Shelton Benjamin

Infobox Wrestler
name=Shelton Benjamin
names=Shelton Benjamin


img_capt=Shelton Benjamin at a house show in November 2006
height=height|foot=6|in=2
weight=convert|248|lb|kg st|abbr=on
real_height=
real_weight=
birth_date=birth date and age|mf=yes|1976|7|9
birth_place=Orangeburg, South Carolina
death_date=
death_place=
resides=Houston, Texas
billed=Orangeburg, South Carolina
trainer=Ohio Valley Wrestling
debut=November 2000
retired=

Shelton Benjamin (born July 9, 1976)cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/shelton-benjamin.html|title=OWoW Profile|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com] is an American professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) working on its SmackDown brand, where he is the reigning WWE United States Champion.

Benjamin has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling in high school and at the University of Minnesota. After spending time in Ohio Valley Wrestling, WWE moved him to the SmackDown! brand, where he is the current United States Champion. During his tenure with the company, he has also won the WWE Intercontinental Championship three times, and he has held the WWE Tag Team Championship and OVW Southern Tag Team Championship two and four times, respectively.

Benjamin has also acted as an assistant coach in amateur wrestling. He has an extensive interest in video games, winning the WWE THQ Superstar Challenge four times before retiring from the contest.

Amateur wrestling

Benjamin grew up in Orangeburg, South Carolina where he was an accomplished amateur wrestler.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/sheltonbenjamin/bio/|title=Shelton Benjamin's WWE Bio|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wwe.com] He began wrestling while in the 10th grade at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_3/ai_81826834|title=It's all about the Benjamin|author=Scales, Jason|publisher=Wrestling Digest|accessdate=2007-06-18|month=February | year=2002] While in high school, he achieved a 122–10 win-loss record and was a two-time South Carolina state high school heavyweight wrestling champion, earning the title in both 1993 and 1994.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/benjamin.html|title=Shelton Benjamin's Profile|author=Milner, John|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|accessdate=2007-06-18|date=2005-04-17] He also was a Junior College National Track Champion in the 100 meter and won the junior college national wrestling heavyweight title in 1996 while attending Lassen Junior College in Susanville, California. He was then accepted to attend the University of Minnesota, where he achieved a 36–6 win-loss record. Moreover, while attending the university, he was a two-time All-American heavyweight wrestler. After graduation, he served as an assistant coach at the University and trained with future OVW tag team partner Brock Lesnar. In 1997, Benjamin went 36–6 and made 12 pins in the Big Ten Championship, in which he placed sixth. Instead of trying to qualify for the 2000 Olympics, Benjamin decided instead to try and pursue a professional wrestling career.

Professional wrestling career

Ohio Valley Wrestling (2000–2002)

Benjamin was offered and accepted a contract from World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and was placed in Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) as one half of a tag team with Brock Lesnar, who was a wrestling teammate at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. [cite web|url=http://www.ovwrestling.com/alumni.htm|title=Ohio Valley Wrestling Alumni|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=ovwrestling.com] Together they were known as the "Minnesota Stretching Crew," and they held the OVW Southern Tag Team Championship on three occasions.cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ky/ovw/ovw-t.html|title=OVW Southern Tag Team Title|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wrestling-titles.com] The first two reigns occurred during February and July 2001. They were scripted to win the titles for a third time from Rico Constantino and The Prototype on October 29, 2001. After Lesnar was called up to the main roster in November 2001, Benjamin formed a tag team with Redd Dogg Begnaud called "The Dogg Pound" and once again won the OVW Southern Tag Team Title on July 17, 2002. Throughout the remainder of 2002, Benjamin wrestled at several house shows for the main WWE roster and eventually on "Sunday Night Heat" as a fan favorite.

World Wrestling Entertainment

World's Greatest Tag Team (2002–2004)

Benjamin was offered a full-time World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) contract in September 2002. He joined WWE's SmackDown! brand as a heel on December 26, 2002, forming Team Angle along with Charlie Haas, with Olympic gold-medalist wrestler Kurt Angle as their on-screen .

