Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Shelton Benjamin On His WWE Release, Hurt Business Ending Too Soon, HBK Match, Max Caster Comments

Episode Date: July 9, 2024

Shelton Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) is a professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE. He sits down with Chris Van Vliet in Houston, TX to talk about his WWE release and what the future holds, whether or not he would consider a return, the possibility of signing with AEW or TNA, why he thinks he is the opposite of John Cena, responds to Max Caster's comments about him on social media, being called underrated, his epic match on Raw with Shawn Michaels, why he thinks The Hurt Business never should have ended, how much longer he intends to wrestle and more! Quote I'm thinking about: We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. – Albert Einstein Sponsors: PURE PLANK: The future of core fitness! Use the code CVV to save 10% on Pure Plank which was designed by Adam Copeland & Christian: https://gopureplank.com/ PRIZEPICKS: Download the app today and use code INSIGHT for a first deposit match up to $100! TIMELINE NUTRITION: Save 10% off your first order of Mitopure at http://timeline.com/INSIGHT BONCHARGE: Use the code CVV to save 15% off your infrared sauna blanket at https://boncharge.com/cvv BLUECHEW: Use the code INSIGHT to get your first month of BlueChew for FREE at http://bluechew.com ROCKET MONEY: Join Rocket Money today and experience financial freedom: https://rocketmoney.com/cvv BETTERHELP: Get 10% off your first month with the code INSIGHT at http://betterhelp.com/insight PLUNGE: Get $150 off your Plunge with the coupon code CVV150 at http://plunge.com For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests.  Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Okay, welcome back to another one here on Insight. It's your friendly neighborhood CVV, Chris Van Fleet with you. How was your weekend? Good weekend. Thank you so much for being here. And thank you for making Insight the number one wrestling podcast on the planet. We got Shelton Benjamin back on the show. And a lot has changed in the last year since he was on here.

The biggest one, of course, being the fact that he's not with WWE anymore. He was released from his contract. in September. But it just felt like he had so much more to do there. Like, he talks about it here, but the hurt business just kind of stopped for no reason. Like, that could pick up again, right now, and be one of the best factions in wrestling.

But there's a lot to talk about here. He's not with WWE anymore. Where does he go next? Is it AEW? Is it TNA? Is it back to New Japan? He told me he's had a few different conversations. so it will be very interesting to see what happens next.

No matter who you talk to about Shelton Benjamin, the one word that always comes up is underrated. But I think maybe it should actually be underutilized. He has all the tools, but just no one utilized them to make him the massive star that he could have been. It's criminal that he never won a world championship in WWE, but he still has an opportunity to win a world championship somewhere.

somewhere in his career. You're going to love this conversation. I know that I did, so I hope that you enjoyed as much as I did when we were sitting there. Snap a screenshot and let us know you're listening. Tag us so we can share it. He's at Shelty B-803. I'm at Chris Van Fleet,

and if you're one of the thousands of people who listen to this show regularly, but you haven't hit that follow button, could today be the day that we change that? I know it's a super small thing for you. It's you just clicking a button, but it's massive for me. It means so much to me.

So if you have some spare time today and you remember, or if you remember right now and you could do that, that would be amazing. It really helps the show continue to grow. Okay, let's get into it. Please welcome Shelton Benjamin. Look at the size of this, man. Look at the size of your arms.

I work out just a little bit. Yeah, just a little bit. I mean, it's a lifestyle, but. Yeah, well, Mike, I like to look good. Yeah, well, you've been wrestling a lot still. Yeah, I've had a few matches. You know, on the Indies, you know, I've been to Australia, Canada, the UK. I have an upcoming show in France.

So I'm having a really good time. I got to work with a few guys who I probably otherwise would have never worked with, you know, particularly a guy in Australia named Tommy Knight. I had a great match with him. Completely unexpected great match. And I just recently, you know, wrestling kid, Leon Slater. I really enjoyed my match with him. And so far, like, everything's been really cool on the indie scene.

Like, I'm really enjoying it. When we talked last year, you said, I love being on the road. I don't really love being at home. I just love the energy of being on the road. Right. Go, go, go. you've been at home a lot more recently. How are you dealing with that?

So a lot of time at the gym. Clearly. Honestly, it's been really cool because I've been able to do things that, you know, I've missed out on in the past. Like, for example, going to my daughter's college graduation, you know, my daughter's high school graduation. These are things that, you know, I've missed out on so much family time over my, 24 years of being in the wrestling business and you miss so much and you know those things are important and i you know those are one one those are one of some of the things that i really enjoy that i'm able to do um smart my money so i'm not pressed to to get out there you know

i have time to really consider what i want to do going forward but uh yeah i'm just i play a lot of teckin That's your game? That's my game. I have a love-hate relationship with the latest one, but yeah, it's just a chance for me to really enjoy life. And again, at home and on the road, like, it's just, I'm just really trying to enjoy myself this time around. Did getting released from WWE come as a surprise?

Yes and no. Yes, because I don't think, I know, there was more for me to do there. There was more opportunities there. And I'm more surprised that they chose not to take advantage of those opportunities. But I also knew that if they weren't going to do anything, then, you know, it's just a matter of time. We got a lot of talent there, a lot of rotation. I've been there for a long time.

And, you know, I understand it's a business. So, yeah, it sucks for me. but at the end of the day it's a business. But it just felt like it was a big surprise because on one hand you've got Sean Michaels saying you are a future Hall of Famer. Right. You're absolutely going to be in the Hall of Fame.

