During a recent Q&A session at the “For The Love of Wrestling” convention, former WWE Superstar Shelton Benjamin revealed which wrestlers he enjoyed watching as he grew up.
Benjamin also noted that he watched more Southern wrestling promotions and less WWE.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On who he watched growing up: “I grew up in the American South, so I saw a lot of [Jim] Crockett stuff. I didn’t see a lot of WWE, so for me, Hulk Hogan was the other guy. Ric Flair was the man. In my world, Ric Flair is and was the greatest world champ ever. So I grew up watching a lot of Ric Flair, obviously The [Four] Horsemen. The Rock ‘n Roll Express, that duo made me fall in love with wrestling. I was tuning in to see the Rock ‘n Roll Express and from there, guys like Magnum TA, Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, later the Samoan SWAT team, the Steiners, the Skyscrapers, Barry Windham – all of those Crockett area guys.”
On being inspired by Sting: “I’ve been a Sting fan for as long as I can remember. If you watch some of my earlier work, I am stealing his offense…like the splash, the chopping, the kicks, that is all Sting; I’m literally stealing his stuff.”
On meeting Sting: “It was really short because it was actually at an event like this. He was signing in a private area, I was on the floor, and I just told the promoter, ‘I’ve never met Sting, and I want to meet him while I have the chance.’”
Former WWE Superstar Shelton Benjamin recently shared his favorite wrestlers from his childhood during a Q&A session at the “For The Love of Wrestling” convention. Benjamin revealed that he watched more Southern wrestling promotions rather than WWE, and he mentioned some iconic names that left a lasting impression on him.
Growing up in the American South, Benjamin was exposed to a lot of Jim Crockett promotions. He admitted that he didn’t see much of WWE, so his perspective on wrestling was shaped by the stars of the Southern circuit. Hulk Hogan was one of the few WWE wrestlers he watched, but it was Ric Flair who stood out as the greatest world champion in his eyes. Benjamin considered Flair as the epitome of greatness and admired his skills inside the ring. The Four Horsemen, a legendary stable led by Flair, also captivated Benjamin’s attention.
However, it was the Rock ‘n Roll Express tag team that truly made Benjamin fall in love with wrestling. Their high-flying and exciting style resonated with him, and he eagerly tuned in to watch their matches. The Rock ‘n Roll Express became a major source of inspiration for Benjamin, and their influence can be seen in his earlier work.
Another wrestler who played a significant role in shaping Benjamin’s career was Sting. Benjamin confessed to being a fan of Sting for as long as he can remember. In fact, he even admitted to stealing some of Sting’s moves and incorporating them into his own repertoire. Benjamin emulated Sting’s splash, chops, and kicks, which became a part of his signature offense.
Meeting Sting was a memorable experience for Benjamin. Although their encounter was brief, it took place at an event similar to the “For The Love of Wrestling” convention. Benjamin seized the opportunity to meet his idol and approached the promoter to arrange a meeting. This encounter allowed Benjamin to express his admiration for Sting and fulfill a lifelong dream.
The Q&A session provided fans with insights into Shelton Benjamin’s wrestling influences and the wrestlers he admired while growing up. Benjamin’s exposure to Southern wrestling promotions and his admiration for legends like Ric Flair, the Rock ‘n Roll Express, and Sting undoubtedly played a significant role in shaping his own wrestling style and career.