Shelton Benjamin, a prominent figure in AEW, is marking his 50th birthday today. Known for his remarkable athleticism since his WWE days during the Ruthless Aggression Era, Benjamin has established himself as a key competitor in the wrestling world. Currently, as part of AEW, he continues to make an impact alongside his partners in the tag team division.
Benjamin’s role in AEW has been significant, especially as one half of the World Tag Team Champions with Bobby Lashley. Together, they form The Hurt Syndicate, a team that has quickly risen to prominence and demonstrated dominance within the promotion. AEW acknowledged this milestone by celebrating Benjamin’s birthday through their official social media channels.
Concerns Raised Over AEW’s Booking of Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley
Despite the success of The Hurt Syndicate, wrestling veteran Disco Inferno voiced criticism regarding how AEW is handling Benjamin and Lashley’s current storyline. On his Keepin’ It 100 OFFICIAL podcast, Inferno expressed concerns that the company is overlooking the wrestlers’ advancing age and not efficiently advancing their storylines.
“Alright, I’m gonna make a statement here. These guys have got a lot of shred on the tires even though they look great. These guys are up there in age. You are wasting time like this, like spending, like, three, four, or five weeks with Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey, and that adds up. The next thing you know, like half a year’s gone by, and these guys haven’t got any traction with anybody,” he said.
—Disco Inferno, Wrestling Veteran
Inferno’s comments underline a growing concern about pacing in AEW’s narratives, especially regarding how long challengers like “Speedball” Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight are given before meaningful title defenses. This issue becomes particularly relevant as The Hurt Syndicate prepares to defend their championships at the upcoming All In 2025 event in Texas.
The Hurt Syndicate’s Upcoming Title Defense and Its Importance
At All In 2025, scheduled for this weekend, Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley will put their World Tag Team titles on the line against Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight. This match will be closely watched by fans and critics alike, as it could determine whether The Hurt Syndicate maintains their dominance or if new challengers will emerge. The outcome holds significance not only for the tag team division but also for AEW’s strategic direction in showcasing veteran talent.
Shelton Benjamin’s milestone birthday coincides with a crucial phase in his AEW career, as maintaining momentum and audience engagement remains vital. Wrestling observers and fans are keen to see if AEW will accelerate storylines to capitalize on The Hurt Syndicate’s star power before age-related factors potentially affect their in-ring performances.
Sportskeeda Wrestling extends its best wishes to Shelton Benjamin on this special occasion, recognizing his enduring contributions to professional wrestling both in WWE and AEW.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What happened to Shelton Benjamin?
A. By October 2024, he is with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). He belongs to The Hurt Syndicate and shares the AEW World Tag Team Championship with Bobby Lashley. Benjamin is most recognized for his time in WWE, first from 2000 to 2010, and then from 2017 to 2023.
Q. Are Shelton Benjamin and Brock Lesnar still friends?
A. Shelton Benjamin and Brock Lesnar became friends in college and even shared a home. Recently, on the Out of Character podcast, Benjamin mentioned that how Lesnar is shown on TV now is similar to the Brock he has known for a long time.