And then not long after that, you get released. So of course you're still a Hall of Famer, but why not keep you around? Honestly, that's a question you got to ask them. Obviously, I'm more than happy to be around. But again, I just look at everything as a business decision, business decision. I don't take anything personal. Yes, I'm just as disappointed as most people, but at the end of the day, you know, it's a job.

Got to move on. You have to move on eventually. And again, like I said, I put about 18 combined years with WWE. So I've been there a long time. Yeah. And, you know, sometimes, yeah, sometimes just need to move on. You had a lot of your friends, colleagues get released, and you didn't. You know, you hung around a lot.

When you finally did get that call, I'm guessing you weren't expecting it. I had a hint when I, when they did the whole recruiting thing, when I wasn't assigned to a show, that was kind of my first, this doesn't feel right. You know, my first, this doesn't feel right moment. And then as time went on, you know, you try to have conversations and things like that, nothing's really gaining traction. And again, you get the hints. So when the call actually came, I kind of figured, you know, I wasn't that surprised.

I was surprised, but I wasn't that surprised. Was there any talk about making you a producer, doing something backstage? age? There was talk of me possibly becoming a trainer at some point. I don't think that door's closed. I just haven't pursued it yet. You still want to wrestle? Yes.

I love training people. I love teaching. And that comes from my amateur wrestling background. But at this point, I'm still, I still think a little selfishly. I feel like I have a few more things that I'd like to do. I'd like to accomplish. So while, yes, I definitely am interested, I have to put aside my own ambitions to really be able to do that job correctly. And right now, at least today, I'm not ready to not think a little selfishly.

Well, it doesn't feel like you've lost a stab. It doesn't feel like it. Sometimes I wonder. It doesn't look like it. Yeah, I mean, I'm, you know, I've been fortunate enough that, you know, I can still go with anybody. I can still match any style. I can adapt to any situation. And I feel like that's been one of my gifts throughout my career.

And yeah, like I said, I don't want to ride it to the wheels runoff, but I definitely got a few more miles off. I mean, you're a freak athlete, a freak athlete. And even at this stage of your career, you're still a freak athlete. You know, I'm flattered that everyone praises me

for my athleticism. It served me well. But I tell, you know, anyone, when we have these conversations, you know, I don't consider myself the greatest athlete or anything like that. There's just too many guys, Ricketts, the Dragon Steamboat, guys like Rickettsay who does stuff that, you know, I've never even considered. Is Brock Lesnar on that list? Brock Lesnar is absolutely on that list because Brock is a freak.

He's a different kind of animal, but he is. He is, like I think I've said this to you before. He's the most phenomenal athlete I've ever personally seen. It just feels like there's more you can do. You know, like that Mark Henry quote, I've got more left in the tank. Right. I've got tons left in the tank.

It's just a matter of whether or not anyone wants to use it. Like I said, I'm always going to be synonymous with WWE. Yeah. I'm all around. But I'm open to be anywhere. You know what I mean? Have you had any of those conversations? I had a brief conversation with AEW.

That hasn't really bore any fruit yet. But, you know, I'm still open. What about TNI? TNI haven't spoken with yet. I'm more than willing. to work with them. I haven't taught them. I know MLW has reached out.

So, you know, I've been presented with options. I just haven't I haven't found something that I'm satisfied with. What did you think when Max Caster tweeted that he doesn't want you? We don't want him, he said. Oh, wow. So

I guess my first thought was, who is this? Um, like, I really don't know him. I have nothing against him. I, as far as I know, I've never met him. I was, I was more shocked that he would say something like that. And again, I don't know him.

I don't have a relationship with him. The way he explained it to me was, I don't want somebody else taking my spot or taking a spot which I could have. And I said, well, what if someone else coming in brings new fans in? What if people who weren't watching it? the product, now we're watching because someone like Shelton comes in, now they become a fan of you. And he was just like, I don't see it that way. And he's just like, it's a spot that somebody else would be taking that I could have. Right. So to that, I would say, one, you're already

on the, you're on the roster. And whatever you're doing there, if you're not happy, then you need to change that. I'm still on the outside. I'm at this. point, I'm really no threat to you. But if I were to come in, someone with my name, you're looking at me as a threat. I'm looking rather than an asset. Yeah. Because one, if I were to say go do AEW or any company, to me, my job there is to, again, bring more fans, put more eyes on you.

And my thing is, I want to work with these people. So, you know, at this stage in my career, I, want to help other talent. So if you're looking at this, oh, you're stealing my spot, well, first of all, if I can steal it, it wasn't your spot. Like, I can't, I can't take Roman Rain spot. I can't take swerve spot. I can't, I can't take anyone's spot. However, you can lose your spot. That's how, that's how I look at it. Yeah, you can't have something that wasn't meant for you. Right. So if, if I come there, if, if, if I would come there anywhere, there's a reason I'm being brought in. And I would think is to help grow the company

and help bring more eyes there. So if anything, you should, you would, you would think you would welcome in new talent or even, I should say new talent, you should welcome in old established talent because that gives you another opportunity to work with someone who can elevate you so that that spot that you're so afraid of losing, it helps you secure it because now you're working with people who elevate your game. You're working with people with experience. You're working with people who fans know and will tune in to watch

because I don't know anyone running around with Max Castor merch. I don't know anyone. He's not a household name. There's a lot of scissommy shirts. There are a lot of scissommy shirts. Yeah, so maybe I'm from the wrong generation, but scissoring is... Uh-oh. I have a very different idea of what that means.

But no, like, I'm... And again, maybe he was in character. I mean, I don't know. There's a million different ways. For me, it's really... Yeah. Kid, I've been around for 25 years. You know what I mean?

