Benjamin’s age and the damage his credibility took in WWE, this wouldn’t feel like a satisfying end game for the story AEW has been rolling out. Rather, things really feel as though they ought to be building toward Strickland vs. Bobby Lashley.

Lashley is an awesome physical specimen and with WWE world title credentials under his belt (not to mention a history as the world champ in TNA), he’s a suitably credible opponent for Strickland. Moreover, The All Mighty represents a worthy mountain to climb. Though Strickland should ultimately have his sights set on reclaiming the AEW Championship, winning a feud over Lashley and The Hurt Syndicate could do a great deal to further solidify Strickland as a bona fide main event fixture.

The Hurt Syndicate Vs. The Blackpool Combat Club

The Blackpool Combat Club has been one of the most compelling parts of AEW programming for much of the last two and a half years. The recent tonal shift, with Jon Moxley turning heel and recapturing the AEW Championship, intrigue around their mission to fundamentally change AEW, and the additions of PAC and Marina Shafir have brought the group right back to the spotlight as one of the most buzzworthy acts in the promotion, if not all of wrestling.

Feuding with The Blackpool Combat Club would be a great place for The Hurt Syndicate to land, offering a formidable, fresh challenge and series of matchups, up to and including the possibility of an AEW Championship reign for Bobby Lashley. At minimum, one of the most important parts of a modern faction’s success is having other credible factions to feud with, and this is where these two groups could help one another significantly.

In the end, only time will tell what AEW has planned for MVP and his Hurt Syndicate. Early signs have been promising, though, and there’s a real chance for the creative to follow to end the mainstream careers of MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and Bobby Lashley on a high note, while also bettering AEW and the careers of several of its other stars.

AEW fans can expect to see much more of Shelton Benjamin now that the Gold Standard has officially signed with AEW. On this week’s Dynamite, Benjamin made his in-ring debut for AEW with a victory over Lio Rush. The match had been set up in a segment between the two and MVP at AEW WrestleDream.

On Twitter, AEW President Tony Khan congratulated Benjamin on his win and shared that the former WWE U.S. and Intercontinental Champion has officially joined the promotion.

Shelton Benjamin’s AEW Theme Song

Here is Shelton Benjamin’s first AEW entrance music, titled ‘Shining Forever’ by Mikey Riki’s featuring Mega Ran. Ain’t no stopping him now!

Plans for The Hurt Syndicate

Benjamin has been aligned with MVP as part of The Hurt Syndicate and the group could soon be welcoming a new member. Despite losing to Benjamin on Dynamite, a tweet from Lio Rush revealed he has a card from MVP, teasing interest in aligning with the wrestler/manager.

Between the arrival of Shelton Benjamin, the tease from Lio Rush, and reports of Bobby Lashley’s imminent arrival, MVP could soon have quite the faction at his disposal. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Shelton Benjamin now that the talented veteran is officially ‘All-Elite.’

Lio Rush debuted for All Elite Wrestling in 2021, and would remain an active part of the company’s roster until his exit in February the next year. Now the ‘Man of the Hour’ is back under contract, and his return may lead to the debut of a man Rush knows very well.

In a segment filmed at AEW WrestleDream, Rush confirmed to Alicia Atout that he is once again under an AEW contract. The former NXT Cruiserweight Champion was then confronted by MVP and Shelton Benjamin. As tensions mounted between the two sides, MVP asked if Rush is free on Wednesday, teasing something for Rush for this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite.

Rush may not have much of a history with MVP or Benjamin, but he does have history with a man that both are familiar with: Bobby Lashley. Rush managed Lashley in WWE before MVP took on the All Mighty in 2020 as part of The Hurt Business. It’s been reported that Lashley is set to join MVP and Benjamin soon in AEW, with some speculating ahead of WrestleDream that his debut would come at the pay-per-view.

Time will tell if the All Mighty’s AEW debut will come this Wednesday, but for now, Lio Rush is preparing for something with the Hurt Syndicate on Dynamite. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from Lio Rush and all the signing news out of All Elite Wrestling.

