Professional wrestler,” Shelton Benjamin, has officially joined AEW.
Benjamin, who previously held the title of WWE Intercontinental Champion, stepped into the AEW in-ring arena for the first time, this Wednesday on the celebrated show, Dynamite. He showcased his prowess in an impressive defeat against fellow wrestler, Lio Rush.
In an intriguing discussion on the podcast episode of “Gabby AF”, Benjamin revealed his thought process and rationale behind his decision to join AEW, despite having lucrative offers from other competitors in the field.
In his words, “I did have a few offers. MLW was very interested. I was also exploring a lot of international opportunities, both inside and outside of the wrestling sphere. Acting was one of them. Apart from this,I was also considering venturing into fields not related to wrestling, such as real estate. After a lot of thought, I realized that I wanted to place myself in the best possible situation to succeed. When the chapter at WWE ended for me, I had to think carefully about my next move. IMPACT was definitely a tempting proposition. But ultimately, I wanted the largest possible audience. On considering alternatives outside of WWE, it was obvious that AEW appeared to have the grandest platform. I am mindful that I don’t have as many years ahead of me in-ring as some others. Nevertheless, for the remaining time I have, I want to make the most of it by reaching out to the widest possible audience. For that, AEW seemed to be the ideal choice. There is no better place.”
This week, viewers can look forward to witnessing a thrilling face-off between Benjamin and Sammy Guevara on AEW Dynamite.