Ex-WWE Star Used Money In The Bank To Prove Worth
Former WWE Superstar Shelton Benjamin has detailed how he used Money In The Bank matches to showcase his talent.
The former University Of Minnesota collegiate wrestler joined WWE’s developmental system in January 2000, initially teaming with Brock Lesnar to capture the Ohio Valley Wrestling Tag Team Championship as ‘The Minnesota Wrecking Crew’.
Benjamin was elevated to the SmackDown brand in late December 2002, joining forces with Charlie Haas under the mentorship of Olympic Gold Medalist Kurt Angle. The duo would go on to capture the WWE Tag Team Championship from Los Guerreros less than six weeks after their debut.
Whilst he would go on to spend the majority of his main roster career in tag team competition, Benjamin did enjoy a semblance of success in the singles ranks including lifting the WWE Intercontinental Championship after defeating Chris Jericho at Taboo Tuesday 2004.
Despite never truly breaking through to the upper echelons of the card, Benjamin became known for his tremendous athleticism as well as outstanding performances in the annual Money In The Bank ladder match.
The 49 year-old competed in four of the first five ladder matches, including the inaugural bout at WrestleMania 21 in Los Angeles, California.
The former WWE United States Champion opened up about his participation in the Money In The Bank matches during a recent chat with fellow former Superstar, Maven. Benjamin insisted that the dangerous matches offered him an opportunity to shine in the spotlight:
“I can tell you right now what I was thinking here when it came to Money in the Bank. No matter what was going on with me that year, the previous year, when it came to this match, this is my time to show the fans, ‘Okay, this is why I’m a WWE Superstar.’
No matter if I’m winning, losing, no matter how I’m being utilized by the company, this is where I remind the company and the fans, ‘This is why I’m here’.”
WWE Champion Called Out By Surprising Star
Another fledgling Superstar who was trained in OVW at the same time as Shelton Benjamin is Undisputed WWE Champion, John Cena.
The 17-time World Champion is taking on all-comers during his farewell tour, with a host of top names lining up for one final bout with the legendary Superstar.
Cena has recently received a new challenge from a surprising source. Whilst in Australia to promote the upcoming WWE Crown Jewel PLE, Grayson Waller called out Cena for a title match on his home soil.
H/T: Fightful for the above transcription.