Like, I'm... If you're worried about your spot, then... If you're worried about your spot being taken by me, someone who's been around for 25 years, and chances are if I came there, I probably wouldn't be there very long. How is he? Like, bro, you've got years more to develop. If anything, I come in, help you, give you a piece of knowledge, and move on, whether you want it or not. But if you're so worried about your spot, I don't really think I'm that big of a threat to you.

There's tons of people coming in there all the time. And I don't think it was directly at you. It was just like, hey, maybe Shelton should go to AEWs what a fan tweeted, right? And you commented on that. And then I think for him, it was just like, we don't want another person taking my potential spot. But here's the thing. Shelton Benjamin doesn't put on bad matches. I can't name one.

I can't name one. I tried not to. Can you name a bad Shelton Benjamin match? I thought so. You can't. You can't. Because there's never happened. Um, well, no.

Hold on. I should say, I can't think of a bad performance on my part. I can't think of bad matches, but they weren't necessarily because of me. But you elevate everybody that you're in the ring with. I try to. So if they're not that great, they will rise to your level rather than you falling to theirs. Right. And then when you get, you know, when you're in the ring with someone like a Sean.

on Michaels. It's like, oh, my goodness. I'm sitting under the learning tree myself. Yeah. So, and again, that's just, I just feel like it boils down to age slash maturity. When you really understand how does business works, you know, that to me, that to me sounds like something I would have said while I was still an OVW and really didn't understand the wrestling business because I didn't understand the wrestling business till five years in with WW. That's when I started really getting a hint because that's when, you know, the honeymoon stage

is really over and you really start to see what this business is really like. Yeah. So I just don't think he's been there yet. I wish him nothing but success. Don't get me wrong. Like despite the comment, despite like the jab. Like that, bro, that's, I, like I said to him, oh, you're cute. Do you want to be signed full time somewhere? I'm open to it. Like I said, I have a lot to offer.

And of course, like, also, you know, I think finances, you know, romance without finance is a goddamn nuisance. I've never heard that before. So while I love wrestling, of course, yeah, I definitely would looking for a long-term situation. With the romance. With the romance. And the finance.

Like I said, I love, I love what I do. Yeah. But that's obvious. I also have a mortgage. I have two kids, you know, and a real bad video game pad is. Prize Picks is a American. is number one daily fantasy sports app with over 5 million active members. Prizepix is the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports.

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Would you go back to WWA? I would definitely consider it. Like I said, that's the biggest game in town. So because I worked there for so long, and I, yes, to answer your question, yes. I will go back. If they offer me a position back and, you know, the right amount of money, yes, of course I would go back. And I've said it before. You'd be a fool not to at least consider it. Because I look at pro wrestling as a business. I love it, but it's a business.

So despite everything that's happened, despite, you know, people's opinion on, on, and creatively how they've used me, it's still a business to me. I look at wrestling as a business. So I will make the best business decision, not personal decision. What do you think is the most, like there's unfinished business for you in WWE.

What's the story that you wish you'd had a chance to finish? Obviously, I mean, the easy story is for the hurt business to really get a run. Yeah. What happened there? Bro.

To this day, when I spoke to Vince and I asked him why his comment was we are, we've gone as far as we can with the hurt business. That doesn't seem accurate.

Yeah, and that was a, I've had a few, quite a few conversation with, with Mr. McMahon. And that was the first time that I could look at him and go,

okay, now you're blowing smoke. Like, there's, that's, that's bull. But that's also when I was like, okay, I don't see much happening here. At least right now, like, I don't, because. But with the amount of talent that you guys had in that group, even if you just turn on one another, oh my goodness.

Hey, again, you're like, I know. Again, you're preaching to the choir. Like you and Bobby. And you and Cedric, like, Yeah, MVP's just brilliant. I don't know. Like, it really is, like,

the biggest head scratcher ever. And mind you, I've been in a situation before where I felt like things were ended prematurely. Team angle, in my opinion, was ended prematurely. Like, we were team angle for less than a year.

I feel like we had a big impact, but they broke us up way, way too quick. Yeah. Um, the mama angle. Yeah. That got eight weeks from start to finish, eight weeks. And so many people remember it, but like it's, you know, we spoke before, it's, it ended prematurely. Yeah.

Um. Why? That, I, I know, uh, Thia had some medical issues. Um, but there may have been some stuff that I, I, I wasn't aware of as. the time. Like since then, there have been some stories that came out, you know, some inappropriate behavior things. This is all stuff that was never brought to my attention. I just showed up to work one day and they were like, okay, we're done with the mama gimmick. You could have had a new mama. Like, remember on Fresh Prince when there was a different mom? No one would have said anything.

New Aunt Bibb. Yeah, new Aunt Bibb. You could have had a new mama. Yeah. While I could have had a new mama, no one could follow Thia. That woman was a, she was a hurricane of personality. She was, for that mama role, she was awesome. So I don't think, I think, I think in that role, she's kind of irreplaceable. I could have had a new mom. I'm sure they said that about the first Aunt Viv, too. I'm pretty, they did say it about the first Aunt Viv.

But in the case of Mama Benjamin, yeah, I don't see anybody popping what she created. Like, it was awesome. What about the gold standard? That also felt like it was start-stop. So the gold standard thing, that I think we spoke before when I said that I became, I went blonde because I didn't want to be in a tag team. they put me back with Charlie and I love Charlie but I felt like my career at that time that was a step

backwards and Dusty Rose was running ECW so the initial the initial run of the goal standard was Dusty Rhodes doing and then he got sent to O he got sent to OVW or developmental

and that's when things just kind of I don't know if they just did didn't know how to write for me or just didn't want to invest the time. I don't know. But yeah, like you said, things just started stopping and starting. And that's happened a few times. When we look at all of those, what's the run that you wish you had had a little bit more time with?

