Jim Ross, a key figure in WWE’s talent scouting during the 1990s and 2000s, believes Shelton Benjamin, one of his notable recruits, could find success in AEW.
Benjamin, renowned for his tenure in WWE from 2000 to 2010 and then from 2017 to 2023, was released from the company in September 2023 due to limited television exposure on RAW.
On his Grilling JR podcast, Ross expressed his admiration for Benjamin’s athletic prowess and suggested potential matches with Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay, emphasizing Benjamin’s potential to mentor emerging talents:
“[Shelton would be] a credit to anybody’s locker room. I don’t know what his plans are. If he’s a free agent, I’d love to see him get a shot at doing something in AEW. I can see some great matches with Shelton and Bryan Danielson and others, many others, Ospreay. Shelton is just a gifted athlete. He just didn’t have the greatest personality for a TV performer as one might prefer.”
Throughout his WWE tenure, Benjamin secured various championships, including three Intercontinental Championships and one United States Championship, as well as tag team titles with Cedric Alexander and Charlie Haas.
While Benjamin is esteemed in the wrestling community for his in-ring abilities, his charisma and microphone skills have been less prominent. Ross acknowledged Benjamin’s likability but suggested his persona might have impacted his WWE journey:
“His promo ability didn’t do him any favors, and, again, that’s a part of the process of connecting to your audience. Shelton is a very likable guy, he’s a good guy. I thought that famous class that we recruited for OVW back in the day, that included Cena, Lesnar, Batista, Orton, and Shelton. So guess who the best athlete of the whole caboodle was? Shelton Benjamin.”
Benjamin’s final WWE appearance occurred on the September 14, 2023, episode of Main Event, where he and Cedric Alexander faced The Viking Raiders in a losing effort.