Shelton Benjamin

[Guest Jack Potts]

I have to take some exception to the comments about Benjamin's promo skills. He's not quite there yet, but he does have the ability to cut a solid promo when given something to work with.

 

Last year, I went to see the Smackdown show in Savannah, GA, and Shelton and Haas came in the ring to cut a skit/promo on the APA. (Man, things sure have changed!) Benjamin came out dressed as Bradshaw and sang the West Texas Rednecks "Rap is Crap" song, while Haas stomped around dressed as Farooq, co-signing everything Benjamin said with, "Damn!" As much as I enjoy watching Benjamin wrestle, he really did a great job with the promo, and sold it with his enthusiasm and charisma.

 

The crowd just needs a reason to get into Shelton's character. The crowd popped pretty hard for him during his series with HHH. If they had pulled the trigger on Benjamin's push then, he would definitely be cemented in the Main Event now.

He gets significant pops now, but if the WWE gave us a reason to care about Benjamin, they would be even bigger.

 

Sadly, his weakest looking move is his finisher. Considering that the majority of his offense is so solid, and he's such a great mat wrestler, it's ironic that his suplex would look so unrealistic. If he changed it to a Tazz-style T-bone suplex, where he keeps the grip on the leg, it would look more legit and impressive. Personally, in honor of Minnesota native Curt Hennig, I think Benjamin should change his finisher to a Fisherman's Suplex, since Shelton went to college up there.

[Guest Jack Potts]

Combine nl5xsk1 and Goodear's suggestions. A blood fued with Hassan would be a great way to build both these guys, just like HHH and The Rock's running fued through the years.

 

Hassan's a little green, but he could definitely keep up with Benjamin in the ring. If the WWE allowed Hassan and Benjamin to trade wins and losses in a heated fued that occasionally featured some Main Event matches, they could really bring out the best in both men, and establish them as top tier talents.

 

There's also something cool about using a Black man as the defender of the American spirit. It would add a great subtext to their rivalry.

[tominator89 0]

I liked the chairshot he gave Snitsky not too long ago. Definitely made his character seem more intense.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Combine nl5xsk1 and Goodear's suggestions. A blood fued with Hassan would be a great way to build both these guys, just like HHH and The Rock's running fued through the years.

 

Hassan's a little green, but he could definitely keep up with Benjamin in the ring. If the WWE allowed Hassan and Benjamin to trade wins and losses in a heated fued that occasionally featured some Main Event matches, they could really bring out the best in both men, and establish them as top tier talents.

 

There's also something cool about using a Black man as the defender of the American spirit. It would add a great subtext to their rivalry.

I'm failing to grasp the subtext of a man who's race has been defiled and worse by his own country wanting to defend it.

 

Oh, wait. You mean the whole "Even though black people get a raw deal he wants to defend America" storyline. Yeah, that's the key.

[Guest Jack Potts]

[There's also something cool about using a Black man as the defender of the American spirit. It would add a great subtext to their rivalry.

I'm failing to grasp the subtext of a man who's race has been defiled and worse by his own country wanting to defend it.

 

Oh, wait. You mean the whole "Even though black people get a raw deal he wants to defend America" storyline. Yeah, that's the key.

 

First of all, I am a Black man, who currently resides less than an hour from Orangeburg, SC, Shelton Benjamin's hometown, so I can more than empathize with the "raw deal" us Black folks have received in this nation.

 

With that said, I concede that I may need to expand on the idea I expressed in my last post. As a Black man in America, Shelton has arguably been at the receiving end of the American "raw deal" for many years before 9/11, when it suddenly became fashionable to hate Arab-Americans, too. (Sarcasm.)

 

Although I don't think the best basis for the feud would be Shelton confronting Hassan about his views on America. As a matter of fact, I think that would limiting to both men. However, simply by facing Hassan, Shelton Benjamin would become the de facto "defender of the American spirit," just as Canadian Chris Benoit received "USA" chants during his match against Hassan.

 

Living in a state that still proudly flies the Confederate stars and bars on the grounds of its capitol, I guess I enjoyed the image of rednecks sitting in front of their TV sets, briefly conflicted over the choice of cheering for the African-American or the (storyline) Arab-American, then deciding to cheer for Benjamin out of knee-jerk jingoism.

 

That was the subtext I was referring to, but since much of it was so personal, I should have explained it better.

[nl5xsk1 0]

2 things ...

 

1) when it comes to defending America, it doesn't matter if the person is black or white or any other color. At least it shouldn't.

