Getting Over 8.10.06: Shelton Benjamin
Posted by Mike LaFave on 08.10.2006
It's the Benjamin family reunion gathering to get Shelton over. No trust me; I came up with something much better than that!
The first thing I want to do is thank everyone who sent me their thoughts on my first column. The response was overwhelming! I'll dive into the reader feedback in more detail later on in the column, but I wanted to show my appreciation before I did anything else, so once again, thank you! We have a lot of work to do to get Shelton Benjamin over the way he should be, so lets not waste anymore time.
Shelton delivers the good in the ring and has a great look, making him ideal for both WWE management and the internet fans. His only opportunities to cut meaningful promos were when he was part of The World's Greatest Tag Team and they mocked the APA and then there was the Monday Night Football spoof with him, Vince and Trish. In both of these examples Shelton showed that with some practice he could be, at the very least, adequate on the stick. In his upsets over HHH, and whether you liked Momma Benjamin or not, Shelton's run w/ her; he was able to allow his charismatic personality to shine thru before having the carpet pulled from underneath him. Shelton has all the tools to be a top notch SuperStar, so what is keeping him from obtaining that level of success? He has yet to have a consequential feud or a profound character. Once Shelton develops a multifaceted character, he will be one mid card feud away from the main event. Your welcome Shelton, I'm about to do both of those things for you!
Getting Over Shelton Benjamin:
There isn't time to properly build towards a Summer Slam match featuring Shelton, plus that card looks like it potentially will be pretty stacked. The best move to make is to keep Shelton off television until after the biggest party of the summer is complete. From there Shelton can start with a clean slate.
Skip ahead to the Raw the day after the huge Summer Slam ppv. Shelton comes out in the middle of the show to address the crowd, "People seem to be forgetting the name Shelton Banjamin around here. I've put together a reminder of why I'm the climax, the zenith, the apex of this show, why it's all down hill after me! Boys in the truck, remind the people who I am!" A video package plays in the style of a Sports Center highlight reel, complete with Shelton calling the action in a pre-dubbed voice over. It shows his high spots from both of this Money in the Bank matches, that amazing power bomb/suplex from the top rope from the triple threat at Vengeance a couple months back and a mix of the more original maneuvers in his move set. After the clip is finished Shelton is shown in the ring clapping and nodding to the audience. He begins to speak again. "That brings back some great memories. Ya know what else brings back memories, seeing Charlie Haas in the locker room everyday. Charlie, we were the greatest tag team this business has ever seen, and we could be again. I had my agent talk to Vince and he knows that with our history and credentials we would be the most qualified team on Raw to challenge for the tag team title. Charlie, all you have to do is come down to this ring and shake my hand. You do that and I've been guaranteed a title shot for later tonight." Haas makes his way down to the ring. He looks around at the audience trying to gauge their opinions on what he should do. After a moment of hesitation, Hass extends his hand to Shelton and the two former partners embrace.
Later on in the show the reformed tag team comes down to the ring to take on the Spirit Squad for the title. Both teams are putting on an athletic showcase with great tag team chemistry. The Squad pulls into the advantage and really lay into Haas. Charlie plays the face in peril for what seems like forever when he finally gets the hot tag to Shelton. Shelton clears house and has the Squad in trouble. Then out of nowhere he stops, smiles and exits the ring and the arena without explanation. The Squad beats down Haas, leaving him motionless in the middle of the ring.
Following the intro pyro for the next weeks Raw, we hear, "Ain't no stoppin' me now…" Shelton struts down to the ring, ready to explain his actions, "So, I imagine you guys want to know why I double crossed my old pal Chuck last week. Well, I'm a straight shooter, so I'll be honest with all of you…marketing. Like I said last week, you people were forgetting about me and so were the men in the back who make the matches. What I did is called a publicity stunt. Charlie, no ill will man, nothing personal, I just had to do something to get my name out there. I said it once and I'll say it again, I am the apex of this show, it's all down hill after me. In basketball the so called experts are always trying to label the next big thing as the next Michael Jordan, well I am the Michael Jordan of the WWE; I'm just head and shoulders above the rest. I was watching the play-offs this past year and the home town crowds were chanting, M-V-P whenever Lebron or Dwayne Wade were at the foul line, well each and every one of you should be chanting the same thing ever time I allow you the pleasure of watching me perform. It may have happened once, but none of you will be forgetting The Apex from this point on. Chuck, I used ya to make a point, no hard feelings." Shelton drops the mic and heads out of the ring when he's attacked by Haas. Charlie gets in a few good shots before Shelton manages to run away. Haas has the urge to follow the turncoat, but his match is next so he is unable to do so. Haas and Matt Striker are having a hard fought back and forth battle when Charlie locks in the Haas of Pain. Shelton runs back down to the ring, breaks up the submission hold, and proceeds to beat down Haas; hitting both his Shelton Splash and T-Bone Suplex.