At AEW WrestleDream, Swerve Strickland made his first appearance since his brutal main event loss at All Out and turned down the managerial services of MVP. Strickland acknowledged that while Prince Nana may annoy him at times, especially with his side hustle selling coffee, his loyalties remain with Nana, who in Strickland’s eyes is akin to family.

Speaking at the post-AEW WrestleDream media scrum, Strickland spoke about his return at WrestleDream and gave another update on his health.

“I’m still not 100%, but I am getting a clean bill of health to keep moving forward. No better way to do that than come back to WrestleDream, where honestly this whole push really started. Last year’s WrestleDream was really the rocket ship to get me to the main event and World Championship.”

During his segment at WrestleDream, Shelton Benjamin took issues with Strickland turning down MVP’s offer to be Swerve’s manager. When Nigel McGuinness asked if the Gold Standard would be Strickland’s first opponent back, the former World Champion acknowledged that it is likely.

“I would say so, but we’ll see how these next couple of weeks really pan out... AEW has a magic touch, and I can’t wait to see what Shelton does with that.”

Strickland is back on AEW programming, and with Bryan Danielson expecting to take a lengthy hiatus, could quickly find himself back in the AEW World Championship picture. In the meantime though, Swerve will have to deal with MVP and Shelton Benjamin, and potentially another debuting star. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on Swerve Strickland now that the former AEW World Champion is on our screens once again.

MVP says ‘business’ is picking up in All Elite Wrestling. He made his AEW debut at last week’s AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam and this week, he made a massive move.

Last night’s AEW Dynamite celebrated its 5-year anniversary and it featured a segment where Renee Paquette interviewed MVP backstage ahead of his announcement. Prince Nana interrupted him and MVP said that he was not the one who handled complaints. He then introduced Shelton Benjamin as his business partner and ‘President of the Complaint Department.’

Following the show, MVP dropped a video clip on social media in which he and Benjamin could be seen leaving the arena together. He said that business had just picked up. The former Hurt Business teammates bumped fists as MVP laughed while walking away.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The 305 MVP (@the305mvp)

This marked Shelton Benjamin’s first appearance in the promotion. He was let go from WWE back in September 2023. After being a free agent for over a year, he has finally signed with AEW. There is a huge possibility that Bobby Lashley could be next to show up. This will complete their reunion but under the new stable name, ‘The Hurt Syndicate’, judging by a trademark filing last month.

MVP previously announced that he will not return to WWE during a Bloodsport event. There have been reports that Lashley and MVP hope to reunite in AEW which that could soon be happening. The addition of the Hurt Syndicate could prove to be an impactful move and this is likely to mark MVP’s last run before retirement.

• MVP Says AEW Run Is ‘Quite Possibly The Final Chapter’ Of His Career

Shelton Benjamin is All Elite.

The former WWE star had been expected to make his debut for Tony Khan’s promotion ever since MVP made his first appearance for the company last week.

This week’s 5-year anniversary special of Dynamite then saw Renee Paquette interviewing MVP backstage where he was getting ready to make an announcement.

Before he could do so, however, Prince Nana interrupted and reminded everyone that he once was a wrestler. In response, MVP said that he was not the one who handled complaints like that and then the camera panned out to the one who does deal with complaints – Shelton Benjamin.

Benjamin got a huge pop from the crowd as MVP introduced him as his business partner and ‘President of the Complaint Department.’

• MVP Says AEW Run Is ‘Quite Possibly The Final Chapter’ Of His Career

Shelton Benjamin Is Not Done

Shelton was released from his WWE contract back in September 2023. While a lot of people expected him to go to AEW straight away, it took over a year for the wrestling veteran to arrive.

Now that he has arrived, however, the 49-year-old is expected to make a big impact along with his Hurt Business partner.

The group is still one member short as Bobby Lashley is yet to be introduced on AEW TV. Though after the arrival of MVP and Benjamin, it seems only a matter of time before the former WWE Champion makes his way to the company as well.

