It's often been said by fans and several veterans that Shelton Benjamin is one of the unsung greats of his generation in pro wrestling. Benjamin notably broke into WWE alongside other massive names like BrockLesnar, JohnCena, and Batista, but unlike the three, he never quite hit it as a major singles star despite having the ability to, according to veterans.
"The thing that held Shelton back a little bit, in my view, was we didn't give him enough opportunities -I think, just my opinion- to talk," Jim Ross admitted in a recent episode of his "Grilling JR" podcast when looking back at Benjamin's career. "I've seen Shelton on some AEW shows here lately, where his facial expressions fit what he's saying and what's going on, he just has a real good feel for the business, and he didn't always have that."
Ross added that Benjamin now seems more confident and relaxed at this stage of his career. "Let's face it: he's one of the best talents in the world!" the veteran boldly added. "We identified early on that the only thing he had to do was get his personality developed and to do that, you have to have the opportunity to do such." Benjamin has personally had positive things to say about his utilization in AEW, expressing a feeling of having the reigns in the promotion.
Jim Ross then acknowledged how Shelton Benjamin's fans have always criticized his utilization in pro wrestling and admitted that there was some truth to their concerns about him. "But he never gave up...He worked hard, he kept learning, and he wasn't discouraged to the point that it effected his work," Ross added, noting that Benjamin has a great human character in real life too. "He's an athlete. He wanted to be the best athlete that he could be."
Ross further noted that due to Benjamin's background as an amateur wrestler and track star, he likely always pushed himself and never gave up despite the odds he faced. Additionally, the veteran assessed Benjamin's future in wrestling, praising the 50-year-old for still being in incredible shape today. "He is remarkable, and I don't think he's got the credit that he deserves and now we're finally seeing what Shelton Benjamin is all about!" Ross proclaimed. "He's a good guy that deserves his flowers as the kids say."
Benjamin recently defended his AEW World Tag Team Title alongside Bobby Lashley at All In 2025.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit "Grilling JR" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