The following week Shelton has a match against a random jobber. He makes quick work of the no-name and starts signaling to the back for someone to come down. Maria comes running down to the ring for a post match interview. "The only thing any SuperStar can really do is take things one match at a time and God willing, come out on top, which is what you all witnessed here tonight, thank you." Just as Shelton is leaving the ring, Haas hops over the guard rail and again only gets in a few shots before Shelton is able to escape.
In the main event the next week we see a fun six-man tag match featuring the men from three of the top Raw feuds heading into the next weeks ppv. Through out the match Haas is unsuccessful in his bid to gain a measure of revenge against Shelton as Benjamin makes quick tags every time Charlie is the legal man. Charlie's team ends up victorious, but Shelton does not lose the fall.
This brings us to Unforgiven. Throughout the match JR continually refers to Shelton as, "The Apex, Shelton Benjamin." Haas and Benjamin go at it in a mat-based technical classic for about eighteen minutes before Shelton rolls up Haas, grabs a hand full of tights and places his feet on the ropes for extra leverage and the win! Haas is understandably upset about what just transpired, but Shelton motions for the referees to remove Charlie from the ring as Maria makes her way down for Shelton's post match interview, "I just want to take this opportunity to thank God, with out him I would not have been blessed with the obvious talent and brains it takes to be victorious in a big ppv match like this, thank you."
Shelton makes his was down to the ring to gloat the following night. He's wearing his newest piece of WWE merchandise. It's a white basket ball jersey with blue trim. In the front where generally the team logo would be is the Raw emblem. On the front and back where the player's number is usually displayed is a fancy dollar symbol. In the name place on the back it reads, "The Apex." Shelton takes the mic from Lillian Garcia and begins to brag, "I proved what I've been saying all along, I walked the walk, I backed up the smack talk, I showed everyone that I am the apex, it's all down hill after me. So now I'm moving on, Cena, congrats on your big win last night. I guess you could say the champ is back. I hope you didn't drink to much celebratory champagne last night, because I'm challenging you to a title match tonight, we all know I deserve it!" Just then Charlie Haas walks out on the ramp way, "Shelton, Shelton, Shelton, you seem to forget that I know you better than anyone. You resorted to cheating to beat me, you and I both know that the only time you sink to that level is when you are outmatched, just like you were last night. We're not done my friend, you like to say you're the top athlete on Raw, well then let's take a queue from the NFL, instant replay in effect for the rematch!"
The instant replay match is underway the following week and once again it's a classic old school wrestling affair. JR is continuing his trend of referring to Shelton as The Apex. After about fifteen minutes of fast paced action, Shelton whips Haas into the turnbuckle, the ref goes to check on Charlie, Shelton lands his big splash and the ref falls to the mat after being caught in the middle. Shelton takes advantage of the situation by rolling out of the ring and grabbing a steel chair. He tosses the chair into the ring, and hits a springboard bulldog with Charlie's face getting planted right into the foreign object. The ref doesn't see this miscarriage of justice but does come to just in time to make the three count. Shelton begins to celebrate and Maria starts to make her way down for what is his now traditional post match interview. But Maria informs Shelton that due to the unique rules of this match and after reviewing the replay WWE officials have deemed that the match must continue. Shelton is enraged. He's stomping all over the ring when Haas sneaks up behind him, schoolboy, one, two, three; Charlie Haas wins the instant replay match!
Shelton makes his way down to the ring for a match a week later. Before the match he has a few words, "Last week, The Apex was robbed. I won that match. Instant replay my ass! As far as I'm concerned I'm two for two against Chuck!" It's a quick jobber match followed by the immediate post match interview with a few standard sports clichés. Shelton is making his way to the back when Haas appears on the Titantron, "Shelton, you might think you won last week, but you're the only one who thinks that buddy, we're one and one…next week, the rubber match!"
