Shelton Benjamin has been considered one of the most underrated wrestlers in WWE history from his push in the Ruthless Aggression Era to today. Fans loved the exciting action of Benjamin when working with Charlie Haas in the World’s Greatest Tag Team. A singles run afterwards saw WWE using him inconsistently when many fans wanted to see him in a bigger role.
Benjamin always delivered strong in-ring performances to develop a positive reputation. The time away from WWE saw him still performing at a high level in Japan and Ring of Honor. WWE bringing Shelton back has seen him getting to spend the final chapter of his career back where it started. Without further ado, let's find out more about Benjamin behind the scenes with the most fascinating backstage stories.
10 Teaming With Brock Lesnar Was Pitched For Main Roster Debut
Brock Lesnar and Shelton Benjamin were signed together and created a tag team in developmental. Both guys had backgrounds going to the same college at the University of Minnesota where they were involved in amateur wrestling.
The fit made sense to team them up in developmental, but multiple members of management shut down the potential of them teaming on the main roster when pitched. Jim Ross revealed that Brock was viewed as a "can’t miss prospect" and he had to come up in a singles role.
9 Chris Jericho & Edge Planned His Wild MITB Spots
The first Money in the Bank ladder match at WrestleMania 21 introduced the concept in a successful fashion. Edge, Christian, Chris Jericho, Kane, Chris Benoit, and Shelton Benjamin were the competitors hoping to win the title shot.
Shelton stole the match with an epic spot running up a set-up ladder at full speed to hit a tremendous clothesline. There was another impressive dive that made Benjamin look like a breakout star. Jericho and Edge planned out spots to highlight Shelton since they wanted him to look strong in defeat.
8 NJPW Sent Him To Keep NOAH Promotion Afloat
The Japan chapter of Shelton Benjamin’s career is very underrated when looking back at his success there. NJPW signed Benjamin as a rare former WWE star at the time before they looked to expand in the United States.
The working relationship between NJPW and sister promotion Pro Wrestling NOAH saw New Japan sending some wrestlers over there to create momentum. Benjamin was valued enough to lead some of the angles there to keep business afloat.
7 Lilian Garcia Convinced Him To Reach Out To WWE
The time away from WWE had many fans wondering if Shelton Benjamin would ever return to the promotion. WWE was the first place to not only spotlight Benjamin, but they were the reason he even got involved in the industry, to begin with.
Shelton revealed that he ended up initiating contact with WWE in 2016 following a conversation with Lilian Garcia during WrestleMania 32 weekend. The comments from Lilian that he should reach out for what he wants led to him talking to WWE and getting a contract offer later in the year following the brand split.
6 Reuniting With Haas Vs American Alpha Was Discussed Before Injury
The return of Shelton Benjamin in 2017 came a year later than expected. Benjamin suffered an injury right after getting signed in 2016. There were a few plans reportedly on the table in 2016 including a reunion with Charlie Haas.
Chad Gable and Jason Jordan getting called up in the draft as American Alpha drew instant comparisons to Haas and Benjamin. The injury prevented any plans from happening and American Alpha was already split up when Shelton was cleared to compete. A funny twist would see Benjamin teaming with Gable in his return since they each needed something moving forward.
5 Vince Believed He Had World Title Potential
Many fans were surprised or upset that the team of Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas ended after a little over a year. Both wrestlers worked perfectly together from their time as Team Angle to the self-proclaimed World’s Greatest Tag Team.
Jim Ross revealed that Vince McMahon saw top star potential in Benjamin due to his athleticism and instinct in the ring. The split saw Shelton instantly pushed with matches against names like Chris Jericho, Triple H, and Randy Orton. Unfortunately, it never panned out to a world title reign like Vince believed was possible.
4 MVP Convinced NJPW To Give Him Chance
The friendship between Shelton Benjamin and MVP started long before their time together in the Hurt Business faction. MVP was finding success in NJPW after asking to get released from WWE to chase his dream of wrestling in Japan.
Benjamin was called by MVP towards the end of his Ring of Honor run when MVP needed a tag team partner. The debut of Shelton came at the biggest event of the year known as Wrestle Kingdom and started a lengthy run thanks to a good connection.
3 Had Vertigo During Epic Shawn Michaels Match
The incredible moment of Shawn Michaels hitting a Sweet Chin Music to Shelton Benjamin who leaped at him in mid-air is still discussed today. Benjamin revealed that it was shocking that he was able to get through such a tough match when suffering from vertigo.
The wild nature of Shelton having to perfectly balance and time his way into getting kicked should have been stopped by the inability to do those things. Things somehow worked out perfectly for one of the coolest visuals in WWE history.
2 Had No Idea He Was Winning IC Title At Taboo Tuesday
The first Taboo Tuesday PPV was a huge experiment with WWE using online fan polls to decide matches and stipulations. Chris Jericho was frustrated about opening the show with over a dozen choices to select to face him for the Intercontinental Championship.
WWE gave no indication to any of the talents about where the votes were leaning. Shelton Benjamin won the poll and defeated Jericho without having time to call anything ahead of time. Jericho revealed that Vince McMahon picked Shelton to win on the fly since he felt the fans voting deserved to have their voice rewarded in the first match.
1 Dixie Carter Mistaking His Name At TNA Party
TNA never hiring Shelton Benjamin was a bit odd since many of his former co-workers and closest friends ended up there. Benjamin knew enough people at TNA that he ended up attending a holiday party for the company’s talent and their guests.
Taz revealed a hilarious story about Dixie Carter meeting Shelton at the party and not remembering his name correctly. Dixie asked about the free-agent status of “Benjamin Shelton” afterwards to show how little she knew about wrestling.