Shelton Benjamin, a seasoned wrestling professional, recently shared insights about his career, revealing why he prefers portraying villainous roles over heroic ones. During an interview on the “Energis Podcast,” Benjamin admitted that he found himself more skilled and comfortable playing the heel character, as it’s more enjoyable and easier to provoke strong reactions from the audience compared to trying to earn their cheers.
He expressed surprise at his own aptitude for being a bad guy, stating that although he has switched between good and bad roles throughout his career, he ultimately favors being a villain. Benjamin explained that it’s more entertaining for him to make fans angry than happy, and ironically, some bad guys even become fan favorites. Throughout his time in WWE, Benjamin successfully portrayed both babyface and heel characters, but he feels more at ease and natural as the antagonist who the audience loves to hate.
After several runs in WWE, Shelton Benjamin debuted with AEW in October 2024. In AEW, known as the “gold standard,” playing a villain is challenging but highly rewarding and enjoyable for him as a performer.
Fan Take: This revelation from Shelton Benjamin highlights a key element of wrestling storytelling — the power of a compelling villain. For AEW fans, his preference for being a bad guy promises intense rivalries and captivating matches that could elevate the drama and excitement of the sport.
