Is Shelton Benjamin in the Last Chance Saloon?

[eJm]

I've been talking about this with Stryker for the last couple of weeks, more heatedly during the actual 15 person draft from a couple of weeks ago, and something rose out from it that I wanted to pitch to you guys.

Ever since Shelton Benjamin broke out in 2002, he's had an uneven push. Part of it has to do with how he's booked and part of it has to do with his motivation which goes up and down as much.

Because of this, he's basically been on every brand and for the last 7 years, commantators have promoted him as the next big star. But it comes to a point that, like Kennedy before him, the WWE might lose their faith in him and stop trying with Shelton. This move to ECW is one of those moves that doesn't help stop that doubt.

Both me and Stryker disagree about his ability. I personally would like to see him get a fair lick, but if he isn't going to try there is honestly no point in keeping him. In a way, he's like Kennedy without the injuries.

What I also think, though, is that he would cope really well being out of the company even for a small while. He seems like a guy who needs motivation, like some time to improve and maybe spend some time in ROH to possibly try to become a Brent Albright for them. I think he can, Stryker doesn't think so but hey...we always disagree on this kind of stuff.

So what do you guys think?

[Psychoblue]

If he got the boot, you can bet your friend a pizza that it wouldn't be long before he showed up in the Impact Zone.

[Bubble Lead]

Jul 11, 2009 19:12:15 GMT -5 eJm said:

I've been talking about this with Stryker for the last couple of weeks, more heatedly during the actual 15 person draft from a couple of weeks ago, and something rose out from it that I wanted to pitch to you guys.

Ever since Shelton Benjamin broke out in 2002, he's had an uneven push. Part of it has to do with how he's booked and part of it has to do with his motivation which goes up and down as much.

Because of this, he's basically been on every brand and for the last 7 years, commantators have promoted him as the next big star. But it comes to a point that, like Kennedy before him, the WWE might lose their faith in him and stop trying with Shelton. This move to ECW is one of those moves that doesn't help stop that doubt.

Both me and Stryker disagree about his ability. I personally would like to see him get a fair lick, but if he isn't going to try there is honestly no point in keeping him. In a way, he's like Kennedy without the injuries.

What I also think, though, is that he would cope really well being out of the company even for a small while. He seems like a guy who needs motivation, like some time to improve and maybe spend some time in ROH to possibly try to become a Brent Albright for them. I think he can, Stryker doesn't think so but hey...we always disagree on this kind of stuff.

So what do you guys think?

Shelton is a guy who can always have great matches. He is a capable upper midcarder. I don't think he's in the "last chance saloon" otherwise he would have been endeavored long ago.

Maybe Shelton doesn't care about being in the main event? Maybe he is a guy like Val Venis, who just goes with whatever he is given and is just happy to be wrestling. He has been very successful in his career so far, just no main event push...but he could be pushed to that level at any point in time, and still has plenty of years left on his career. Look at Mark Henry, I don't think anyone would have ever thought he'd still be around at this point, pretty over and a possible WWE Title contender at any time.

I would love to see Shelton ply his craft in TNA or Japan because he would probably get a big push, and he is one of my favorite wrestlers to watch. However, if that's what he wanted he would do that (ala Christian). Maybe he is happy where he is? As a Shelton fan, I sure am a lot happier with his booking now compared to when he was on RAW and was nothing but a jobber. At least he has won some titles, and he may even get an ECW Title push in the future.

[Hiroshi Hase]

A solid midcard talent, he's just fine where he is, nothing wrong with that. I doubt he's in any type of trouble with WWE.

[H-Fist]

His ceiling was always higher than Charlie Haas' because Shelton had the greater athleticism and ability to pull off high spots. Also, he is a (well-edaclated) black man, which made him a potential draw for an underrepresented demographic. For a long time it did feel like he had that it-factor those crazy kids talk about. And he still has that potential, just like Mark Henry (mentioned above) and Jeff Hardy. Val Venis was also a great comparison. Shelton, even if he never makes the leap to the main event of the pay per view, will always be a threat for the midcard title and a solid hand to elevate the next influx of talent.