The storyline concluded on the June 12, 2003 "SmackDown!", when, as part of the scripted events, Angle confronted Benjamin and Haas and fired them from Team Angle. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030612.html|title=SmackDown! Results - June 12, 2003|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] They began referring to themselves as The World's Greatest Tag Team and won the tag title back on the July 3 edition of "SmackDown!". [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030703.html|title=SmackDown! Results - July 3, 2003|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] They lost the title on September 18, after Benjamin suffered a legitimate knee injury during a match against Los Guerreros. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030918.html|title=SmackDown! Results - September 18, 2003|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] He was sidelined for approximately one month, but the pair competed together again, taking part in a Fatal Four-Way match at WrestleMania XX. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#20|title=WrestleMania XX - March 14, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com]

Intercontinental Champion (2004–2006)

On March 22, 2004, Benjamin was scripted to be moved to the Raw brand as part of the 2004 Draft Lottery. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040322.html|title=RAW Results - March 22, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] After arriving, Benjamin quickly became a fan favorite when, in his new storyline, he won a pinfall victory over Triple H. [cite news|title=Benjamin stuns HHH – and WWE|author=Blackjack Brown|publisher=Chicago Sun Times|accessdate=2007-06-18|date=2004-04-04] Benjamin then feuded with Triple H, beating him three times in total: once by pinfall, once by countout, and once by disqualification. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040405.html|title=RAW Results - April 5, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] As part of the storyline, Benjamin then feuded with the other members of Triple H's stable Evolution. Benjamin defeated Ric Flair at Backlash and lost to Randy Orton in a WWE Intercontinental Championship match at Bad Blood. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/backlash.html#2004|title=Backlash 2004 - April 18, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com] [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/badd.html#2004|title=Bad Blood 2004 - June 13, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com]

During a match with Garrison Cade on "Heat", Benjamin punched Cade's knee brace, legitimately breaking his hand in the process and briefly taking him out of action. Benjamin returned in the fall of 2004 and was chosen by the fans to compete for the Intercontinental Championship in a match against then-champion Chris Jericho at Taboo Tuesday. Benjamin was scripted to win the match, [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/taboo.html#2004|title=Taboo Tuesday 2004 - October 19, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com] giving him his first singles title in the company. During his reign as Intercontinental Champion, Benjamin retained the title against challengers such as Christian at Survivor Series in November, [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/survivor.html#2004|title=Survivor Series 2004 - November 14, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com] Maven at January's New Year's Revolution, [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/newyear.html#2005|title=New Year's Revolution - January 9, 2005|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com] and Chris Jericho at Backlash in May. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/backlash.html#2005|title=Backlash 2005 - May 1, 2005|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com] Benjamin lost the title to Carlito when he debuted on "Raw" during the June 20, 2005 episode, ending the longest Intercontinental Championship reign of the decade. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/636206|title=Intercontinental title reign: Carlito|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wwe.com]

Benjamin's next storyline began on the December 5, 2005 edition of "Raw", when Shawn Michaels was scripted to give Benjamin a speech to get him "psyched" for their tag match together later in the night. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/051205.html|title=RAW Results - December 5, 2005|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] As a part of the scripted ending to the match, Michaels was preparing to finish the match when Benjamin tagged himself in and missed a crossbody, allowing Carlito to pin Benjamin. Benjamin was then depicted as having a "losing streak" over the next several weeks, which led to Benjamin's noisy, scolding and domineering "Momma" (played by comedian/actress Thea Vidale) coming to "Raw" to confront Benjamin. Momma slapped and yelled at Benjamin anytime he lost a match. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060102.html|title=RAW Results - January 2, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Before long, she assisted Benjamin in his matches, often interfering on his behalf. [cite news|author=PWI Staff|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts|work="Wrestling’s historical cards"|publisher=Kappa Publishing|year=2007|pages=119] This led Benjamin once again becoming a villain. In 2006, Benjamin had a staged on-screen rivalry with then-Intercontinental Champion Ric Flair. On the February 20 edition of "Raw", Benjamin defeated Flair to regain the Intercontinental Championship after Momma faked a heart problem, causing enough of a distraction to allow Benjamin to cheat and win the title. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060220.html|title=RAW Results - February 20, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Benjamin continued to feud with Flair, but Momma no longer accompanied him to ringside. As part of the scripted events, Benjamin stated that she was undergoing heart surgery in the hospital and that he held Flair responsible. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060313.html|title=RAW Results - March 13, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling]

