Tag: Shelton Benjamin

Backstage Update On The Finish To AEW Dynamite/Collision Match After Miscommunication

A bit more clarity has emerged regarding the odd finish to Shelton Benjamin’s match with “Speedball” Mike Bailey during Wednesday night’s special three-hour AEW Dynamite/Collision broadcast from Boston’s Agganis Arena.

The closing stretch left plenty of fans scratching their heads. Benjamin nailed Bailey with a sharp superkick and covered him, only for the referee to abruptly halt the count despite Bailey’s shoulders being flat on the mat. The match rolled on for a few more moments before Benjamin ultimately sealed the win with a German suplex, a knee strike, and another superkick.

Naturally, viewers wondered if Bailey might have been legitimately rocked on the first kick. However, Bryan Alvarez reported that the situation came down to nothing more than an in-ring miscommunication — and no one was hurt.

Per Alvarez, the planned finish was indeed a superkick, and Bailey sold it with a huge flip bump that looked picture-perfect. Benjamin, recognizing how strong the moment came off, called an audible on the fly to end the match right there. The issue? The referee never caught the cue and stopped the count because it didn’t match the layout they’d been given.

Alvarez emphasized that Bailey did nothing wrong and wasn’t injured in the exchange. The blame, if any, falls on the miscommunication between Benjamin and the referee. Once the count was halted, the wrestlers simply reverted to the original closing sequence.

In the end, everyone walked away fine — just another case of live TV wrestling unpredictability creating a bit of confusion in real time.

Bobby Lashley Destroys Swerve Strickland In AEW Debut Following Dynamite Main Event

The Hurt Syndicate may be near completion, as Bobby Lashley made his AEW debut following the main event of “AEW Dynamite” Wednesday night, after reports of his signing emerged back when Shelton Benjamin officially became “All Elite.” The main event saw former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland take on Benjamin, with MVP at ringside, who relentlessly taunted Prince Nana throughout the bout. The match was made following Strickland’s decision to stay with his manager rather than join MVP’s new stable.

The match was Strickland’s first following his brutal loss against “Hangman” Adam Page in an unsanctioned steel cage match at All Out. Strickland started off the match hot, but Benjamin quickly took control for a good portion of the bout. When Strickland was able to battle back, he hit the House Call and went to the top rope, but hit a 450 Splash instead of a Swerve Stomp. Benjamin kicked out and quickly got Strickland into a waist lock. Strickland hit a desperation cutter and took them both out. Strickland got back to the top, but Benjamin followed, and Strickland countered with a Liger Bomb. He followed up with the Swerve Stomp to get the victory.

The camera then panned to MVP at ringside, who made a call while staring down Strickland in the ring. The lights went out quickly, then Lashley’s music hit. He got in the ring and got face-to-face with Strickland, and Benjamin distracted Strickland, taking him out and both men beat up the former champion. MVP choked out Nana with his cane, and Lashley got Strickland in a full nelson hold and made him pass out. Referees and security came running down to the ring, and MVP got on the microphone to ask the fans to guess “who’s back in business” as the show ended.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1851809970091618743
https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1851987494679572932

Shelton Benjamin Debuts On AEW Dynamite, He & Bobby Lashley Both Reportedly All Elite

Shelton Benjamin is back on our screens, and according to Fightful Select, he may not be alone.

After over a year of absence from any major televised promotion, Benjamin appeared alongside MVP on Wednesday’s five-year anniversary edition of “AEW Dynamite.” Benjamin was introduced by MVP as the “President of the Complaints Division,” after Prince Nana attempted to air his grievances during one of MVP’s backstage segments. Benjamin did little to assuage Nana’s actual complaints, instead electing to steal Nana’s cup of coffee as he walked off-screen with MVP.

Former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley was not present on Wednesday’s episode of “Dynamite,” but his AEW debut is reportedly “impending.” Benjamin’s AEW debut and Lashley’s alleged signing lends more credence to recent discussions of a revitalized Hurt Business in AEW. It is believed that the newly-christened “Hurt Syndicate” will mainly see MVP in a managerial capacity, with Benjamin and Lashley performing as in-ring competitors.

After MVP made his AEW debut on the September 25 episode of “Dynamite,” he has been attempting to recruit several of AEW’s top stars, including former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland and current TBS Champion and NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Moné. Whether Strickland or Moné will accept MVP’s invitation to The Hurt Syndicate remain unclear.

Before his AEW debut, Benjamin had been appearing in a global array of independent promotions, including the UK-based PROGRESS Wrestling and Deadlock Pro Wrestling. Lashley has gone the opposite route, remaining absent from the wrestling world since his WWE contract expired in August 2024. Any further details about Benjamin or Lashley’s AEW deal, including exclusivity and length, have yet to be disclosed.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The Non-Compete Clauses Are Reportedly Almost Over For Several Released Former WWE Stars

One of the more unfortunate aspects of the WWE-UFC merger earlier this year was that it led to several within WWE, both in and out of the ring, losing their jobs this past September. And while the releases will surely still sting, with the end of December quickly approaching, many of the in-ring talents will finally have a chance to get back in the ring for another promotion.