[Firearm: Supposed Big Deal]

I still think they should do a "Shelton has never won MITB" angle up to WM. It doesn't have to be this WM, but just any WM.

[MrBRulzOK]

Shelton is where he is today for a reason. But that said, even when he isn't motivated, he can wrestle quite well in the ring. Therefore, I don't think WWE really needs to get rid of him. At the very least, he can be used to put guys over, like he did for Yoshi Tatsu. And maybe, just maybe he'll get an ECW Title reign out of it. And that motivated Henry, Big Show, and plenty of former ECW champions to perform much better than they had. Perhaps it could do him some good?

[strykerdarksilence]

I'd just like to clarify on my position, that I can see Shelton is a good wrestler, but the guy is so totally devoid of any personality or charisma, it drains the enjoyment from any of his matches for me.

Case in point, the MITB matches. If anybody else hit those spots he does I'd probably be marking out like crazy. When Shelton does it, I feel like yawning, because I know he doesn't have the credibility to push beyond that persona wise.

When a wrestler is in the ring, ESPECIALLY for ROH, the essential thing is to feel like they care about what they're doing. With Shelton he just seems to go blandly through the motions. With his lack of personality, the least you want to see from him is that he busts a gut. I don't get that feeling from him.

If he stays as a midcard jobber, then all the better as it means whoever is going over him has beaten a former IC/US champ, but I wouldn't shed a tear if he was endeavoured either.

[edisraw]

I honestly think a year or two in Japan or Mexico would do him wonders.

[Bubble Lead]

Jul 11, 2009 19:37:22 GMT -5 @strykerdarksilence said:

I'd just like to clarify on my position, that I can see Shelton is a good wrestler, but the guy is so totally devoid of any personality or charisma, it drains the enjoyment from any of his matches for me.

Case in point, the MITB matches. If anybody else hit those spots he does I'd probably be marking out like crazy. When Shelton does it, I feel like yawning, because I know he doesn't have the credibility to push beyond that persona wise.

When a wrestler is in the ring, ESPECIALLY for ROH, the essential thing is to feel like they care about what they're doing. With Shelton he just seems to go blandly through the motions. With his lack of personality, the least you want to see from him is that he busts a gut. I don't get that feeling from him.

If he stays as a midcard jobber, then all the better as it means whoever is going over him has beaten a former IC/US champ, but I wouldn't shed a tear if he was endeavoured either.

Yes, everyone already knows you don't like Shelton Benjamin.

I think he has enough charisma to carry matches. Compare him to say, Haas. Haas is a good example of someone with almost no charisma. Shelton has enough to carry a promo, have some semblance of a character, and he has good ring psychology. Hence why he is still pushed above a lot of other guys in WWE.

Sure he's no Rock or Eddie Guerrero in the charisma department but he gets the job done. Maybe you aren't excited by his matches, but apparently someone is. I always have been. I've stayed a fan of the guy even when he was a jobber, and something made me like him. It sure wasn't promos (his initial RAW push promos were bad).

If he is so void of charisma, how did he get the entire crowd to pop big for a new, jobber-looking guy nobody had heard of kicking his head in? He must have something there if he's getting crowd reactions like that.

[greeby]

I think he's in that spot that Bob Holly, Bradshaw and Val Venis had and that Kane currently has. That of being a solid, dependable midcarder who can work with the featured stars. Not that that's a bad thing, all of the names I mentioned had ten years or more with the company.

[aido67]

His match with Shawn Michaels was a great match. His MITB performances are usually a highlight of Wrestlemania.

However, he lacks the charisma and mic skills that people like The Rock had. But then again, you couldn't say Benoit did either.

[edisraw]

Well he does have that role, lol....quite obviously BUT the question is why is someone thats so gifted void of any main event status pushes.

[eJm]

Jul 11, 2009 19:45:04 GMT -5 Bubble Lead said:

Yes, everyone already knows you don't like Shelton Benjamin.

Was there any need for that?

If anything, he's got more right to push his view considering I've mentioned his name in this thread a couple of times.

I actually agree with him in a way, thus the thread. The thing is, noone gets placed onto several brands on an almost yearly basis without a major reason. Yeah there are exceptions, but it just seems like he's not pushing himself enough not even to be able to look like a credible IC/US Champion.