The rubber match is the main even of the next Raw. When Shelton's music hits at 10:40pm, the viewers at home know they are in store for a quality blow off match with plenty of time to settle the score once and for all. It's a back and forth affair with both guys coming just a fraction of a second short of picking up the pin fall on several occasions. When it looks as though Haas finally has Shelton beat, Benjamin reveres an Irish whip attempt by Haas, followed directly with a Shelton Splash and T-Bone Suplex for the clean pin! To make sure there was time for the interview Maria was watching the match ringside and immediately gets some words from the victor, "Maria, I can't take credit, it's a team effort…well no, wait a minute, there is no team here, it's all me…so I guess I can take credit, but Charlie, you put up a good fight, about as good as anyone can expect against me, so my hat goes off to you, but at the end of the day the better man, The Apex, won!"
As Shelton makes his way down for his scheduled match against Val Venis the next night he has an announcement to make, "I have some great news for my fans. If you go to WWE.com, you will find analysis from The Apex himself on my various matches, it will be updated weekly, just another example of how I, unlike many of my peers, give back to the community. That being said let me get down to business. Now that I finished cleaning out the skeletons from my closet, I'm ready to focus on making a championship run, Cena, that means you man, be on the look out for The Apex!" Shelton and Venis have a competitive ten minute match when Benjamin hits his signature move for the win. Shelton is in the middle of his traditional post match interview when Edge's music hits, "hey, you T.O. rip off, that's right, the Rated R Super Star is talking to you. I've heard you calling out John Cena a few times, well get in line pal, because I'm getting my belt back, and after I do, maybe if you do all your home work and finish all your vegetables then I'll consider giving you a shot."
The next Raw opens with John Cena calling out Edge and Shelton. They both make their way down to the ring while Cena is addressing them, "Yo homies, word on the street is both of you want some of da champ. The rock star and the all star both think they can take this title from me, well boys you know what they say, if you don't start none their wont be none, but it you want some, come get some!" A three way brawl breaks out. The scuffle lasts a few minutes before Shelton lays out both of his combatants.
The build continues around all three men with many run in's and even a unique triple threat six-man tag match headlining Raw one night. The next ppv that Raw participates in is Cyber Sunday, so that's more difficult to book. The fans get to vote for either Edge or Shelton to face Cena for the WWE Championship, with the odd man out facing Kane in a number one contenders match. In an attempted to sway the audience, one night on Raw Shelton runs another one of his highlight packages with all new material. Despite his best efforts to influence the vote, the fans vote Edge into the main event by a slim margin. At Cyber Sunday, Shelton picks up a clean victory over the Big Red Machine but he is still upset about not getting the votes needed to challenge for the title. After a grueling main event, Cena and Edge hit a double clothesline spot and are both laid out. Shelton comes down to the ring, grabs the spinner belt and nails both competitors for a double dq. Shelton is giving Maria a special edition exclusive interview as he walks back up the ramp when Cena and Edge team up to beat Shelton to a bloody mess.
The program leads to a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match at Survivor Series between all three men. This is where Shelton wins his first ever World Championship! Cena then chases the title from the end of November to the Royal Rumble when he finally regains the belt just in time to start his Wrestlemania feud with Orton for the championship. It also leaves time for Shelton to start his next program with HBK leading to what would be a Wrestlemania show stealer between the two.
Over the Top:
As I mentioned in the beginning, Shelton needs a character. This idea develops Shelton as a self-centered professional athlete, with the highlight packages, the post match interviews and giving himself a nickname. It's subtly different from your average arrogant heel persona. People hate spoiled millionaire athletes, and would love booing Shelton as one.
He also needed a feud with a beginning, a middle and a blow off. He's had many feuds start, but never seem to finish, leaving him with an array of mini feuds in his past. The program with Haas is a no brainer. They were a great tag team as part of Team Angle and after Shelton was drafted to Raw, we never got the privilege to enjoy a program between the two. It looked like we'd finally be able to see it when the WWE rehired Haas and put him on the Raw roster, but so far it has yet to happen, but it NEEDS to. My suggestion gives Shelton a new personality and puts him over in a drawn out feud. Once he's established those two ingredients, the fans would buy him in the main event scene if it's handled properly. They can't throw him the belt first thing; he needs to work for it. Winning the belt in a form of a ladder match would also make sense given Shelton's character and his history in those type matches.
