Shelton Benjamin?

dlofnep

Where is this guy? He seems to be one of the best free agents at the moment. I know he wrestled recently with Haas for ROH - But it looks like he's he's still in the indies. You'd think that TNA would want to sign him, instead of signing up ECW guys who are about 10 years past their prime?

Charlie Haas is another very good mat-wrestler. Very underused in the WWE when he was with them. Any word of these two or where they might be going?

jaykhunter

Well WWE aren't going to hire them back. I imagine TNA are trying to sign them; it just depends if they can come to a deal in terms of pay. Shelton especially would've been getting paid a lot in the WWE, having been there for a long while.

I'd expect them to turn up in TNA sooner or later. The pay in ROH would be pretty bad. They'd be a great addition to the TNA roster (to help out their weakened tag division) and could possibly reform with Angle. That'd be awesome.

FFPW Office

Shelton Benjmain is currently on tour with AWR in France.

flahavaj

He is for all the world an X-Division wrestler alright.

parker kent

WWE should just cop on and re-hire Benjamin and Haas and put the Tag titles on them.

Rjd2

parker kent wrote: »

WWE should just cop on and re-hire Benjamin and Haas and put the Tag titles on them.

Why?


Haas was never ever close to been over, unless he was impersonating people, and despite been praised by the IWC, he had very few memorable matches.
Haas won't add anything to the E if he returned, nor would he add anything to TNA for that matter.

Shelton was a useful midcard heel, but he has never drew money nor will he ever draw money for anyone due to his shocking lack of charisma.

jaykhunter

Rjd2 wrote: »

nor would he add anything to TNA for that matter.

Agreed with the rest but.....

Haas/Benjamin vs MMG? Spooge!

Machismo Fan

jaykhunter wrote: »

Agreed with the rest but.....

Haas/Benjamin vs MMG? Spooge!

WGTT vs. GenMe, WGTT vs. Beer Money, WGTT vs. London Brawling (if they're ever seen again)? I'm drooling at the very thought. Plus if you saw the WGTT vs. KOW match, Charlie Haas looked like a star more than he ever did, he was on a mission during that match - he looked fantastic.

chordtype

Apparently Kurt has been pushing hard for TNA to bring the two of them in but he's getting nowhere. I guess they need the money to bring Kevin Nash back.

While they would do nothing for ratings I think that they are two solid workers who would have some great feuds with Beer Money and the Guns.

I also agree that Charlie Hass looked like a total star in the Kings of Wrestling match. Like a man on a mission to prove that he's a top level worker.

jaykhunter

We're all in agreement but

chordtype wrote: »

While they would do nothing for ratings

Hogan Bischoff Flair Foley Nash Sting etc etc do nothing for ratings!! And they're far more expensive!

RVD, Anderson and Hardy are big parts to the show who have a lot to offer (not that Flair's promos aren't excellent) so I won't add them to the list.....

Does anyone add ratings more than a very short term boost? Or is TNA always going to be 1.1?

bradlente

Another solid team to add to TNAs decent tag division would be no bad thing.

bradlente

jaykhunter wrote: »

Does anyone add ratings more than a very short term boost? Or is TNA always going to be 1.1?

Good point.They have a healthy tag division that I think is a solid foundation as far as the "wrestling" aspect of the show is concerned.Haas and especially Benjamin would enhance that.Even though their runs in wwe weren't stellar their both still young as far as the biz is concerned.Then again 40 is young in the business now:P

Machismo Fan

jaykhunter wrote: »

Does anyone add ratings more than a very short term boost? Or is TNA always going to be 1.1?

Anyone isn't the issue really - you could take Hogan, Angle, Anderson, Hardy, RVD, Flair etc. off iMPACT! for the next month and the rating wouldn't drop, nor would it be likely to increase if they all came back - booking and presentation is the issue.

As bradlente said, another great team to a great division would certainly be welcomed.

chordtype

jaykhunter wrote: »

Hogan Bischoff Flair Foley Nash Sting etc etc do nothing for ratings!! And they're far more expensive!

RVD, Anderson and Hardy are big parts to the show who have a lot to offer (not that Flair's promos aren't excellent) so I won't add them to the list.....

Does anyone add ratings more than a very short term boost? Or is TNA always going to be 1.1?

Flair is one of the few reasons to give TNA a chance when they do something really stupid.

I honestly believe that if TNA got John Cena they would book him to be just another guy within 6 months. They've got all these stars but the writing does nothing to help them. Jeff Hardy was WWE's hottest commodity a few years ago and now he's main eventing PPV's that get 8,000 buys. That is seriously pathetic.

jaykhunter

Hmmm....makes me think that TNA actually have too many stars. They did a lot more with a lot less 5 years ago. They still have the problem of trying to fit everyone in.

Reminds me of WWF/E in 2001-02. They had a crazy amount of stars but the TV show suffered as a result. As soon as WCW closed, they lost all focus. (thinking specifically of the Angle/Austin comedy hour when the inVasion was taking place)

Look at the roster in 2002 :

ON-AIR TALENT
Vince McMahon
Stephanie McMahon
Arn Anderson
Eric Bischoff
Paul Heyman