Do you mean a team angle could have gone a little longer? Sure. The hurt business could have been going to this day. From a single standpoint, I love the gold standard gimmick. Like, I wasn't blonde as a fashion statement. I just want to make that clear. You were just blonde to be different. I was blonde to be different.

And it worked. It did exactly what I wanted to do. So I would have liked to see that. Did you just go to the drugstore and just bought like a box to die? Oh, no, you went backstage, right? So this is what happened. So Steve Austin had came. and Stonecold, he came and he basically addressed the locker room and he was saying things about, you know, asking for forgiveness, not permission, taking risk, going out there and really trying to create something and, you know, reaching for the quote unquote brass ring.

Yeah. And I had been toying with the idea of dying my hair. I just want to do something different. that if I didn't like it, I could change it right back. And immediately after that meeting, I just went to one of the girls who did the hair and said, would you dye my hair for me? And she did it on the spot. When I walked into Gorilla, the people that had previous seen me earlier that day,

I had black hair. When I walked in Guerrilla that day, I had blonde hair and it was like, you know, I kind of remember Michael Hayes just kind of staring at me. It's like, kind of like, what is you? When did you do this? And, you know, we went out of tag match out. But again, it did exactly what I wanted to do.

It created a buzz. And that's when Dusty said, you know, I want you for ECW. And that's when I went over and things were, like I said, things were going great until Dusty got moved. And then things kind of, because I believe Dusty's plan that year was for me and seeing punk to face each other at Mania for the ECW title. Obviously, that didn't happen. So, but I, but I love Dusty for at least giving me that opportunity.

Everyone has a great Dusty story. Yeah, Dusty. I feel like everyone got better from working with Dusty. Oh, how can you not? How can you not? He's one of the greatest of all time. Like, Dusty's on my Mount Rushmore. Oh, who else is on there?

Dusty, Austin, Taker, Sting. Pretty great. Mount Rushmore. Yeah. Yeah. That was pretty great. Yeah. So I love those.

Like I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I loved working under Dusty. I love working with Dusty. Uh, my little brother actually, uh, my younger brother actually did a tryout while Dusty was in, uh, developmental. And like, even he, while he didn't make it in the business, he loved Dusty. So it's like everyone, you know, the man just exudes greatness. It's so impressive. He worked with hundreds, maybe thousands of people.

Every single one of those people has a story about how Dusty helped their career, helped their life. Yes. And what a testament to just the man that he is. Yeah, like much respect to the entire Rose family. Like, you know, I've, I've worked with them all. Dusty, Dustin. And then Cody.

And Cody. So, yeah, I mean, they're all a pleasure to work with. So I have nothing. but respect for the entire Rose family, but especially, I think most people say especially Dusty, because Dusty actually helped me. What was right after the platinum hair and the gold standard?

What happened right after that? Was it, was it the angle where you didn't speak? So, no, after the Gold Standard angle, I was released. So I was the Ghost Standard for about three years, and this is 2010. And I was released, I want to say in March,

just before I had gone back to school to finish my degree. So just maybe three or four weeks before I graduated, I was released. And that's when I ended up going, started doing Indies. Me and Charlie hooked back up at Ring of Honor. And eventually I ended up in New Japan, which I still love to this day. New Japan is, it might go down to my favorite promotion to work with. There's an option for you now.

Yes. Like, I would love to go back to New Japan. Like I, and it's more because of the, at least the locker room culture that I experience. And for example, I, if I walk into a WWE locker room, I can tell. kind of where people are based on how they're treated backstage. You know, things like private locker rooms, access to the boss.

You know, a lot of little things like that that, you know, some guys are just kind of like come in to work, go have your match, zip it, don't, you know, do whatever they say. There's no, there's no debating. This is what you're going to do or, you know, or you're fired. So when I went to New Japan, I, while I'm sure they do have their locker room politics,

just from how I saw people being treated or how I saw different talent interact with anyone, I couldn't tell who was the top guy. I knew Tanahashi was a top guy there. Okada hadn't, when I first got there, Okada, they were just. now starting to invest with him. But a lot of the top guys, like, just looking around, I couldn't tell the top guy from the bottom guy because everyone was treated with such respect. Everyone was, like, you know, respect for each other.

There was no rudeness. There was no kindness. There was no private locker room. It was like it was a team, and you could tell it was a team. And you could tell it was a team. So I think it's more I love. I love their culture, their locker room culture. Yeah, you've got an opportunity now to work with people that you never had a chance to work with before.

Are there a few that immediately come to mind? Immediately. If you go to New Japan, who are we having a great match with? Everybody. The whole roster. Yeah, seriously. Yeah, like, I can have a great match with anyone there. Oh, look, again, you could have a great match with anyone.

and that's the end of the sentence. It's true. It flattered me, man. Come on, everybody knows. Everybody knows that. I mean, there's some matches like you against Will Osprey would be incredible if you went to AEW. Wow. That's actually, he's actually my top ten of guys who I would love to work with.

Will Osprey. there's a lot of guys who I haven't worked with in a long time that I want to work with again. Like Christian, back in the day, Christian was, he kind of broke me in. Like, he was my biggest rival during my first runner's I-C title. And I would love to work with him again. I would love to work with Osprey. I would love to work with swerve. Yeah, like, it, I'm really,

I really like working with anyone, to be honest. Like, surprisingly, and you know, I'm kind of getting off track here, but I just recently worked in the UK and I wrestled a kid named Leon Slater. Never heard of him before. And had a great match with him. He was 19 years old. He's officially to mind now.

