Shelton Benjamin is widely regarded by fans and wrestling veterans as one of the standout talents of his generation. While he entered WWE alongside big names like Brock Lesnar, John Cena, and Batista, he never quite achieved top-tier singles stardom like them, a point noted by veteran commentator Jim Ross. Speaking on his “Grill Junior” podcast, Ross reflected that Benjamin was often held back due to limited opportunities. However, Ross has recently seen Benjamin perform in AEW and noted that Benjamin now seems more confident and genuinely connected with the audience, which wasn’t always the case in his earlier career. Ross emphasized that Shelton is one of the world’s finest talents and highlighted that all he really needed was a chance to develop his character and showcase his skills on his terms.
Ross acknowledged that Shelton Benjamin’s fanbase often criticized how wrestling promotions utilized him, and there was some merit to those concerns. Despite challenges, Benjamin’s persistence and dedication never wavered. Ross praised him as an athlete who continually strived to be the best, drawing on his background as an amateur wrestler and track athlete to push himself hard. Now, at 50 years old, Shelton remains in incredible shape and continues to impress both in and out of the ring. Ross expressed that Benjamin hasn’t received the full recognition he deserves but believes AEW fans are finally witnessing the true Shelton Benjamin. Recently, Benjamin successfully defended the AEW World Tag Team titles with Bobby Rushley.
Fan Take: This insight into Shelton Benjamin’s journey highlights AEW’s role in providing a platform for underrated talents to shine. For AEW fans, it signals more exciting performances ahead and reinforces the company’s dedication to letting wrestlers fully express themselves, enriching the wrestling landscape.