• Shelton Benjamin Confirms Scrapped Plans For Hurt Business Reunion

Former WWE star Shelton Benjamin has confirmed that WWE scrapped plans for a Hurt Business reunion last year.

The Bobby Lashley-led faction was one of the highlights of the WWE programming during the pandemic era. With Lashley being presented as a dominant heel, the storyline quickly became a fan favorite. The decision to disband the group in early 2022 left fans puzzled and many people to this day believe that the whole thing had a lot of untapped potential.

During a recent interview with Metro, Benjamin said that he considers the faction to be one of his ‘defining contributions’ to the business and claimed that it was cut too short. He then revealed that there was talk of reviving the group last year but it never came to fruition:

“There was definitely conversation and planning for the Hurt Business to make a return. And then things just changed. They set dates, the dates changed and things changed. And then suddenly it was like, ‘Nope, we’re just not doing it.’ And that was… that was a kick in the balls. [laughs]”

• Shelton Benjamin Disgusted By Involvement Of Racist Angle In WWE

One Of The Biggest Mishaps: Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin admitted that the decision was not in their hands and whatever the call maybe they have to live with it and move on. Though he still mentioned how the faction had the potential to elevate all its members:

“I love being a part of helping people succeed. But in the case of the Hurt Business, I felt like there was so much more for every individual in that to really elevate themselves within the company. And I think the fact that there was no Hurt Business versus Bloodline war is one of the biggest mishaps in pro wrestling”

WWE had teased a Hurt Business reunion in early 2023 when Benjamin reunited with Cedric Alexander with MVP taking credit for it. MVP even accompanied the duo at the ringside for a match but the angle was then quietly dropped. Shelton Benjamin was later released from the company in September 2023.

Shelton Benjamin would gladly erase one angle he was apart of in WWE as a clip from 2009 resurfaced.

Back then, ‘The Gold Standard’ was in full-heel mode for the revamped ECW and awaited a debuting opponent in Yoshi Tatsu. Tatsu was positioned as a likable babyface on the rise and to get heel heat, Benjamin was directed to go for the low hanging fruit. With Tatsu being Japanese, Benjamin mocked Yoshi with a horrible and condescending Japanese accent. It happened to be 15 years since Tatsu made his debut and so OTD_In_WWE X account posted the polarizing clip.

RELATED: Shelton Benjamin Reacts to Reports of AEW Discussions

Shelton happened to see the clip online and expressed his embarrassment at being involved in such an angle, noting how racist and offensive the bit was.

“If I could erase one thing in my career this is it. I’m completely and utterly disgusted by this racist shit. I’m glad the ending was my character getting kicked in the head and losing.”

During an interview back in May, Benjamin noted how he’d be a fool not to want to go back to WWE after he was released from the company in September of 2023.

RELATED: Shelton Benjamin: ‘I’d Be A Fool Not to Go Back to WWE If They Asked’

Shelton Benjamin’s days as a WWE Superstar may not be over just yet as he’s more than open to a return to the company. 

The former Intercontinental and United States Champion was among those released in September 2023 as part of the first wave of talent cuts following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Benjamin had returned to WWE in 2016 and became a 24/7 Champion and Raw Tag Team Champion during this run. 

• AEW Talent Hoping for Shelton Benjamin to Be Signed

Benjamin is, to many fans, near the top of the proverbial list of talent who have gone underutilized by the WWE machine. Speaking to the Daily Star, however, Benjamin said he’d gladly return to the promotion if they want him.

“I think I’d be a fool to not look at the opportunity. If they ask me to come back, I would definitely go back. I would be a fool not to.”

Benjamin is well aware that his career didn’t go as far as many hoped for him, but in the interview, he encouraged anyone with a chance to be in WWE to sign up. 

“I think of it as a marketing company. If you get a chance to go there, I say to anyone, ‘Go.’ Yes, it’s going to be frustrating at times. Leave your feelings at the door. WWE doesn’t care about your feelings, much like any other job.”