 

2) and why would he be defending America against an American that's speaking the truth?

[Black Lushus 0]

because people still fail to see what Hassan's gimmick really is...he's not evil foreign invader, he's a man that's pissed off at the racism he has recieved after 9/11, which is true, in some cases...

[nl5xsk1 0]

Wait, Lushus, are you explaining why Jack Potts feels that Benjamin would be 'defending' America, why most wrestling fans would feel that way, or am I just acting blonde again???

[Black Lushus 0]

I think you're being blonde again, nl...no I'm kinda following your thought...the average mark sees him as evil foreigner, thus Shelton fueding with him to defend America makes sense...but to those of us in the know, that would be a stupid reason to have them fued because Hassan loves being American with the exception of the racism...

[Guest Jack Potts]

Bingo, Black Lushus!

[Guest krazykat72]

Honestly, what would have happened to The Rock had he not been able to come up with his own stuff?

-=Mike

Rock has always been portrayed *far* differently than stereotypical black characters.

Part of it is his Samoan heritage, as they went all out in promoting his being a 3rd generation star but even when he went to the Nation, it went from a racially motivated group(in the Farooq era) to just a stable (especially after adding Owen Hart). After that, Rock was simply Rock.

 

 

-Paul Jacobi-

[The Niggardly King 0]

Shelton Benjamin really reminds me of a young Sting. Just has this natural charisma and excitement to him. All he really needs is a character and that one great feud to make him a star.

[Black Lushus 0]

I think he DOES have character, that's the thing...dude shows tons of charisma IN THE RING...the WWE just isn't really doing much else with him outside the ring...

[The Niggardly King 0]

I think he DOES have character, that's the thing...dude shows tons of charisma IN THE RING...the WWE just isn't really doing much else with him outside the ring...

I agree with that. He just really needs something outside of the ring. He can cut a solid promo when given the chance. They should show the confidence like they had with Orton when he was Intercontential Champion, and just let Benjamin cut at least a promo weekly.

[Mrnoitaull 0]

excellent in the ring, ok on the sticks, doesnt botch, helluva seller

 

alright by me

 

AND HE'S BLACK!!!

 

not to sound racist cus Im black , just that we havent had any that actually carried thereselves as well as he has.

[cameron chaos 0]

Hassan is opposed to America currently, Benjamin is a two time NCAA all American so sayeth Jr, so the feud is right there. All American face that made good on his opportunities vs Anti-America heel complaning about harships rather than overcoming them like Benjamin has.

 

All you'd need is Benjamin to come out and say, "I can understand where you are coming from but I am sick of hearing you complain about it. When I was living with the knowledge I could go to school and get shot, I went to school anyway to better myself. When people looked down on me because of where I came from and didn't believe I could make something of myself, I went on to become a two time All American and graduated from university. When I came to the WWE, people doubted my abilities but I have held the tag team titles and hold the intercontinental title right now. I have suffered hardships all my life, not just since September 11th, and I am sick about you blaming everyone else rather than taking charge to prove people wrong. Take action!"

 

Have Daivari jump on his back, Hassan can clock him with the title, and then Hassan can go "There, you wanted me to take action? How about I take your title too?"

 

Feud set.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

How come Benjamin hasn't cut a promo about the ladder match yet?

 

Seriously, his name alone works.

 

"Money in the Bank? Nah. All about the Benjamins."

[nl5xsk1 0]

Since Mrnoitaull brought it up, I have to ask ... do people really like wrestlers more or less because of their race or ethnicity? I don't see Shelton as a black wrestler; I just see him as a wrestler.

[Myxamatosis 0]

Since Mrnoitaull brought it up, I have to ask ... do people really like wrestlers more or less because of their race or ethnicity?  I don't see Shelton as a black wrestler; I just see him as a wrestler.

There is an undeniable crossover appeal with ethnic athletes. But, there is baggage as well.

 

I think one of the main reasons The Rock, Ahmed Johnson and, to an extent, Batista have hit it so big that they look different than any other North American babyface from the past twenty years.

 

Most major sports in America have promoted and marketed around ethnic athletes for decades before pro wrestling started using Sammartino, Morales and Brazil at the top of the cards. People were starving for something different, something that was representive of society, or at least the society they saw on television.

 

The baggage lies in stereotypes. The WWE is stuck in B-movie hell with the amazing amount of narrow-minded and borderline racist characters they parade around the country.

[Black Lushus 0]

honestly, nl, being black, i admit that i am biased towards him as far as wanting to see him succeed...I don't think there's anything wrong with that..

