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Shelton Benjamin is often looked upon as a huge missed opportunity in WWE. He was a tremendous talent back in his earlier years, rising up throughout the Ruthless Aggression Era as someone who had “future World Champion” written all over him. However, Benjamin, like countless wrestlers over the years of varying degrees of talent and stock, was eventually released from the company back in 2010. Due to Benjamin being such a talented performer and consistently a very strong midcard act, it may lead some fans to wonder as to why the decision was made to let him go from his contract.
Shelton Benjamin’s Stock Dropped Over The Years In WWE
As noted, Shelton Benjamin was a hit throughout the 2000s. Debuting as part of Team Angle alongside Charlie Haas, he and his tag team partner were a highlight of SmackDown as the World’s Greatest Tag Team. This was short lived though, as there was something special seen in Benjamin as a singles competitor. This led to him becoming a great Intercontinental Champion, with his reign really seeming like a stepping stone for him to potentially go on to reach World Title glory at some point down the line.
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Benjamin would then enter a storyline with his “Momma”, as he became a “Momma’s Boy”. He was entertaining in his role, but the gimmick saw him steadily fall down the card. After a little while, Benjamin became just another midcard act, and was even moved over to WWE’s third brand of ECW, which felt like a place in which no one could really establish themselves properly due to how neglected the brand was. Benjamin still managed to stand out in Money in the Bank matches and in an ECW Title feud with Christian. However, he, along with a few others, fell victim to WWE’s post-WrestleMania cuts, which saw him get released.
WWE Had No Plans For Shelton Benjamin
The decision ultimately came down to WWE, which is certainly a surprise given his talents, but they had run out of ideas for him. With several other superstars on the rise and getting more focus, Benjamin was well and truly at the bottom of the totem pole, and he was unfortunately seen as surplus to requirements. This was a shame when you consider how much of a prospect he seemed to be just a few years prior, but he had been made into quite an underwhelming act with little momentum or character by the time his release rolled around.
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Benjamin did speak on his release to Lillian Garcia on Chasing Glory (h/t WrestlingInc.com), explaining how it was probably for the best that his time in WWE came to an end. “Me and WWE had a difference in opinion. I wanted to keep my job, and they had a different opinion. Honestly, I was so frustrated by the time I left, that I felt like I was constantly trying to prove myself, as a Superstar, and as a performer. It got to the point where I was coming to work and my heart just wasn't in it. It was almost like my spirit was broken because I felt like every time I had something going for me, it was taken away, somehow or another.”
Shelton Benjamin Lost His Passion, So His WWE Release Was A Blessing
The case of Benjamin losing his passion is something which has happened to many over the years. The likes of Christian back when he first left WWE, MVP around the same time in 2010, Rey Mysterio too, and several more, have all been burned out at some stage, and time away from the intense on the road schedule of WWE was exactly what they needed. Benjamin agreed with this notion too. “The silver lining was that I got to spend way more time with my family. Everyone will tell you if there was a family event, I just didn't go, I had to go to work.”
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After leaving WWE, Benjamin wrestled on the independent scene, competing in the likes of ROH, NJPW, NOAH, and more, before finding him re-signing with WWE in 2017 to form a tag team with Chad Gable. It must be said that this second run in WWE has seen some ups and downs. A few Tag Titles reigns here and there, in addition to a brilliant run in the Hurt Business haven’t been enough to change the opinion that he has been mostly misused, being put into the position of glorified enhancement talent at times, and saddled into dark matches and working on Main Event. His future isn’t clear, and he may very well leave WWE again to find better treatment somewhere else, but right now he is back in the company and still putting in consistent performances.