Benjamin is open to a comeback but made clear he’s not actively pursuing such an endeavor. The Gold Standard made his return to the ring post-release in March at an event for WWC in Puerto Rico and he has also wrestled in the UK. Time will tell if Shelton ever returns to WWE but he knows not to count anything out in his career. 

WWE released Shelton Benjamin, along with a lot more, in September 2023. Although some have shown up in another company’s ring, Benjamin has been biding his time, and it appears he has a suitor.

Shelton Benjamin didn’t shut down the idea of going to AEW while speaking to the Monopoly Events YouTube channel. After all, there are a lot of great opponents for him to face in the Land of All Elite.

Shelton Benjamin Reacts

Ongoing talks have been happening between Shelton Benjamin and AEW, considering his potential appearances for the company. Details about a potential contract or full-time deal are still uncertain, but these discussions started about a month ago.

In a recent interview on the Monopoly Events YouTube channel, Jamal Niaz talked with Shelton Benjamin. Benjamin expressed interest in wrestling Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada. He also mentioned that he’s open to appearing in AEW.Shelton Benjamin expressed his interest in potentially working with Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay, highlighting their exceptional talents and expressing admiration for their athleticism.

While acknowledging the allure of these matchups, he emphasized his enjoyment and versatility in working with various opponents. Benjamin kept the possibility of joining AEW open, stating that he hasn’t ruled out any opportunities at this time.

”I think it could be a lot of fun. So, those names are at the top of my list, but obviously, I enjoy what I do, I love what I do, and I can pretty much mesh with anybody. So, it’s just a matter of what they think but, as far as AEW goes, that door’s open — my door is open. I haven’t eliminated any possibilities as of yet.”

Shelton Benjamin as a Free Agent

Shelton Benjamin hasn’t shown up in another company since his WWE release. Only time will tell when he gets the deal he’s looking for.

We will have to see if Shelton Benjamin is another name that Tony Khan decides to sign. With AEW Big Business coming up on March 13th, you never know who will arrive in AEW next.

SEScoops will have ongoing coverage of AEW Big Business, and everything else involving the company’s upcoming events. Keep checking back for constant updates!

AEW has a number of former WWE Superstars on their roster. It appears that they may be adding one more, but that doesn’t mean it will be a universally praised decision.

Shelton Benjamin was released from WWE in September last year, but he hasn’t signed with another company yet. He may just end up in AEW at this point, and Max Caster couldn’t keep his opinion to himself. Caster doesn’t think AEW needs Shelton.

Max Caster Reacts

It was previously reported that AEW is in talks with Shelton Benjamin. That would be a great get for Tony Khan, because Shelty hasn’t ended up anywhere else since his WWE release in September 2023.

Max Caster apparently heard this report, and he couldn’t keep his opinion to himself. While reacting to this new story about another former WWE Superstar who may be coming into the Land of All Elite, Caster posted on Twitter/X to let everyone know how he feels about things.

We Don’t Want Him

We don’t want him! https://t.co/klLXzTc5rF

— ''Platinum'' Max Caster (@PlatinumMax) March 11, 2024

What’s Next For AEW & Shelton Benjamin

Shelton Benjamin’s release was a surprise for many, because he is a veteran and has a ton of tools to offer any company he works for. At 48-years-old, Benjamin still has a lot of gas in the tank, and he just may end up in AEW soon enough.

For what it’s worth, there have been people in AEW pulling for Tony Khan to sign Shelton Benjamin since before WWE released him. So, he does have people on the roster who are on his side. 

AEW is looking ahead for their Big Business episode of Dynamite in Boston this week. March 13th’s episode will likely see the debut of Mercedes Mone for the company. It’s anyone’s guess how much longer fans will have to wait until Shelton Benjamin joins the mix.

SEScoops will have more on this story, and everything else that AEW is doing to gain headlines. Please keep checking back for more details on the stories you need.