[nl5xsk1 0]

Lushus, I agree, there isn't anything wrong with it ... it makes sense for someone to root for someone that shares a race or heritage. But do you think you'd have the same biases if he wasn't so skilled & talented? I mean, would a scrub like Viscera have more appeal purely because he's black?

 

Conversely, are there people that actually root against a wrestler purely because of his race?

[Black Lushus 0]

I liked Ahmed Johnson before he became a piece of shit, he's not as skilled as Shelton...if Viscera had Ahmed's and Shelton's charisma and character, yeah i probably would...

 

that'd be like me asking you if you like Benoit because he's white...Benjamin is a hell of a talent, the fact that he's black, yes, makes me like him and root for him that much more...the fact that there really haven't been too many black athletes as talented in the WWE makes me root for him more...

[nl5xsk1 0]

I'm at the point that Benoit's abilities aren't enough ... I like a wrestler more for the total of their abilities, and the fact that Benoit can't cut a good promo (IMHO, I know I'll get slammed for that) kind of hurst him ... so, he's a bad example. But Jericho has become one of my favorites again, and his skin color has nothing to do with it. He could be ANYTHING and as long as he cut believable promos and put on good matches, it'd be fine by me.

 

I think since so many wrestlers are white regional affiliation would have to fill in for race. Like, would someone from New England root for HHH or Cena just because they're local? I don't, but I'm guessing other people do. The only time I've rooted for a guy purely because he was from Boston was Kevin Sullivan, and that was when I was like 11 and he was still a Satanist.

 

MOST IMPORTANTLY, I didn't mean for this to imply "do black people only like Benjamin because he's black" or anything comparable. It kind of just struck me during the match with Edge that he was one of the few black wrestlers to be treated with any real respect, and one of the VERY few that didn't have stereotypical black traits ... it was a good thing, it was as if someone's skin color didn't matter. And that's a world that I'd prefer to live in.

[Black Lushus 0]

well that's what I mean...he's the first black guy, not counting the Rock, to actually have potential to be something special in the WWE, so my biasness goes towards him, and yes a lot of it is because he's black...if he were white i'd just view him along the lines of Benoit or Edge or Jericho...i dunno, this topic is making my head hurt...

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

BUMPED for that SWEET dive in the 6-man tag match.

[Lord of The Curry 0]

Fuck, Benjamin's stock just jumped like a motherfucker.

 

I DEMAND we see a Sasuke Special #2 from him at WrestleMania.

[haws bah gawd 0]

I agree, that suicide dive was fucking incredible. Honestly, is there anything Shelton CAN'T do? He can fly, mat wrestle, brawl, hes got everything. Like everyone else has said, all he needs is that all important big feud to really cement him as a star.

[Guest MikeSC]

Combine nl5xsk1 and Goodear's suggestions. A blood fued with Hassan would be a great way to build both these guys, just like HHH and The Rock's running fued through the years.

 

Hassan's a little green, but he could definitely keep up with Benjamin in the ring. If the WWE allowed Hassan and Benjamin to trade wins and losses in a heated fued that occasionally featured some Main Event matches, they could really bring out the best in both men, and establish them as top tier talents.

 

There's also something cool about using a Black man as the defender of the American spirit. It would add a great subtext to their rivalry.

As haws can back up, Hassan and Shelton actually work pretty well together. I thought their match on Sunday here was pretty decent.

-=Mike

[Toshiaki Koala 0]

I don't know about no 6-man, but that dive he did in the tag match last night was indeed awesome.

 

So, will we finally see the 450 at Wrestlemania?

[Rendclaw 0]

I liked Benjamin from the start. He has a great look, pretty impressive moveset, and yes he *does* have personality.

 

I have to admit that I was stunned when I saw him perform that suicide dive in the six-man. Flawlessly done.

 

But as always, he won't get any higher, as was previously said. They do need to do something with him, now more than ever, because he is IC champ. I know its a mid-card belt, but they do need a hot storyline to capitalize on his growing popularity. A program with Hassan would be perfect, I agree totally. If Shelton had gotten in his face instead of Shawn Michaels, it would have even been better. Change the title back and forth once or twice, with each of them upping the ante and countering each other's moves. It make perfect sense, so that means that it will not be used.

 

Being black, I have to say I have a little bit more of a vested interest in seeing Shelton succeed, but I don;t hink its very significant. In the end, its a wrestler's overall ability that will make me like him, out of the ring as well as in.