Question about Shelton Benjamin from RAW?

[UZI Suicide 0]

I missed RAW and didn't actually read the results until just now, so my two questions are..

 

1.) What kind of pop did Shelton Benjamin get when he came out?

 

2.) Is his wrestling name REALLY "Mr. Benjamin" now or is it just a nickname?

[Guest DeathBecomesYou]

1. He seemed to get a pretty good pop.

2. JR and Lawler called him Shelton Benjamin, so no name change yet.

[Black Lushus 0]

Yeah he got a pretty good pop, probably better than Orton but just below Benoit so you know what that means...midcard city against Stevie Richards...

[SuperJerk 0]

He got cheered because he was a face doing a run-in, so I don't think that's a good gage of how over he might be.

 

Orton was getting some pretty strong pops earlier in the night, as was Benoit.

[Guest Archibald Mutombo]

Orton was getting some pretty strong pops earlier in the night, as was Benoit.

 

I thought so!

 

[SuperJerk 0]

Of course, I'm betting some of the crowd was too busy wondering WHY Mr. Benjamin would be helping Orton in the first place...

[Black Lushus 0]

I'm just hoping I guess...would be nice to see them make a star out of an African American, just my personal opinion for obvious reasons...Ahmed Johnson was looking good but you all know how that went...and don't give me Booker T because the WWE sure didn't make him...he's declining anyway...

[The Czech Republic 0]

I think Shelton Benjamin can be a legitimate black superstar, because he's not being portrayed as a stereotype, and unlike Ahmed, doesn't seem to have, in the words of Vince Russo, an eight-man marble tournament going on in his mouth. He's just an awesome wrestler who happens to be black. Personally, I hope he ends up being a huge success, though I still sort of wish there would be a World's Greatest Tag-Team reunion to bring some life back into the ranks.

[Sideburnious 0]

Benjamin would have been a better Champion than Orton. WWE seem to be making champions to their different markets i.e Eddie for the Latinos, so hopefully they'll put the belt on Benjamin, he seems to be ready anyway (well, post injury).

[Black Lushus 0]

Affirmative Action Champs!

[Dandy 0]

I see Benjamin as a great athlete with a legitmate background in amateur wrestling before I see him as a black wrestler. Of course maybe it's where I'm not racist.

 

I think he could be a good Bret Hart style champion in the future.

[Guest CronoT]

If the "pairing off" of the faces and heels at the end of the show is any indication, Shelton Benjamin will probably have a feud with Flair for a while. Personally, I think that's a good thing. They'll be able to play off Shelton's youth, strength, and ability, againt Flair's experience, craftiness, and downright dirty tricks.

[Black Lushus 0]

I see Benjamin as a great athlete with a legitmate background in amateur wrestling before I see him as a black wrestler. Of course maybe it's where I'm not racist.

 

I think he could be a good Bret Hart style champion in the future.

what's racist about it?

[Enigma 0]

Looks to be heading to a Orton/Benjamin/Benoit vs. Evolution feud.

[Guest Big Daddy V1]

If the "pairing off" of the faces and heels at the end of the show is any indication, Shelton Benjamin will probably have a feud with Flair for a while. Personally, I think that's a good thing. They'll be able to play off Shelton's youth, strength, and ability, againt Flair's experience, craftiness, and downright dirty tricks.

Didn't he have a small feud with Flair (with Benjamin going over) before being injured? It would seem a little repeatitive, but seeing Benjamin gone for a few months will make people forget he fought Flair before.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

If the "pairing off" of the faces and heels at the end of the show is any indication, Shelton Benjamin will probably have a feud with Flair for a while. Personally, I think that's a good thing. They'll be able to play off Shelton's youth, strength, and ability, againt Flair's experience, craftiness, and downright dirty tricks.

If you think that this is a good thing you quite obviously didn't see their match at Backlash.

[Dandy 0]

I see Benjamin as a great athlete with a legitmate background in amateur wrestling before I see him as a black wrestler.  Of course maybe it's where I'm not racist.

 

I think he could be a good Bret Hart style champion in the future.

what's racist about it?

It was brought up that he was a good character right now because he wasn't stereotyped in a racist way. I was basically agreeing that I don't think of him as a black guy that wrestles, but as a good wrestler. Not calling anyone on here racist.

