Shelton Benjamin, affectionately known as the Gold Standard, has finally made his mark in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). As per reports, AEW’s Tony Khan has been expressing interest in him for quite some time.
Benjamin officially debuted during the significant fifth anniversary celebration of AEW Dynamite, where he became an ally of MVP. Notably, his in-ring entry resulted in his victory over Lio Rush.
Mark Henry, on the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, divulged his wish for AEW to onboard Benjamin as soon as the latter signed off from WWE. Henry gestured,
“On the first day of Shelton’s departure, I approached Tony and pleaded, ‘Tony, you need to bring him on. Allow me to collaborate with him. This guy is exceptional. Nothing transpired initially. However, I’m delighted they realized their oversight and recruited him. Shelton has an innate ability, and it is crucial to leverage this. In the grand scheme of things, it benefits everyone.”
In September 2023, Benjamin was given his marching orders from WWE amidst the debut wave of talent eliminations that followed the inception of the TKO Group Holdings.
During Benjamin’s most recent stint with WWE, he achieved the RAW Tag Team and 24/7 Titles, working in tandem with MVP as part of The Hurt Business.
Mark Henry ended his association with AEW earlier this year post a three-year stint. Currently, he’s seen alongside his son Jacob, working with WWE.