All in all I believe this would make for some very entertaining television with some excellent matches. It would also make a new main event star, which is always a good thing.
Over There:
SmackDown!
- I'm loving the booking for the Finlay/Lashley/Regal program. Lashley came back this past Friday. When he came down during the Finlay/Regal match I was curious how they were going to play it. Regal looked as if he wanted to pair back up with The Irish man, but Finlay left Regal high and dry. When that happened I was thinking, "so they're going to turn Regal face, I don't think I like that." But then Lashley did his best Davey Boy Smith impression and hit the running power slam on the Brit. This storyline is not only entertaining but it's also keeping us guessing. If they keep Finlay as the bad ass, Lashley as the world beater and clearly define Regal's role post Royal Court, this could be one of the best feuds we've seen on SmackDown! in a long time!
- I think this Sylvester Terkay/Elijah Burke combination has some legs. I didn't understand why Burke was relegated to being a corner man after all the good things I'd heard about him from OVW. Then this week, Terkay sees his opponent and figures, "too easy", so he sends Burke in to take care of his light work. There are lots of options for management to go with in regards to these two; it'll be fun watching to see where it goes!
Raw
-Late breaking news indicates that the Legend vs. Legend Killer match for Summer Slam is on like Donkey Kong! Unlike most in the IWC, I'm happy about it. I've been entertained by the build up for the match the last few weeks and I expect it to only get better. I have my fingers crossed that Hogan will do the favor for young Randy. A win of that magnitude at Summer Slam would put Orton's career back on track. I know that his first title run and his face turn were a debacle, but that was hardly Orton's fault. He's smooth in the ring, he has natural charisma, he uses wrestling psychology and he can cut a promo. If he goes over the Immortal One at Summer Slam I think Orton will leave Wrestlemania 23 as the WWE Champion.
- I'm excited and confused about what's going on with the mid card. I'm confused because I thought that Nitro/Benjamin/Carlito program was fun and it appears that has been scrapped in favor of Kane. What's exciting about it is that it may leave the door open for Carlito to move up the card. He was in a match with the WWE Champion, a match that didn't have a cut and dry ending. The possibilities for Mr. Cool are endless, and it may be wishful thinking, but the thought of Carlito slowly getting involved in main event feuds is a dream come true for me!
- The McMahon's have gotten the better of DX two weeks in a row now. It's about time. I've been enjoying the return of DX, but seeing them make everyone else in the company look like fools was getting a little tedious. They needed to be out done a few times before their blow off match at Summer Slam and we've finally seen that.
ECW
- I think it was a smart move to have CM Punk cut a promo instead of wrestle this week. We waited to finally see him in action, we get a small taste and now we have to wait again. I know no matter what else is on tap of next Tue on Sci-Fi, I'll be watching to see Punk in action! Representing for the sXe baby!!!
- If there is one thing that is making me want to get my hands on some old school ECW tapes it's the suicidal, homicidal, genocidal, dance recital, death defying, Sabu! I'm slowly but surely becoming a mark for him. Although, honestly, his camel clutch could use some work. I mean, seriously, get that second arm over your free knee, where's the Iron Sheik and Scott Steiner when you need them???