[Black Lushus 0]

Yeah he's talking about the character given to a black man, not the skill level of a black man...they don't need to place a stereotypical gimmick on him because his skills speak for themselves rather than say Booker T who is a break dancing thug or Ahmed Johnson, tough guy from the streets, or Faarooq, radical black militant leader or New Jack, street gangsta (okay that's what he really is but...) or Kamala, fat crazy african or Koko B. Ware, dancin bird lover...i know you're not callin anyone racist and i apologize if i came across as accusing you of that...

 

as an example, i think Ahmed (minus the injuries) could have been just as over if they didn't play on his background all the time but rather just brought him out as bad ass MOFO a la Goldberg during his hot runs...

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

Shelton Benjamin will be a future WWE Champion.

 

I still wanna see a Benjamin/Christian fued.

[ChrisMWaters 0]

I wonder how long it will be before HHH gets his revenge for Shelton beating him twice.

 

And why'd he ditch the red ring attire for blue?

[Australian Pride 0]

I like Shelton, and i think he will crack it as a top line player. And even if he doesnt make it, there's always Mark Henry and Rodney Mack to represent African Americans on Raw.

[Guest GreatOne]

Of course, I'm betting some of the crowd was too busy wondering WHY Mr. Benjamin would be helping Orton in the first place...

Going after Evolution didn't mean that he was helping Orton, like Austin going after the Hart Foundation didn't mean he was saving Michaels in '97.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

*Looks at all the people in this thread talking about Benjamin being a top player*

 

*Watches WrestleMania 19*

 

LOL. And exactly how many black main eventers has there been since then?

[what 0]

*Looks at all the people in this thread talking about Benjamin being a top player*

 

*Watches WrestleMania 19*

 

LOL. And exactly how many black main eventers has there been since then?

How many black wrestlers have deserved a main event slot since then?

 

Booker, maybe. Who else?

[razazteca 0]

The Rock, but he is not really pushed as a black wrestler.

[Lt. Al Giardello 0]

The Rock, but he is not really pushed as a black wrestler.

He shouldn't have to be.

 

No wrestlers showed be pushed by their race.

 

The WWF didn't try to hide The Rock being half black. As he was a member of a black stable the Nation of Domination, and they showed pictures of his father Rocky Johnson whom has history in the sport.

[razazteca 0]

The Rock is more of the Tiger Woods type of person........as he dominates the sport and people mark out for him no matter what.

[Guest Rrrsh]

I think A Shelton-Flair idea is good for hsi push, bad for us.

 

 

Cuz, ya know, Flair sucks.

 

 

 

Mian question is, does Benoit get HHH and we have to wait for Orton to get his rematch later on. I dont know how much they want to burn out this fued before WM

[Dark Age 0]

Why do a Shelton/Flair feud when it's, ya know, already happened? Doing it again won't make it any better, nor will it give Shelton any sort of 'rub'. The best idea would have been to continue the Shelton/Orton feud upon his return, but they had to go and ruin it by making Orton a main eventer.

 

I'd say Batista would be the next logical stop for Shelton, considering that seemed to be the plan when he went down injured. Batista's the only Evo/former Evo member he hasn't beat. And they will probabky have to do a PPV match with Triple H sooner or later, to play up the 'Triple H has never beat Shelton' storyline. Of course that would also work better if Triple H didn't have the title, but then that would mean no Orton/Triple H monster feud, and Lord knows we can't live without that.

 

After Batista, I'm not really sure if there is anything left for Shelton on Raw (well if the booking continues as it is; they COULD do something interesting, but it's unlikely). Christian/Shelton doesn't appeal to me, and nor does Shelton/Kane. Any other feuds would require a turn. Best bet would be to send him back to SD and either reunite WGTT as face (upper mid carders who have the belts forever, and face important teams, main eventer, etc) or just bring him back as a single. Shelton/Eddie, Shelton/Angle, Shelton/Charlie, Shelton/Booker and Shelton/Cena are all way more interesting than anything they've got on SD right now.

[Guest Rrrsh]

Its not to give Shelton the rub, but to get the fans used to him agian. No one goes over Batista clean unless your Benoit so there is no point for that.