I was the youngest kid I've ever wrestled. And I had so much fun. with wrestling with this kid and it was like it's kind of like I'm discovering things that that I enjoy that you have to be in like you have to be in the business for a long time before you can appreciate these kind of things so when I'm wrestling a 19 year old kid and he's you know afterwards he's cutting a promo telling us saying how he used to carry my action figure around as a kid and you know like to have a great match with a kid like that and and and, you know, to know I've had that kind of effect on someone and they're really pursuing it,

like, that was an awesome feeling. Yeah. Like, he, like, he has no idea how much he made me feel proud of my own body of work that, because this is ultimately what I want my legacy to be. I want to be someone that people look, look at and go, I want to be like that guy, work hard like that guy, be a champion like that guy, model myself after after that guy. And when he made those comments after the match, it really made me go, okay, okay, mission accomplished.

Yeah. You actually did it. And even if it's just one, like, this is one of those things that I live for. I didn't know I lived for it until I felt it. And he really made me feel it. You're at the top of the list when people talk about under utilized talent, under appreciated talent, underrated talent. Which one of those unders do you think

is actually most applicable to your career? Is it underappreciated? Is it underrated? Is it undervalued? I would say undervalued. Mainly because I think, to your point, most people know I can have great matches with anyone. But great matches is not necessarily

the most important thing in WWE. In New Japan, I don't think I was undervalued. In Ring of Honor, I don't think I was undervalued because they really push wrestling. Like, that's what's at the forefront. In WW, it's, there's a lot of glist and glamour. It's entertainment first. Right.

Yeah. And so while it was, you know, we say pro wrestling, like I, the entertainment aspect of it, like I'm an athlete first. Like, and I'm fine with that. But because of that, it's like, yeah, the guys who were a little more theatrical is just valued more there because it's easier to market. And I understand that. I don't like it, but I understand it.

What do you think prevented you from taking it to that next level? It was too nice. not a big enough asshole not willing to cut throats you didn't fight enough for yourself no no I didn't because I felt like my work should speak for itself

and I didn't want to fight for myself I knew what I knew my strengths were I knew my weaknesses were and obviously I tried to work on them but at the end of the day it's like sometimes once you're typecast

or pigeonhole into one idea, no matter what you do, they won't let you out of that. And I know I used to get so much slack from my promo work. And it's like, yes, I was horrible at one time. And then, like I said, I improved, but while I improved, I still wasn't as flashy. Like, you know, if I, I would say I'm the anti-examined. Sina because I don't believe in a wrestling match in a move for move whatever. He can't hold a candle to me. But when it comes to my skills, I'm at the shallow of the gene pool, so to speak.

And I just think what he brought to the table, they value more. Or even my look, like I was in the land of giants. And when you got a guy like Brock, like you cannot be, it's really hard to stand out when standing next to a Brock and a Batista, you know what I'm saying? So while I always had a great physique and things like that, again, you got these monsters around you. It's really easy to, you know, because it's also visual.

You know, our audience is visual. So, you know, they're little, I don't want to call them. shortcomings because they weren't shortcomings is just a matter of what the company valued at the time. Why not put you with a great manager? Could you imagine what your career would look like if you were a Paul Heyman guy? So I can answer that question. They did put me with a great manager. His name was MVP. It was in a group called a hurt business and we took the world by storm for about eight months before they ruined it. Yeah. That's how I'm... But what if earlier in your career, once everything with Brock and Paul Heyman was done, what if you were a Paul Hammond guy?

when Brock was in UFC at the time. Sky's the limits. Yeah. I mean, that's, that was never pitched. Not Paul specifically, but a great manager?

I'm pretty sure it was. Like, I, it's been mentioned before. Like, a lot of, a lot of the agents have said things,

you know, maybe need a manager, whatever. So, again, I, I say balls out of those. I was just too nice.

Like, I was taught to just, again, let your work speak for itself. I'm not going to go, I'm not going to go argue for a spot. I'm not going to go cry for a spot. I'm just going to keep doing my job to the best of my abilities. And whatever you asked me to do, it's like, okay, I'm just going to do it. It's very rare. It's been very rare that I said, no, I'm definitely not going to do that. There's only one thing I can really look back at and go, I wish I never had

done that. What's uh, the Yoshitatsu, uh, promo on ECW. That is to me, the biggest black eye of my career, um, just because, quite frankly, it was just racist and that it doesn't reflect, it didn't reflect who I was then. It doesn't reflect who I am now. And literally from the moment, I did it or we, we did that. segment, I hated it. I love the story because, you know, he kicked me in the head and beat me in two seconds. That's exactly how that story should end. But just the fact that I think sometimes I'll see that pop up and I'm like, that's the one thing I wish I would have put my foot down and go, I'm not doing this.