I'm not saying he should leave and Stryker definatly isn't, I'm just simply asking for a viewpoint. Since he beat HHH in 2002, he hasn't really grabbed the attention as much as others have or pushed himself as much as others have apart from the MITB matches. And even as much of a fan I am of his, his mike skills being the same is not a good thing.

Just throwing it out there.

[Kevin Hamilton]

If he is, he needs a valet who plays tambourine with a silver jingle. She could then sing his theme as she must know the words to at least a million tunes..


No, wait, that was the Y'all Come Back Saloon, er forget that valet stuff.

Nah, Shelton may never reach past midcard, but nothing wrong with that.

[greeby]

Jul 11, 2009 19:50:00 GMT -5 Kevin Hamilton said:

If he is, he needs a valet

Ah yes, a valet. Otherwise known as the way to kill a male wrestler's career dead in it's tracks.

[eJm]

Jul 11, 2009 19:51:55 GMT -5 greeby said:

Jul 11, 2009 19:50:00 GMT -5 Kevin Hamilton said:

If he is, he needs a valet

Ah yes, a valet. Otherwise known as the way to kill a male wrestler's career dead in it's tracks.

I do have to say one thing about it.

Whoever thought Mama Benjamin was a good idea should be whacked with a shovel. I'll do it, if noone else will.

[edisraw]

Geez if you are gonna get him a valet might as well bring back Mama

[strykerdarksilence]

Jul 11, 2009 19:45:04 GMT -5 Bubble Lead said:

Jul 11, 2009 19:37:22 GMT -5 @strykerdarksilence said:

I'd just like to clarify on my position, that I can see Shelton is a good wrestler, but the guy is so totally devoid of any personality or charisma, it drains the enjoyment from any of his matches for me.

Case in point, the MITB matches. If anybody else hit those spots he does I'd probably be marking out like crazy. When Shelton does it, I feel like yawning, because I know he doesn't have the credibility to push beyond that persona wise.

When a wrestler is in the ring, ESPECIALLY for ROH, the essential thing is to feel like they care about what they're doing. With Shelton he just seems to go blandly through the motions. With his lack of personality, the least you want to see from him is that he busts a gut. I don't get that feeling from him.

If he stays as a midcard jobber, then all the better as it means whoever is going over him has beaten a former IC/US champ, but I wouldn't shed a tear if he was endeavoured either.

Yes, everyone already knows you don't like Shelton Benjamin.

I think he has enough charisma to carry matches. Compare him to say, Haas. Haas is a good example of someone with almost no charisma. Shelton has enough to carry a promo, have some semblance of a character, and he has good ring psychology. Hence why he is still pushed above a lot of other guys in WWE.

Sure he's no Rock or Eddie Guerrero in the charisma department but he gets the job done. Maybe you aren't excited by his matches, but apparently someone is. I always have been. I've stayed a fan of the guy even when he was a jobber, and something made me like him. It sure wasn't promos (his initial RAW push promos were bad).

If he is so void of charisma, how did he get the entire crowd to pop big for a new, jobber-looking guy nobody had heard of kicking his head in? He must have something there if he's getting crowd reactions like that.

Steady on bro, eJm referenced our discussions on the topic so I was just clarifying my position. I don't like him no, nor do I dislike him either, I just don't get the fuss about him. (I'd argue about The Rock too, because he seemed just as forced but without Shelton's talents, but that is a whole other can o'worms).

I'd suggest that you and I like different things out of matches. I love storytelling and emotion. That's why I could watch Piper, Flair, Hunter, Cena all day, but Shelton doesn't have those elements to my mind, his matches consist of a bunch of moves put together and that's that.

He's a recognisable face, and I won't deny that he has some level of being over with crowd, recognition does that. Funaki gets pops when he appears now and then, so anybody doing a number on him will of course get that reaction.

[eJm]

Jul 11, 2009 19:54:25 GMT -5 edisraw said:

Geez if you are gonna get him a valet might as well bring back Mama

*hits him with a shovel*

Yes I know you didn't say you liked it, just wanted to do it. ;D