Shelton Benjamin Receives Standing Ovation On WWE Main Event
Shelton Benjamin received a standing ovation on WWE Main Event and delivered a special message to the fans in attendance.
Prior to WWE Raw airing usually live from 8pm ET to 11 pm ET every Monday, WWE also tapes two matches that air on their syndicated show Main Event. WWE Main Event airs every Thursday on Hulu, and then on a two-week delay via Peacock and the WWE Network.
This week’s Raw took place in Nashville, Tennessee with two matches that were taped for Main Event. Those matches saw Shelton Benjamin defeat NXT’s Rip Fowler while former Raw Women’s Champion Nikki Cross beat Dana Brooke.
After the match, Shelton Benjamin received a standing ovation from the crowd. That’s because Benjamin recently celebrated 20 years since his WWE debut in December 2002. After receiving that overwhelming support from the fans, Benjamin delivered these comments that WWE posted on social media and Youtube.
“In case some of you guys don’t know, I just recently celebrated 20 years of debuting for WWE. I just want to thank you fans, WWE, WWE Universe for allowing me all this time to live out my childhood dream.”
The fans chanted “Thank You Shelton” for him at that point leading to these comments from Benjamin.
“But make no mistake, I’m not done. I’m Shelton Benjamin, I’m still the gold standard and…ain’t no stopping me now!”
Benjamin said “gold standard” because that was his nickname for a lot of his WWE career and “ain’t no stopping me now” is the start of his theme song.
“The Gold Standard” @Sheltyb803 celebrates his 20-Year Anniversary as the WWE Universe gives him a standing ovation on WWE Main Event. pic.twitter.com/WDOqwZX2GO
— WWE (@WWE) January 5, 2023
During his WWE career, Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas went on to capture the WWE Tag Team Championships twice both as part of Team (Kurt) Angle and after they split from their mentor, The World’s Greatest Tag Team. As a singles competitor, Benjamin captured the Intercontinental Championship on three occasions as well as achieving a 243-day reign with the United States Championship.
After a seven-year hiatus from WWE, Benjamin reunited with Haas and the pair saw success in Ring of Honor where they won the Tag Team Titles twice. Benjamin also wrestled around the world on the independent scene as well as joining New Japan Pro Wrestling’s famed Suzuki-Gun stable.
Benjamin returned to WWE in 2017 and became a Raw Tag Team Champion with Cedric Alexander.
This past week on Raw, Benjamin was shown in the background with fellow Hurt Business members MVP and Alexander with rumors that they could return to WWE soon led by the former WWE Champion Bobby Lashley, who is expected to return to a heel role.
As the 47-year-old Shelton Benjamin said, he’s not done any time soon and if The Hurt Business is back together, then he should be featured prominently on television again.