Benjamin competed in the second Money in the Bank ladder match at . [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/venge.html#2006|title=Vengeance 2006 - June 25, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com]

During December 2006, Benjamin's former tag team partner Charlie Haas came out to celebrate with Benjamin after he defeated Super Crazy. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/061204.html|title=RAW Results - December 4, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] The World's Greatest Tag Team was officially reunited when they defeated the Highlanders on the December 11, 2006 episode of "Raw". [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/061211.html|title=RAW Results - December 11, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] The duo feuded with Cryme Tyme and competed mainly on "Heat". [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/w/worlds-greatest-tag-team.html|title=The World's Greatest Tag Team OWoW Profile|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] Towards the end of his tenure on RAW, Shelton dyed his hair blonde, which would signify the future change in his on-screen character to "The Gold Standard."

The Gold Standard (2007–present)

On the November 20, 2007 airing of "ECW on Sci Fi", Elijah Burke introduced Benjamin as the newest ECW superstar. On ECW, Benjamin began once again receiving more airtime and higher profile matches, defeating Tommy Dreamer in his debut. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/results/|title=Heating up for the holidays|accessdaymonthyear=20-11-2007|publisher=WWE.com] He then qualified for the 2008 Royal Rumble match and won an over the top rope preview. Benjamin appeared in the Rumble match, entering at number 17, but was eliminated by Shawn Michaels. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/6164364/|title=2008 Royal Rumble Statistics|accessdaymonthyear=03-02-2008|publisher=WWE.com] He suffered his first loss since coming to ECW, to Kane, by count-out, on the January 29, 2008 edition of "ECW on Sci-Fi". On the February 22 edition of "SmackDown!", Benjamin defeated Jimmy Wang Yang in a qualifying match for the Money in the Bank ladder match scheduled for WrestleMania XXIV, [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/02222008/|title=Results: Two roads diverge|author=DiFino, Lennie|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2008-03-12|date=February 22, 2008] which was won by CM Punk. After WrestleMania, Benjamin began an on-screen rivalry with Kofi Kingston. Kingston defeated Benjamin on the April 22, 2008 edition of ECW via his finishing maneuver, Trouble in Paradise. During the rematch on April 29, Kingston won again. On ECW's 100th episode, Benjamin defeated Kingston, thus ending the latter's undefeated streak.

As part of the 2008 Supplemental Draft, Benjamin was drafted to the SmackDown brand. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/wwedraft2008/7505418/|title=Official 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft Results|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-06-25] On the July 11, 2008 airing of "SmackDown!", Benjamin defeated WWE United States Champion Matt Hardy in a non-title match, earning himself a future title shot. At The Great American Bash on July 20, Benjamin once again defeated Hardy to win the WWE United States Championship.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/7684044|title=History Of The WWE United States Championship - Shelton Benjamin|date=2008-07-20|accessdate=2008-07-21|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/thegreatamericanbash/matches/uschampionship/results/|title=The Great American Bash: Midas Touch|date=2008-07-20|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|accessdate=2008-07-21|publisher=WWE] At Unorgiven he fought in the Championship scramble for the WWE Championship,but without success. On SmackDown's All-Star Kick Off, he lost to Santino Marellafrom interference from R-truth.

Outside of wrestling

Shelton is an avid video gamer. He won WWE's THQ Superstar Challenge, a video game tournament that takes place every year during WrestleMania weekend, four years in a row before retiring in 2007.cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/05/11/4172053.html|title=Shelton Benjamin hard to faze|author=Kapur, Bob|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|accessdate=2007-06-18|date=2007-05-11] cite web|url=http://www.us.playstation.com/News/Editorials/54|title=Shelton Benjamin: WWE Superstar and PSP® Fan|author=Gaudiosi, John|accessdate=2007-06-18|date=2007-05-18] He spends time every day playing. Benjamin is also proficient in art. He creates comic book level work and pays close attention to detail. Shelton almost considered a career in the field. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/news/superstarshiddentalents|title=Superstars and Divas Hidden Talents Revealed|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-09-13]