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Monday, March 11. There are also a ton of great stories to take a look at, including RAW tonight. Let’s jump right into it.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 26

WWE:

– Brock Lesnar is back on WWE.com’s roster, and that was very interesting. I asked around to see if there is any word about his return, and was I was told that the creative team has not heard anything new about him since his stories were nixed after Janel Grant’s lawsuit went public.

Brock Lesnar is back on the WWE website roster, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be right back on TV.

After asking around I can confirm that the creative team has not been told that anything has changed with Lesnar.

He was supposed to be in the Rumble, face Dom at EC and…

— Aaron (@AaronVarble) March 11, 2024

– John Cena got totally naked for the 96th annual Academy Awards last night. It was quite a segment, and you can check it out here.

– For some reason, Sheamus has decided to deactivate his Twitter/X account.

– Maryse had an update for fans about her current cancer issues.

– WWE finally filed a trademark related to Shawn Spears, who is now back in NXT with a lot of steam after his run with AEW concluded.

– John Cena revealed his guilty pleasure movie, and it is rather NSFW.

WWE RAW Card for 3/11:

• Intercontinental Champion Gunther to face the winner of a Gauntlet Match at WrestleMania
• Liv Morgan is on a collision course with The Man
• Shayna Basler & Zoey Stark to challenge WWE Women’s World Champions The Kabuki Warriors

AEW:

– AEW is talking to Shelton Benjamin, so we will have to see if Tony Khan can pull in another ex WWE Superstar.

– Matt Hardy also reacted to Sammy Guevara’s suspension. Of course, Guevara was suspended after injuring Jeff Hardy.

– Britt Baker made a special appearance at a Luke Bryan concert. She got to sing a duet during the show.

– Jay Lethal paid tribute to his late mother during AEW Collision on Saturday.

– We ran a story about AEW’s original plan for Sting’s retirement match, and we welcome you to check it out.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

• AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
• WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
• WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

WWE released a list of talent in September 2024, and Shelton Benjamin was on that list. That being said, he has been conspicuously absent from any big announcement about going elsewhere. It turns out there is interest in him.

Shelton Benjamin has not ended up in TNA, AEW, NJPW, or anywhere. According to a new report, there are some suitors out there for the veteran former WWE Superstar.

Shelton Benjamin & AEW

According to reports from Fightful Select, Shelton Benjamin, who is currently unaffiliated with any company, has garnered interest from various potential promotions. 

While initially there was no contact between Shelton Benjamin and All Elite Wrestling upon his free agency, recent conversations between the two parties have taken place. These discussions revolved around the possibility of Benjamin making appearances for the company. 

It remains uncertain whether Benjamin would enter into a contract or a full-time deal with AEW, or if any formal agreements have been reached.

Talks regarding potential appearances for Benjamin reportedly started approximately a month ago, although the specifics of any arrangement were not disclosed. Obviously, he could provide a boost for any roster he joins.

Shelton Benjamin’s WWE Release & Beyond

Despite rumors last year about Shelton Benjamin’s WWE contract expiring, he was eventually released by the company in the fall of 2023. Benjamin’s release from WWE opened up the possibility for him to explore opportunities with other wrestling promotions. 

Having been with WWE since before the inception of AEW, Benjamin had not previously had the chance to work with Tony Khan’s company. Things may change in that regard soon enough.

Shelton Benjamin has a notable history in Ring of Honor. Benjamin’s extensive experience in the wrestling industry makes him an attractive prospect for potential employers. 

We will have to see where Shelton Benjamin shows up next, but he’s not out of the conversation entirely. SEScoops will have more on this story as additional updates are made available. 

WWE released several members of the roster in September, and a few of those people have already started making waves elsewhere. Shelton Benjamin lost his job with WWE as part of those cuts, and despite a pull to get him into AEW, that hasn’t happened yet.

Shelton Benjamin’s Current Free Agency Situation

The fall 2023 WWE releases are now open for bookings. Shelton Benjamin, with a wrestling career spanning over 20 years, has garnered interest from some quarters advocating for his inclusion in prominent wrestling companies.

