WWE is currently celebrating the 20th anniversary of veteran Superstar Shelton Benjamin.
Benjamin signed his WWE developmental contract on January 10, 2000. He reported to the OVW developmental territory, where he worked several non-televised main roster live events as well as WWE Sunday Night Heat tapings. On the December 26, 2002 episode of SmackDown, Benjamin made his official main roster debut, forming Team Angle with Charlie Haas and WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle.
WWE posted highlights of Benjamin’s career with comments from Angle, Cedric Alexander, Tamina Snuka, Mia Yim, WWE Producer Shawn Daivari, WWE Producer & Hall of Famer Molly Holly, WWE NXT Tag Team Champion Kofi Kingston, and WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative & Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels, as seen in the video below.
“He’s as good in the ring as… as good as he is, he’s timeless, he’s the timeless pro wrestler,” Daivari said. “He’s the guy we all hope to be, the guy’s never missed a step in the 20 years he’s been on the job.”
On May 2, 2005, RAW featured a Gold Rush Tournament match between Michaels and Benjamin, a match that is still discussed today and is considered a classic by many. According to Michaels, this was one of the best matches of his career.
“I feel like that was one of the best matches of my career. I really feel like what Shelton and I did out there was really cool, it’s a match that people remember to this day, and I’m always so proud of matches like that. Things that people know where they were at when they saw that match,” Michaels said.
Michaels declared Benjamin a future WWE Hall of Famer.
“We will keep a spot warm for you in the Hall of Fame, my man, because that’s a guaranteed deal whenever it is you’re ready to put up the boots. Congratulations,” Michaels said.
Benjamin responded to the WWE tribute video by thanking the company but promising that he is not finished.
“@WWE @WWEUniverse Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to do what I love entertain and live out my childhood dream. It has been one hell of a ride. I am thankful I am grateful I am NOT Done. Even After 20 year ‘Ain’t no stoppin me NOW’!!,” he wrote.
Benjamin has not wrestled since losing to Dominik Mysterio on RAW on November 14, one week after losing to WWE United States Champion Austin Theory. Benjamin has won two WWE 24/7 Championships, one WWE United States Championship, three WWE Intercontinental Championships, and three WWE Tag Team Championships.
The video is embedded below, along with Benjamin’s full tweet:
@WWE @WWEUniverse Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to do what I love entertain and live out my childhood dream. It has been one hell of a ride. I am thankful I am grateful I am NOT Done. Even After 20 year “Ain’t no stoppin me NOW”!! https://t.co/3wC8KPg0Yj
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) December 26, 2022