Benjamin, along with Batista, Candice Michelle, and Josh Matthews, represented the WWE at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in an effort to persuade fans to register to vote in the 2008 Presidential election. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/wweconventions08/conventionspreview|title=WWE at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions|date=2008-08-22|accessdate=2008-09-13|publisher=WWE.com]

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**450° splash – OVW
**Dragon whip [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/383310/|title=A Barbaric Batista|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] / "Money Clip" / "Shell Shocka" – 2002; Used as a regular move from 2003–present
**"Paydirt" [citeweb|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/6490/105/|accessdate=2008-09-07|date=2008-08-12|last=Grimaldi|first=Michael C.|title=Early Smackdown TV report for August 22|publisher=Wrestling Observer Newsletter] (Leaping spike reverse STO)
**Superkick – 2002–2003; Used as a regular move from 2003–present
**"T–Bone Suplex" (Exploder suplex lift twisted into a powerslam pin) – 2004–2007; Used a regular move from 2007–present
**Cobra clutch backbreaker
**Diving clothesline [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/12052005/|title=McMahon to Bischoff: "You're fired!"|accessdate=2008-07-15|date=2005-12-05|publisherWorld Wrestling Entertainment]
**Falling neckbreaker, as a counter to a vertical suplex where Benjamin lands on his feet first
**Inverted facelock backbreaker
**Jumping DDT, as a counter to a back body drop
**Multiple suplex variations
***Release exploder
***Bridging Northern lights
***Bridging / Release German
**Roundhouse kick
**"Shell Bomb" (Turnbuckle powerbomb) [citeweb|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/6406/105/|accessdate=2008-09-07|date=2008-08-15|last=Mulligan|first=Ryan|title=Ryan Mulligan's Smackdown TV report for August 15|publisher=Wrestling Observer Newsletter]
**Somersault plancha
**Spinebuster
**Springboard leap into either a modified bulldog or a somersault neckbreaker
**Stinger splash [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/11142005/|title=Celebrating Eddie Guerrero|accessdate=2008-07-15|date=2005-11-14|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]
**Tornado DDT

*Managers
**Kurt Angle
**"Momma" Benjamin

*Nicknames
**The Gold Standard [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/11272007/articles/sheltonbar|title=Shelton Benjamin raises the bar|accessdate=2008-03-27|date=2007-12-02|last=Rote|first=Andrew|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]

*Entrance themes
**"Medal" by Jim Johnston (2002–2004; Used while with Team Angle)
**"" by Jim Johnston and Lou$tar (2004–2008)
**"Ain't No Stoppin' Me (Remix)" by Axel (2008–present) [cite web|url=http://www.wweshop.com/Product_detail.asp?cat=cat-newreleases&productId=35-00612|title=WWE Music Volume 8 CD|accessdate=2008-03-27|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]

Championships and accomplishments

*Black Athlete Sports Network
**African–American Wrestler of the Year award in 2005 [cite web|url=http://www.blackathlete.net/artman2/publish/In_the_Black_42/2005_African-American_Wrestler_of_the_Year_1411.shtml|title=2005 African-American Wrestler of the Year|author=Thompson, Korbid|date=2006-01-03|accessdate=2007-06-18]

*Ohio Valley Wrestling
**OVW Southern Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Brock Lesnar (3) and Redd Dogg (1)

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI ranked him # 9 of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2005. [cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50005.htm|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2005|accessdate=2007-06-17]
**PWI Tag Team of the Year award in 2003 – Charlie Haas [cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwittoty.htm|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners - Tag Team of the Year|accessdate=2007-06-17]

*World Wrestling Entertainment
**WWE Intercontinental Championship (3 times) [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/|title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > Intercontinental|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wwe.com]
**WWE Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Charlie Haas [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/|title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > WWE Tag Team|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wwe.com]
**WWE United States Championship (1 time, current)

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Most Underrated Wrestler (2005–2007)

Footnotes

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/sheltonbenjamin/ WWE Profile]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/shelton-benjamin.html Benjamin at Online World of Wrestling]
*imdb|1215864|Shelton Benjamin

Persondata
NAME=Benjamin, Shelton
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Professional wrestler
DATE OF BIRTH=July 9, 1975
PLACE OF BIRTH=Orangeburg, South Carolina
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=