Do you remember saying no to other things? Yeah. There's been a few matches or that, you know, times I've shown up and they wanted me to be in a certain type of match. And I was, or there was something else going on to where I was like, no, I can't,

I can't, I can't work today. I can't, whatever this is, I can't do this. Yeah. Or I'm not comfortable with this. But,

but again, that very rare, it's very rare occurrences. But again, that Yoshitatsu promo is the only one that I, I wish I could erase from history. I mean, there's so many other things that are much,

brighter spots of your career. Those are the things people remember. Yeah, thank goodness. You know, we talked about it last time, but it's it's so good. You versus Sean Michaels. Yeah. So most of those, excuse me, I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with that match. Because while it is undoubtedly, undoubtedly,

one of the best, brightest, biggest matches of my career, to me, it also signals when it also signals a fork in the road. that didn't go to where I wanted it to. In my opinion, I proved you put one of your best ever in the ring with me, and we can go and we can tear it up and have like a match again that remember for decades later, I felt like that's when, to your point, either give me a manager or, you know,

or at very least, help me along a little more in my weaker area. But I felt like when they could have gone this route versus the put me on an eighth month losing street before you introduce Mama. You know what I mean? It's like I felt like that's when I showed the world. I can be a star if they let me. Yeah, a loss to Sean Michaels could have propelled your career. Right. Here's the thing, a loss of Sean Michaels, that's, that's, that's, that's a moment of getting over while going under.

Yeah. And I felt like that's what happened. And I've had other moments like that, too. Again, I had a month-long feud with The Undertaker. And again, that was another moment. I'm like, okay, this is where I can get elevated. And it didn't happen. And again, I don't know why these things are.

I've never had a bad rep. I've never had a bad attitude. You know what I mean? Yeah. I mean, of course, everyone has their moments. stupidity and especially when you're young. But I've never felt like I've rubbed anyone

the wrong way that... Yeah, nobody has anything bad to say about Shelton Benjamin. I hope not. Yeah. Might be an ex-girlfriend or two there. But yeah, I feel like your reputation precedes you. And I'm really curious what your next move is going to be.

Everybody is. Maybe you're curious about it too. I'm curious, too. Nothing's in stone. And, you know, again, the floor is wide open for anyone that wants to take advantage and, you know, we can sit down and have a talk. But in the meantime, I am just enjoying life. I'm having fun. I prefer to, I'm a grateful person.

I've lived a charm life. I've, you know what I mean? I've accomplished, on a personal note, I've accomplished most of what I've set out to do. in the rest of business. There are a few accolades that I wish I could, that I still wish I had. But for the most part,

I live a charmed life. So if anyone's feeling sorry for me, it's a wasted sympathy. You know what I mean? Like, I'm, save your pity for the week. Like, I'm fine,

and I'm doing good, and I'll continue to do good. So that's pretty much where I am right now in life. That springboard into the super kick. I feel like that's the Shelton Benjamin,

HBK spot. It's been done a few times, been done a few times. It's been done a few times. And I've been, it's fun. I've been asking a few times to do it on the,

on the Indies, you know, and I'm, no. No, no, that's, the Sheldon,

HBK spot is just that. Shelton and HBK. If you're not HBK, I'm not doing it. The spot's so good because it's so unexpected. And that's the best thing about wrestling is when there's a surprise.

when you don't see it going that way. But it's also, he kicks your head off. So, and I see these jokes all the time. People say, to your point, it takes my head off. And with all due, I shouldn't say, but all due respect, Sean barely touched me.

Like, he's that good. It looks like he took my head off. I sold it like it took my head off. But he barely touched me. Huh. Like it was, it was one of those. When I took the bump, it was like, okay, that was cool. Like, you know, I heard the reaction.

But, no, Sean, it was, it looked great. And like I said, people still say, has Shelton woke up yet? But I'm sorry, but he's such a professional. And like I said, it was so easy. And it was, the timing on it was, was, was, was perfect. He didn't touch me. It's one of the greatest matches

in the history of Raw. Yeah. And again, like I have the, with those kind of accolades, like I said, I have a lot. I choose to focus on what

the good that was, not the what if. Yeah. Because everyone, if you're doing, if you're going, what if I could have done? Oh, if I only did that.

Like, no, it's, it's, well, what did you do? You know what I mean? And I got,

got a long list of great moments, moment after moment after moment. So like I said, I focus on positive. You in ladder matches was magic. How did you start to approach, like, just the fun things you would do? I have no idea. Okay. So the first match, that was Edge and Jericho treating me like a video game. because I wasn't, when they were going over the match,

I was at the video game, the T-SQ video game Superstar Challenge, winning it, by the way. Aren't you a Guinness World Record? I'm a Guinness World Record, you know, for playing video games, go figure. What a life. But, yeah, eat your heart out woods. But, yeah, I have no idea

when or how I got good at those things. It's accident. And I'm very serious when I credit the fact that I was a rambunctious child that would climb anything, fall off houses, trees, whatever. It didn't matter. I was a little daredevil. And my mom broke many a switch on my tail trying to get me to stop doing this stuff. But again, it just came in handy as an adult. So a lot of the stuff that I was

able, a lot of the stuff that I was doing or able to do is because, you know, just me being a big kid. Like, that's all it was. Running up the ladder like it's a set of stairs. Crazy. I've probably done that a million times as a kid. Never thought, never thought anything of it. Jeez. Which one are you most proud of? Um, you mean as far as the spots go? Yeah. I'll be honest, the springboard onto the ladder, that was an original. So anytime I can create something, no one's done before, like that, the run, the two runs, they were great, but I loved when I did the springboard onto the ladder. I think Rob Van Dam was one at that year.

I think I did like a sunset flip power bomb to Morrison. Not Morris. Wasn't Morrison? It was two guys. I feel like, oh, man. I have the spot in my head, but I don't have the people. But I did a sunset flip while the other guy was suplexing. Oh, yeah.

