Name: Shelton Benjamin Height: 6 foot 2 Weight: 245 pounds From: Orangeburg, S.C. Finishing Move: T-bone suplex Career Highlights: Intercontinental Championship; WWE Tag Team Championship Shelton Benjamin has faced adversity head on his whole life. Growing up fast and hard in a tough neighborhood, Shelton could’ve joined gangs and faced great pressure to do the wrong thing more times than he’d like to remember. However, “Mr. Benjamin” defied the odds and went on to the University of Minnesota to become an outstanding amateur wrestler before finally doing the impossible – becoming a WWE Superstar, first on Smackdown and most recently on RAW. Maybe it was Benjamin’s ability to deal with the pressures of the street that has made him the prime time high stakes pressure player he has evolved into as a RAW Superstar. Either way, there’s no denying Benjamin’s uncanny athletic skills and balance in pulling off some of the most breathtaking high risk maneuvers out there. Mr. Benjamin’s true potential revealed itself after being drafted to RAW in the March 2004 Draft Lottery. Rocking RAW in his first month, Benjamin stood up to Triple H, leading to a series of matches between the two with Shelton squeaking out the wins and showing great promise as his star continued to rise. In the coming months, Benjamin would carve out a reputation as being one of the most explosive newcomers to RAW. Holding onto the Intercontinental Championship for more than 8 months – the longest reign since The Rock’s 1997-98 run - Benjamin recently lost his prize possession to 2005 RAW Draftee Carlito ending his reign as champ. Interesting Notes: • Benjamin is a video game nut, winning the annual WrestleMania fan fest championship tournament two years in a row.
|