According to Sean Ross Sapp on Fightful Select, several wrestlers were urging for Shelton Benjamin to join All Elite Wrestling. This is a sentiment that started well before his release. 

Benjamin has made a great impression with several people during his career. Obviously, his reputation precedes him, so there were people in the company advocating for Tony Khan to sign him.

Those that we spoke to said that while there were some people going to bat for Shelton, pushing for him to join the company and even making some internal pitches, as of early January, AEW had not yet contacted Benjamin about a potential appearance in the company.

On September 21, 2023, WWE made a series of releases, coinciding with a new TV deal. The list of released talent includes Mustafa Ali, Rick Boogs, Aliyah, Top Dolla of Hit Row, Tegan Nox, Emma, Riddick Moss, Elias, Shelton Benjamin, Dolph Ziggler, Dana Brooke, Mansoor, Mace, Quincy Elliot, Dabba-Kato, and Yulisa Leon.

Misconception About Shelton Benjamin’s Contract

Although there were efforts for people to pull for Shelton, with internal pitches made for him to join the company, that hasn’t happened yet. As of early January, AEW has not pulled the trigger on bringing him in.

The report also noted that there was actually a bit of confusion regarding his contract status last year. His deal did not expire at that time, but his current free agency certainly opens up the opportunity for him to come into AEW.

There was some miscommunication within AEW last Summer that led to some believing his deal was up imminently in 2023. Unfortunately, that ended up coming true as Shelton was released by the company in September 2023.

Tony Khan has brought in a good number of former WWE stars, and Shelton Benjamin could be a great addition to the roster. That being said, it does not appear that they are close to nailing down that deal at this time.

Time to get to work pic.twitter.com/FyH0Jgy4gB

— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) December 22, 2023

Shelton Benjamin isn’t motivated by championships or glory in this upcoming chapter of his wrestling career following his departure from WWE, but rather having fun. 

Benjamin was among those released from WWE in September of last year. The Gold Standard had been with the company since 2016. Before this, Benjamin had been under contract with the promotion from 2000 to 2010. He is a former U.S. Champion, Intercontinental Champion, Tag Champion, and WWE 24/7 Champion. 

 Shelton Benjamin On His Wrestling Future

Shelton Benjamin hasn’t wrestled since the final WWE Main Event taping before his release, where he and Cedric Alexander lost to the Viking Raiders. On a recent edition of the Kurt Angle Show podcast, Benjamin was asked about his future in the ring and admitted that he’s yet to commit to a singular goal. 

“I’m still weighing options. I’ve had a knock on my door here and there. I have no commitments, nothing major to announce aside from a few indie dates and a lot of autograph sessions. I’ve been taking my time on deciding what I want to do next.”

Benjamin went on to explain what’s important for him at this stage of his wrestling career. 

“I am at a point in my career where I want to have fun. If it’s not worth it, I want to have fun and make money, if it’s not worth it, I just don’t want to do it. I’m not trying to build a name, I have a name, but I want to be where I’m appreciated and featured and can have some fun.”

Shelton Benjamin will be back in the ring in due time… 

H/T – Fightful

Shelton Benjamin is coming to Pro Wrestling REVOLVER’s upcoming event in March, in his first booking since his release from WWE. 

The Gold Standard was among those released in September 2023, in the first wave of cuts following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Benjamin’s most recent tenure with WWE kicked off in 2016 though he wouldn’t compete until the following year. During this run, Benjamin held the Raw Tag Team Championships (with Cedric Alexander) and the 24/7 Championship. 

Benjamin’s Post-WWE Booking

Shelton Benjamin will be a part of the REVOLVER ‘Ready or Not’ event on March 16, the promotion has confirmed. Fans will have the chance to meet the former Superstar before the show. 

[BREAKING]

Signed for 3/16#RevolverREADY@HorizonEventsC1
LIVE on @FiteTV+

AUTOGRAPH SIGNING/MEET & GREET w/
Shelton Benjamin!