The other one. Man, they're going to be so mad at me because I can't think of who it was. I feel like it was John Morrison and someone. We can try to look it up here. We have all the world's information in our pocket. Right. Let's see. What was the other, you said you were going to clear something up about John Morrison. John Morrison. Okay, so, and my,

let's make it clear. That's my dog. I love him to death. And this is all in fun. You know, it's, this is kind of a Mia-YM-type dig. So don't but in an interview he did with you, he said that no one was there

when he did the backflip with the ladder. onto the pile. And I even commented when I saw the clip. I was like, are you kidding? Look at the tape. Everyone else is backing up. I'm stepping in. So, John, I want to retract.

Is this it? Is this the match? No, it wasn't that. I think it was the third one I was in. Oh, wait. There's a, this is a whole bunch of your moments. But there's a sunset flip. Apparently you have too many highlights.

You know, it's all, like I said, it's all about making those memories for the fans. Jeez, this is just insane. Look at this. All right, this is, this is WrestleMania 25 and you're jumping off of a ladder. You're really high. Yeah.

Okay, so I'll find the moment. For that particular one, um, there was a, that was, Taker and Sean had their second match, I believe. And there was a spot where I think Picker was going to do a dive.

Yes. So for some reason, they said they didn't want anyone diving off the ladder or didn't want anyone diving out of the ring to the floor or something like that. I think they were just trying to protect the spot that was coming later. And I said,

okay, so you don't want anyone diving out of the ring? No. So, okay. Well, how do you feel about someone diving while outside the ring? So that's where I came up with dad. I'm like, I'm going to do something. There's a spot where you get dumped off a ladder. Yeah, my buddies, Carlito and Mr. Kennedy.

And you fall through another ladder and break the ladder? That again was my idea. But, hey, I was young. I was hungry. It looks very painful. So, honestly, going through the ladder, not painful. The problem was when the ladder broke, when it fell and hit the ground, one rung hit me in the back.

And that's the only thing that hurt. Going through the ladder, a piece of cake. Like, every time I do, I have a ladder match. Anytime I have a match where I have to actually collide with the ladder, my brain says break the ladder. Because if you try to, if you, it's like taking a bump. If you try to take a soft bump, it's going to hurt more than anything. So you got to attack it.

Yeah. So I looked at the ladder is the same way. So any time I'm running into it, like my goal is break it. And usually, I usually, it ends up, I don't feel anything. You just cut from a different cloth here. Straighten out this mic here. I feel like I got hit. There you go.

The ladders are made of something else, though, right? Like they're meant to be broken? No, the ladders are metal. Ladders are metal. There is no specially manufactured pro wrestling ladders or any nonsense like that. They're, I think they're cheap ladders, but they're ladders. You can go to Home Depot and grab a couple. The United States Soccer Federation present the U.S. Soccer Podcast.

My name is David Goss, and I'm joined by my co-host, Megan Clemenberg. And now we're giving people an inside look at the World Cup. Time's ticking. I think you can feel the intensity. All the guys are wanting to really stake their claim, and they want to be on that World Cup roster. There's no doubt about it. Hosting the World Cup on the home soil comes with its pressures,

but we're just really excited just as the people are. The U.S. Soccer podcast, presented by Hencoe. Follow and listen on your favorite platform. I am still blown away by how you run up with them. Like it just, you make it look too easy. Yeah. Um, for me it was. This guy.

For me it was. How much longer do you think you can do this for? I don't know. I mean, I see guys like Billy Guns on, what, 60 now? 60. And by the way, Billy Gunn is the greatest athlete in pro wrestling, period. because if you want to judge athletes, you can't, you want to judge the greatest,

you can't look at it from when they're in their prime. You've got to look at the entire limp. Ooh, that's interesting. Who's done it? Who's been as athletic as long, high quality matches longer than Billy? And he looks amazing. Billy is, like, I say it all the time.

Billy on TV, David Banner. Billy in person, the Hulk. Like, he's phenomenal. I consider Billy Gunn the greatest athlete ever in wrestling. Wow. But again, it's because of his longevity. But there's a lot of guys who still look great, 20-plus years into their career, still perform great. Like Brock, Bobby Lashley, I mean, that's John Morrison who we're just talking about.

But you're saying Billy Gunn's the best. I think Billy, again, Billy Gunn at 60. I think... Looking better than he did in his debut. Yeah. I think Billy Gun can probably outbump, outwork, outpace anybody today. Like, no one's going to outwork Billy Gunn in my opinion.

Yeah. So, yeah, I think he's the greatest. I think far as athletes go, I think he's the greatest. Probably most... As far as athletics go, probably underrated. Because, you know, Bill is a big boy. And like said, to go to have gone that long, to look that great, and to still be able to do it, I'm not trying to take that metal. I don't think people realized how big he was because he was in WWE with all these other large allies.

Right. And then he does the Casino Battle Royal in AEW. And people go, oh, he's a monster. He towers over everybody. Yes. powers over me. I've only I wrestled Billy

maybe twice you know and this is while doing my this is when I think I did a gauntlet match I had three matches

in a row on Smackdown I had to wrestle Charlie then Billy then Ray Mysterio back to back to back

same show so and it was after that I got drafted to Raw but man even

Then I was like, Billy is a beast. Like, he's, that, that's, Billy is scary big. And he's so underrated at making people look great in the ring. Yeah. Like, he's really good at making other people look awesome. To, to, you know, you said this about me, name a bad Billy gun match. I can't think of one. Yeah.

Singles, tags, I can't think of one. Yeah. So, yeah. Maybe there's something there for you guys. maybe. Maybe. I'm willing to work with him. So you think, you know, could you go for another year, two, five, ten? I'm pretty sure I could do too easy. Five depending on the schedule. But I also don't want to overstay my welcome. I've been doing this a long time.