PWInsider Elite reports that the bulk of talents let go by WWE in September are set to have their noncompete clauses expire next Thursday, December 21. Among the talents that would now be available to work for any promotion they choose are Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, Dana Brooke, Aliyah, Rick Boogs, Mace, Mansor, Riddick Moss, Top Dolla, Elias, Dabbo-Kato, Quincy Elliot, Yulisa Leon, Shanky, and Matt Riddle.

Many of the released WWE names have already been announcing future bookings, though so far all are for events one month after their noncompetes end. The includes Ziggler, who announced over the weekend that his first match outside of WWE would take place on January 20 in Puerto Rico, where he’ll work for the World Wrestling Council. Mace and Mansoor are set to compete at Effy’s Big Gay Brunch the same day, though they have already made one non-wrestling appearance for Deadlock Pro Wrestling this past weekend. Matt Riddle has also lined up future bookings for that month, with the controversial wrestler going down to Mexico to work for The Crash Lucha Libre on January 19.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Kurt Angle Accepts Shelton Benjamin’s WrestleMania Challenge

Former WWE Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin had reached out via Instagram to express his personal interest in becoming Kurt Angle’s opponent for his retirement match at WrestleMania 35.

Although their relationship has seen many up and downs since it’s inception, Benjamin and Angle first appeared on WWE TV together in the latter part of 2002, when Shelton joined “The World’s Greatest Tag Team” alongside Charlie Haas and their mentor at the time, Kurt. Under Angle’s tutelage, Benjamin & Haas won their first tag team championships just a month after their debut and they would go on to be two-time champions before the team went their separate ways.

Angle has now responded to Benjamin’s challenge with a simple but enthusiastic, “I’m game!”

We will keep you updated in to tomorrow night’s WWE RAW to see if this is the actual direction that WWE creative will take Angle’s retirement storyline.

https://twitter.com/RealKurtAngle/status/1107328258926960647

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Shelton Benjamin Made His WWE Return on SmackDown Live (Video)

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Former WWE Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Champion Shelton Benjamin made his long awaited return to WWE last night on SmackDown Live.

SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan called Chad Gable to his office and revealed that he made a deal with RAW General Manager Kurt Angle – in exchange for Jason Jordan going to RAW, Angle would help Bryan sign one of his friends. Bryan then introduced Benjamin and told them that they would team up on next week’s SmackDown from North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Benjamin last worked for WWE in 2010. He was set to return to the company last year but the return was put on hold due to an injury that was discovered during medical testing.

Shelton Benjamin Set To Return to WWE

Shelton Benjamin has signed a deal to return to WWE. PWInsider reports that the former Intercontinental Champion has signed on to make his return to the company for the first time since 2010.

Benjamin was originally planned to return last summer following the brand split. The company ran promos hyping his return but the pre-signing medical tests revealed a torn rotator cuff. Benjamin underwent surgery to repair the issue and was medically cleared to return in March.

Benjamin was part of the World’s Greatest Tag Team with Charlie Haas from 2002 through 2004 before splitting up, winning the WWE Tag Team Championships during that time. Benjamin went to Raw and got a singles push before the team reunited from 2006 through 2008. He left the company in February of 2010. Since then he has worked for Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling NOAH among other companies.

Source: 411Mania

Shelton Benjamin In Talks With WWE To Return … Again

Pro Wrestling Sheet reports that Shelton Benjamin is once again in talks with WWE to return to the company … only this time he isn’t unknowingly injured while doing so.

For those who don’t recall, Benjamin was advertised as returning to SmackDown Live following the WWE Draft last year … but a shoulder injury derailed those plans and his deal fell through.

However, as we previously reported, Shelton was officially cleared for action back in March.

The next month he tweeted, “Let me clear this up now. I am not signed to . I never signed due to injury. While that could change, as of 4-16-2017 I am a free agent”

Sources tell Pro Wrestling Sheet that Shelton’s deal isn’t done quite yet, but things are heading in the right direction … so he’ll more than likely appear on SD Live once it’s finalized and creative plans are in place.

Shelton Benjamin Returning To WWE Soon?

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We noted last year how Shelton Benjamin was set to make his return to the WWE SmackDown Live brand but that return was being delayed due to an injury. Shelton noted on Twitter today that he has been cleared to compete. No word yet on when he will return to WWE but it’s believed the return was never taken off the table.

Source: WrestlingINC

Shelton Benjamin Not Returning To WWE At This Time Due To Injury

Source: Pro Wrestling Sheet

The Gold Standard will not be making his WWE return as previously advertised … Shelton Benjamin says their doctors discovered a serious shoulder injury during testing and now he needs surgery.

Shelton tweeted, “I am both disappointed & sadden to announce that due to a serious injury to my shoulder I will not be returning to WWE at this time.”

He added, “For now I will have to put pro-wrestling to the side as I prepare to undergo surgery to repair my torn rotator. This comes as a shock to me as I am no stranger to performing while in pain, yet I had no idea of the severity of my condition.”

Benjamin’s return was hyped with a vignette during the debut episode of SmackDown Live last month.  No word at this time if his injury will be addressed on TV.

Here are his tweets: