Ex-WWE Star Bitterly Regrets Racist Segment

A popular former WWE Superstar has said sorry.

After initially finding success alongside Charlie Haas, Shelton Benjamin found himself on ECW by November 2007, looking to impress as a singles star. Now dubbed “The Gold Standard,” Benjamin was presented as one of the brand’s top stars before being drafted to SmackDown in mid-2008. However, he was moved back to ECW just a year later.

It was during his return that he had a short feud with Yoshi Tatsu who was making his main roster debut. Ahead of that first match on Tatsu’s debut, Benjamin impersonated his rival in a short promo, before mocking him by repeatedly bowing in the ring. Just seconds later, Tatsu picked up the win, but Benjamin won a rematch.

After the clip was shared on social media, Benjamin expressed regret at the impersonation, commenting he was “disgusted” by the “racist sh*t” he performed.

If I could erase one thing in my career this is it. I’m completely and utterly disgusted by this racist sh*t. I’m glad the ending was my character getting kicked in the head and losing #racismsucks

Shelton Benjamin Open To WWE Return

Less than a year after the incident Benjamin left the company and headed out onto the independent scene before returning in 2017. After teaming with Chad Gable, Benjamin moved between brands and eventually found success as part of the Hurt Business in the summer of 2020.

Following the collapse of the group, Benjamin shuffled down the pecking order, before being released on September 1st, 2023.

In a recent interview, Shelton Benjamin said he would be a fool not to go back to WWE if the opportunity was there.