Over My Head:
This is the beloved reader feedback section! As I said at the beginning of the column I was overwhelmed at the response I received for my piece on The Miz and I'm hoping that continues. Judging by the mail I received, it seems the general consensus is that you guys like what I did with The Miz and pretty much everyone who wrote in agreed with me about the new ECW and the brand split. As I expected, a lot of people weren't with me on my thoughts on RVD, Rey Mysterio, and John Cena, let's see what they had to say:
Zach comes to Rey's defense: "…your comments on Rey just aren't fair at all. You said because of his size you don't want him as a main eventer. Okay, then I guess we better get HBK, Benoit, Christian (in TNA) and anyone else that is considered small by wrestling standards out of the main event. Not to mention some of the past great smaller main eventers like Ric Flair, Eddie Guerrero, Chris Jericho, and plenty of others. Rey Mysterio wrestles great matches almost weekly, even with the WWE cutting back on his luchadore style he gets it done. Saying he should be far away from any world titles just made me shake my head. I mean, I'd take Rey Mysterio in the main event over Carlito in the main event any day of the god damn week. Rey is a much better performer, an extremely better face, and has paid his dues to the company by rising all the way from the bottom of the card to the top as the world champion. Carlito will never be able to say that. I mean, he was given the US title during his first ever match in the WWE…"
I think Rey is very talented. But you can't compare him to the smaller guys Zach mentioned. They may not have been WWE classic big guys, but it was believable that they could hold their own against a bigger opponent. Rey is 5'3'' and 140lbs...I'm bigger than Rey, and Frankly, I think I'd have a 50/50 shot against him in a fight. HBK, 6 foot, 225; Benoit, 5'11" 220; Christian, 6'1" 227; Flair 6'1" 243; Jericho, 6', 231; and Eddie, 5'9" 223...so you see the closest guy to Rey's size that Zach mentioned is a half foot and 80 plus pounds bigger, that's a substantial difference. Carlito deserves anything he gets!!! He could have won the WWE Championship his first night and it would have been cool w/ me!!! I'm only slightly exaggerating.
I don't think Chad is a member of the Chain Gang: as far as your analysis of VANILLA ICE 2006 a.k.a John Cena, you are a moron. The "five moves of doom" is an overstatement, especially when you take into consideration that you predict the sequence in which they are going to control. If all you have is the limited moveset of John Cena, at least mix it up a little. This guy is trying to be way too much of a combination of the Rock & Stone Cold now that he has lost his supposed "edge" and it makes me sick. In addition, the "Five Knuckle Shuffle" is probably the worst move in the history of wrestling besides the "The People's Elbow" & "The Worm!" I am fan of work rate & mic skills, so if you are going to criticize Rey Rey & Rob Van Dam of not being able to talk, you might to go back and look at some of Cena's matches without Jericho or Angle because they barely carried him to decent matches & he sure as hell wasn't getting it done before that. Don't even get me started on his match with JBL on the biggest night of his career at Wrestlemania & how he stunk up the joint. He merely capitalized on a society that is obsessed with the hip-hop culture, got a superman push & ran it into the ground ala Hulk Hogan. Sorry to be so critical, but if you are going to state your opinions, I sure as hell am going to state mine. Otherwise, great column, but I think you would be better off to keep your criticism to yourself regarding individual superstars & stick to the shows.
I stated my opinions on Cena's wrestling skills last week, so check that out if you want to read them. I'm afraid Chad and I are going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
And finally, Luke has a suggestion for me regarding RVD: He is however a great fit for ECW in any form, and he can work in the upper mid carder role in a less extreme environment. I'd advise you to look at some of his ECW matches as to judge his true ability- most good workers that may overshadow the main eventers are made to temper their ring style.
Ya know what, I'm just going to go ahead and agree…yes, I should get my hands on some old ECW tapes…and then burn them! No, kidding, I should watch it, I'd like to, it's just a matter of finding them and then paying for them, but Luke is right, I should do that.
One last time I'd like to thank all of you who wrote in and especially the ones who were very complimentary of my column and my opinions. It's not fair that in this weeks column the squeaky wheel (the ones who disagreed with me) got the oil, and I promise it won't always be like that, so keep sending in your kind words, they were welcomed!
Over and Out:
Before you guys sign off the site today to get back to work or the lotion and tissues (we all do it, don't be embarrassed), please check out some of the great work by my colleagues:
Stuart Carpola chimes in with one of the best written wrestling columns I've read in a long time!
I have to show some love for the hidden highlights! I made JP and JT famous with my reader's hidden highlights in the past…wait, maybe that was the other way around…
Two maybe company but three's a party with the Triple Threat guys!
Andy Clark takes on Goldberg in his latest Shimmy!
And of course don't forget to check out the men responsible for my good fortune of having a column, Larry and Geoff as they run down the right, the wrong and the ridiculous on all the televised wrestling of the week.
Well, that'll do it for me this week. Hope you enjoyed the ride. I love hearing feedback, I don't care if you like what I had to say, hated it or were indifferent about it, I want to hear what you think. And if you write me I guarantee a response, it's like the Marines say, "leave no e-mail unanswered"…well, something like that. Ok, be sure to check out next week when I get over either the WWE Tag Team Championship (those are the ones on SmackDown!), or the Spirit Squad split, haven't decided yet. Until then, over and out!