(Sponsored by: Hat Tricks Breaks)

?? https://t.co/mOxgSQzp6e pic.twitter.com/g9Eu7Cii4Q

— Wrestling REVOLVER (@PWRevolver) January 8, 2024

Wrestling REVOLVER: Ready or Not

Fans will be able to watch Benjamin’s match, and the rest of the show, on Triller TV+ (formerly Fite TV). The show will take place at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa. Benjamin isn’t the only former Superstar fans can expect for the show, as ‘Indy God’ Matt Cardona has also been announced. Other names announced for the event include Sami Callihan, Masha Slamovich, Jake Crist, The Rascalz, SGC, Killer Kelly, and Steve Maclin.

TNA Wrestling World Champion Alex Shelley has also been announced, as has Paul Walter Hauser of Netflix’s Cobra Kai. At this time, only one match has been announced, a dream match between ‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey and Marina Shafir. 

Shelton Benjamin is ready to take the wrestling world by storm, but he isn’t the only notable free agent in wrestling at the moment… 

Shelton Benjamin’s time with WWE may have ended, but the Gold Standard is by no means done in the ring. 

Benjamin, a former U.S. Intercontinental, Tag Team, and 24/7 Champion, was released from WWE in September of 2023 as part of the first wave of releases following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. Benjamin’s first run with WWE lasted from 2000 to 2010 with his second run going from 2017 to 2023. 

Shelton Benjamin On His Wrestling Future

During a Twitch stream, Benjamin was thanked by a fan for his years of entertainment. The ex-Superstar was grateful for the kind words and shared his timeframe for his future in the ring. 

“Thank you for watching. I hope you enjoyed [it]. I hope to give you [a] few years more, ’cause I’m not done yet. Not quite.”

During the stream, Benjamin was also asked about his move to Raw in 2004. Benjamin was drafted to the red brand in April and debuted by getting a series of upset wins over Triple H. 

“My thoughts on that was it was totally a surprise to me I had no idea what was planned. I didn’t realize how big that moment would be for me. It put me on the map.

“So much respect for Triple H for being willing to do the honors to get my name out there. It was amazing. That whole week, that whole run was one of the best times of my career.”

Could Shelton Benjamin’s future reside in AEW? Some in Tony Khan’s promotion certainly hope so. Click here to find out more. 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

CM Punk may lay claim to being the ‘Best in the World’ but his fighting skills were outmatched by some WWE Superstars during a 2006 flight.

That year was a formative one for Punk, who made his TV debut as part of the relaunched ECW brand. Punk was a personal project of ECW head Paul Heyman, and would quickly become one of the most featured stars on the show. 

CM Punk’s On-Board Flights

On a recent edition of his Six Feet Under podcast, The Undertaker spoke about Punk and the relationship they have had in the ring. The Phenom recalled a time when Punk was traveling with the roster for the 2006 edition of Tribute to the Troops in Baghdad, Iraq. 

“Somehow or another, the discussion comes up. I don’t know if Vince instigated this one or not… CM Punk, he fashioned himself as a jiu-jitsu practitioner. Someone broached the question, ‘You did jiu-jitsu. How long do you think you could last with one of these two wrestlers?’ It was Bobby Lashley, who wrestled for the Army, and Shelton Benjamin, who wrestled at Minnesota.”

The Undertaker added that Punk was confident, telling the roster “I’ll tap them out.” Despite this bravado, Punk was quickly humbled by Lashley and Benjamin. 

“I want to say the first match lasted about 47 seconds. The other one was sub-40, where they had taken them down and pinned him. He didn’t back down, but my goodness, it was like blood in the water and two great white sharks circling.”

Years later, Punk would compete in the UFC and have similarly rotten luck. Punk lost two fights for the promotion, though one of his losses was overturned after his opponent tested positive for performance-enhancing substances. 

CM Punk may have accidentally revealed the ring attire he’ll wear for his WWE run going forward. Click here to find out more.