Has Shelton Benjamin missed his chance?

[Hammy]

Skimming through the dirtsheets yesterday I saw one piece that said Shelton Benjamin has turned 34, and I thought Holy ****!  The clock really is ticking.  I guess with some guys you remembering them starting out and still think of them as a young star in their 20s with plenty of chances.  I remember when they first tried to push him as a singles star, he went to RAW and beat Triple H 3 weeks in a row (or something like that).  They were really high on him.  Since they he has floated up and down the card on all 3 brands with IC and US Title reigns.  They have tried him as a babyface and a heel but every few months they just seem to give up on his push, its become a joke in the Billy Gunn territory where you go, "Oh its the annual Shelton Benjamin push!"  He just seems destined to be stuck in the midcard, whereas back in 2002-2003 there was talk of him being a future headliner.  He has never quite shown the charisma wanted of him by WWE and then have been reports over the years that he has no drive or desire and is "Comfortable" with his position.  So has he gone as far as he can now or is there a slight hope that he may still one day break through?

[Gnrfan]

He is one of those guys who just needs a really big feud. He is so talented. I think even as a tag team wrestler he could have potential.

Will he ever be a World Champion? I don't think so. But i also don't think WWE will release him due to his talents. Even now he would be a credible IC, US or Tag Champ.... maybe even ECW! and he will always be at that level.

I wouldn't mind him being teamed up with someone like Mark Henry... two guys who seem to be around for ages without ever much purpose. I think they'd be a decent partnership.

[Hammy]

I don't for one minute think he'll get sacked, it pretty much was a "Has he missed his chance at being a top level player?".  With his in-ring skills he fits in well and puts guys over (recently jobbing to Morrison in about 10 straight matches) well, its just after all the promise people saw in him its strange to look back and think he hasn't progressed up the ladder much in the past 6 years.  I'm all for teams and stables and he could benefit from being in one, heck when together on a regular basis him and Haas were eletric in the ring, especially back in the early days of the draft split when they had the Smackdown Tag Titles and feuded with Los Guerreros and Benoit and Rhyno those lot had some really good battles.  And when they have reformed and fought the likes of The Hardy Boyz.  Least that gave Haas something to do.

[slashsfro]

I can't believe he's 34 as he doesn't look that old.  Maybe he has a problem with management.  Jeff Hardy isn't very good at promos either and he seems to have slowly ascended up the ladder.  He also pushes a ton of merchandise though.  I thought that he would be getting a bigger push when  they brought in that actress to play his mother but that didn't go through.  He recently got moved to ECW, so maybe there's a chance here.  I just wished they used him more, even as a jobber who makes the main eventers look good and wrestles an entertaining match in the process.  I get kind of tired seeing the Big Show, Kane, Mark Henry in that role.  Unfortunately, I think management sees him as a mid level guy who can do some wild and crazy spots--hence his conclusion in the MITB matches, as he is never a credible threat to win those matches--but lacks the personality to be a main eventer.  FWIW, my favorite Shelton Benjamin match was a few years ago on Raw when he faced Shawn Michaels in the Gold rush tournament.

BTW, Hammy thanks for the invite

[Hammy]

That Gold Rush match was superb, with the Super Kick catching him when he jumped back in, really was good.

I think the difference between him and Jeff Hardy is Jeff is just too popular not to push.  WWE I don't think wanted to push Jeff all the way but they have no choice, he gets big pops than nearly everyone else.  Is Shelton was that popular he'd of got the same treatment.  Jeff ticks all the boxes with the fans, chicks love him, kids think he's cool and blokes remember him taking crazy bumps during the attitude era and like and respect him for that.

With Shelton's move to ECW even if he does reach the top of that brand and has a run with that belt, so what?  It is essentially a midcard belt, it means you are king of the development brand.  I mean they gave the belt to Mark Henry but they would never of given him one of the other World Title belts, in many ways its an experiment belt.  I was never keen on the addition of his mother but he could do with a manager, unfortunately it is considered to be a dated concept, which baffles me, managers can be so useful.

Like Gnrfan suggested teaming him with someone like Mark Henry could work, with a manager like Teddy Long, he works well as a heel manager.  I just expect him to continue the way he has been pushes, then creative change their mind, another push and so on, eventually they'll probably give up all together and treat him like they did Val Venis in his latter days with the company.

[More Cowbell]

Once he pulled a koko b ware and died his hair that was like building a permenant roof on his head saying he will never be a main eventer.  I always thought his best work came in tag matches as he makes everyone look good around him more then he makes himself look good.

[BlowUpYourVideo]

To me, Benjamin just isn't all that.... interesting. Perhaps he would benefit from a sort of "lets his actions do the talking" kind of character. Benoit wasn't the greatest promo guy, and that worked for him. Though Benoit was more intense with the knife-edge chops and suplexes and whatnot. Benjamin does all that leaping about, which may not fit with a that kind of gimmick.

[Hammy]

Once he pulled a koko b ware and died his hair

...I always thought it was more pulling a "The Natural! Butch Reed.

[D]

Guys like he and Carlito just don't have that "IT" thing u can't teach.

both had a chance but they will never be more than what they are.

[Izzy]

Never really gave a monkees about him

There are far better people out there to get the 'chance'

[More Cowbell]

Not to stereotype but what about benjamin teaming up with r-truth they could be the rapping thugs or something.  then team them up with cryme time and have a huge rapping posse. 

[Sober_Times]

He has been put in the dog house a few times after he showcased his talent on raw for all to see a few  years ago. Even though he was already looking pretty damn good on smackdown. He has the in-ring talent. But i think he lacks an ability to get great heat or become a crowd favorite. However with the right fued it could be possible to put him over but I still think he lacks a certain quality to make him an it guy.

I like Shelton and I hope he can break through.

[Ragu]

34 isnt old, they constantly have champs in their late 30s and 40s, he needs to go to tna cause he'll never get main event title push

[Hammy]

34 isnt old, they constantly have champs in their late 30s and 40s, he needs to go to tna cause he'll never get main event title push

It isn't really old but guys like Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Undertaker had reached that spot by that age, its just after some many aborted pushes has he missed his chance of being a top line star, exceptions like Batista just got into wrestling at an old age he didn't have a list of failed pushes behind him.

[Ragu]

can i bring up the vince is seen as kinda a bigot? so maybe he missed his chance by being born black