And at there, again, there's going to come a time I have to stop thinking selfishly and look at things like where as far as the wrestling business go, where am I a bigger benefit in the ring or behind the scenes? Right now I still feel like I can be a huge contributor in the ring. Definitely can still be behind the scenes, but again, this has to be in the right place before I can do that. And that's definitely coming. I will say that's definitely on the horizon. But right now, I still feel like I got a little more I can give. Not yet. Yeah.

Yeah. What was up with a gimmick where you didn't speak? The GIF, GIF, whatever we want to pronounce it. You'd be a little impression for you. We don't know where we're going to go with it yet. But we're just going to do this for now and we'll see where it goes. That's about as much instruction as I got from that. We're going to have you not say anything.

And you're going to look around. You're going to look confused. Like, kind of like this. A little smile and. Okay, where's this going? We don't know yet. We'll, we'll figure it out, you know, we'll. Hmm.

Where to go? Dip, deep, deep. Up in flames. I'm excited for what's next for you. And it's amazing how much has changed in the last year. Right. You've got so many amazing opportunities in front of you now. Sky's the limit.

Yeah, I'm amazed at how many opportunities are coming my way. You know, a lot of some opportunities that came my way before that I, unfortunately, while on the WWE contract, you know, I couldn't take advantage of. Now I'm free to, you know, pursue these projects and things like that. You know, I'm, you know, I just signed a deal to be on a board game. I just, you know, obviously I just launched some T-shirts and things like that. And I'm hoping to try to do some acting at some point.

But again, just having that freedom to pick and choose whatever you want to do. It's work. I mean, it's not easy. It's work. You really got to hustle. But it's so much more rewarding to know that this is what I created. This is what I've done for myself. and hopefully some people will enjoy it along the way.

You got a lot of love when you were released. Yeah, a lot of love. I really appreciate the fans. Like, no matter what, the fans have always been very kind to me. And, you know, all I like to say is thank you. I hope to continue to, you know, do good things and, you know, entertain people. And, you know, for the people that aren't my fans, I hope, you know, it's not too late to give me a chance.

So we wrapped up the last interview with this question. We'll do the same this time as well. And thank you, by the way, for just being so awesome. Thank you for making the time to do this as well. Glad to. Glad to. Thanks for having me again. What are three things in your life that you're grateful for right now, Shelton?

Three things that I'm grateful for. Well, I'm grateful for my wonderful children. My daughters are my world. And literally, everything I do, everything I've done is for them. And, you know, so I can leave them something. And I want to make my daughters and, you know, I got a ton of nieces and nephews, but make them proud to. So I'm very thankful to have them, one, because they help me stay focused.

I'm very thankful for my health. 24 years of beating your body against a brick wall, you know, a lot of people don't make it out. or a lot of people having done it so long are not in the same physical condition that man. So I'm very thankful for my help. Is that anything hurt right now when you get out of bed? Oh, I have aches and pains all the time. But that's, I have aches and pains.

My neck hurt, my back hurt. I have all the, I have all the, excuse me. I have all the symptoms of someone who's lived my life. However, that being said, I still live a quality of life because I'm not so banged up that I can't have a fun, you know, you know, that's the word I'm looking for. My quality of life is still really, really good. But again, obviously, 24, 25 years of this, yeah, there's going to be some things that are bang. Like, you know, my elbow is kind of janky. My knees, you know, I got a little lip.

that's, but that to me is minor in the grand scheme of thing is, it's very minor. And I guess the final thing is that I still have a, I still have a good reputation within the business with amongst my peers. I've managed to hang on to my integrity throughout my career. Like I said, I wasn't the type to go, I wasn't the type to go beg for a spot, but I was also wasn't the type to complain when a spot wasn't given to me or I didn't have a spot. You know what I mean? I think integrity is a huge part. I think maintain your integrity is very important, especially when it comes to the respect

of your peers, which is most of the most of your peers. Yeah. which is most important. I feel like most, if not all of my peers, you know, there's a very defined respect. So I'm happy to have been able to maintain my integrity throughout all these years. And again, who knows what tomorrow will bring. But I plan to keep it that way.

Well, we're all excited to see what tomorrow is going to bring. So good to see you, man. Good to see you, too, man. This is awesome. Like, like I said, I don't grant a lot of interviews, but I definitely enjoy coming and speaking with you and, you know, because it honestly just feels like a conversation with a friend. Yeah, this is great. Let's go grab a beer now or something. Absolutely.

I just got a new ride, so hey. Hey, let's go. Shelton, what a good guy. Snap a screenshot. Let us know you're listening to this and tag us. He's at Shelty B-803. I'm at Chris Van Fleet. give him a follow as well in social media.

And if you see that he happens to be performing at an independent show around where you live, go. Like, do not miss this. He talked about it during this interview, but he's not going to be wrestling forever. So if you have the chance to see him live, do it. He is so, so good. And he wrestles just as well now

as he did when you first saw him in WWE 20 years ago. That's how incredible he is. That's how athletic he is. that's how talented he is. I'll wrap this up with a quote from Albert Einstein. We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Be great. Be grateful, my friends.

We will see you on the next one for some more insight as we welcome Booker T back on the show. We'll see you Thursday. Jim Rome takes on sports. Why? Because I have a job to do. With rapid fire takes. So I don't want to hear from you lava pigs. on this notion today.

No idea what you're talking about. You're complaining more than you like to breathe air. It's like you get up in the morning only to complain and cry and moan on social media about things that you don't even understand. He's the spitfire of sports smack. Take advantage of it. Get up in here. The Jim Rome Show podcast. What should be? Follow and listen on your favorite platform.

You've been warned.