ROSTER
The Rock
Steve Austin
Shawn Michaels
Triple H
Kurt Angle
Hulk Hogan
Kevin Nash
Scott Hall
The Big Show
Brock Lesnar
The Undertaker
Chris Jericho
Rob Van Dam
Kane
Edge
Christian
Jeff Hardy
Matt Hardy
Rey Mysterio
John Cena
Diamond Dallas Page
Scott Steiner
Ric Flair
Booker T
Goldust
Mr. Perfect
Chris Benoit
Eddie Guerrero
Bradshaw
Farooq
Tajiri
Tazz
Steven Richards
Scotty Too Hotty
Albert
Rikishi
Sho Funaki
Al Snow
Maven
D-Lo Brown
The Hurricane
Tommy Dreamer
Crash Holly
Val Venis
The Godfather
Lance Storm
William Regal
Test
Rico
Ron Simmons
Bubba Dudley
Spike Dudley
Dvon Dudley
Deacon Batista
Rosey
Jamal
Raven
X-Pac
Chavo Guerrero
Chuck (Palumbo)
Billy (Gunn)
Chris Nowinski
Jamie Noble
Billy Kidman
Big Bossman
Perry Saturn
Shawn Stasiak
Rikishi

TAG TEAMS
Tazz & Spike
The Dudley Boyz
The Hardy Boyz
The APA
Scotty & Albert
Maven & Al Snow
Booker & Test
Billy & Chuck
Rico & Rikishi
Hogan & Edge
Booker/Goldust
Anti-Americans
Christian/Y2J
Los Guerreros
Angle & Benoit
Edge & Mysterio
3-Min Warning
Regal & Storm

DIVAS
Trish Stratus
Molly Holly
Jazz
Lita
Terri
Victoria
Jacqueline
Stacy Keibler
Torrie Wilson
Dawn Marie
Nidia
Debra Williams
Lilian Garcia

Holy. Freakin. God.

parker kent

Rjd2 wrote: »

Why?


Haas was never ever close to been over, unless he was impersonating people, and despite been praised by the IWC, he had very few memorable matches.
Haas won't add anything to the E if he returned, nor would he add anything to TNA for that matter.

Shelton was a useful midcard heel, but he has never drew money nor will he ever draw money for anyone due to his shocking lack of charisma.

I didn't say to have them as singles wrestlers so their character limitations as singles wrestlers are not really important. They are not going to be main event singles wrestlers so mentioning their drawing ability is not that important. But they can be a good tag team.

They are a more than decent tag team. The bookers should be able to come up with a method of hiding their deficiencies and utilising their in-ring strengths. It is not as if the WWE have incredible tag teams left, right and centre.

gimmick

Machismo Fan wrote: »

Plus if you saw the WGTT vs. KOW match, Charlie Haas looked like a star more than he ever did, he was on a mission during that match - he looked fantastic.

Need to see this match.

ricero

Benjamin is one of the greatsest thecnical wrestler I ever saw if only he was decent on a micophone he would be a star

flahavaj

gimmick wrote: »

Need to see this match.

Good match but nothing that mind-blowing tbh. As others have said Haas was the stand out. It did prove to me that both Hero and Claudio really should have been signed up by WWE a long time ago. They have the look, skills and charisma to the working at the highest level.

flahavaj

ricero wrote: »

Benjamin is one of the greatsest thecnical wrestler I ever saw if only he was decent on a micophone he would be a star

It depends on your definition of a technical wrestler. to me a technical wrestler is someone who's wrestling style is primarily mat-based - a William Regal, Dean Malenko or Arn Anderson. Benjamin doesn't really fit that mould for me. He'll be best remembered for being able to pull off some great high spots.

jaykhunter

flahavaj wrote: »

Hero and Claudio really should have been signed up by WWE a long time ago.

I read that Claudio did have a tryout for WWE a few years ago and it went really well, but when he cancelled all of his indy dates to start work for WWE immediately, WWE didn't like it. Sounds like an excuse tbh but he should be in TNA or the fed. I'm personally not sold on Chris Hero but my mates love him.

flahavaj wrote: »

It depends on your definition of a technical wrestler. to me a technical wrestler is someone who's wrestling style is primarily mat-based - a William Regal, Dean Malenko or Arn Anderson. Benjamin doesn't really fit that mould for me. He'll be best remembered for being able to pull off some great high spots.

I agree; how you didn't mention Angle is funny -and also shows knowledge! Anyway, Benjamin, although smooth and talented in the ring, is arguably the laziest wrestler in quite some time. He was more than content to rest on his laurels and zombie-his way through his matches.

Saying that, his "coast-mode" was still better than 90% of wrestlers in WWE. He knew without mic skills he wasn't going any higher so he stopped trying at all, in and out of the ring. I guess there's nothing wrong with picking up a paycheque but his in-ring work is capable of better things.

That said, he generally has good matches, but very few stellar ones. I can only remember his match with HBK; and that was mostly because of the finish and what HBK was trying to do for him.

What fantastic matches did Benjamin have?

flahavaj

jaykhunter wrote: »

I agree; how you didn't mention Angle is funny -and also shows knowledge! Anyway, Benjamin, although smooth and talented in the ring, is arguably the laziest wrestler in quite some time. He was more than content to rest on his laurels and zombie-his way through his matches.

Saying that, his "coast-mode" was still better than 90% of wrestlers in WWE. He knew without mic skills he wasn't going any higher so he stopped trying at all, in and out of the ring. I guess there's nothing wrong with picking up a paycheque but his in-ring work is capable of better things.

That said, he generally has good matches, but very few stellar ones. I can only remember his match with HBK; and that was mostly because of the finish and what HBK was trying to do for him.

What fantastic matches did Benjamin have?

I didn't mention Angle as he's not a good technical wrestler by the definition I posted.;)

As for Benjamin, take his annual MITB highlight reel out of the equation and what else from his singles career really sticks in the memory - maybe that cool spot in a RAW match with HBK? I think he's one of the most overrated wrestlers on the internet of recent times. He's good for a fun spot fest - as I said a decent X Division opener or something, or as a tag wrestler he'd be fine, but he has little else of substance to offer IMO.

parker kent

flahavaj wrote: »

I didn't mention Angle as he's not a good technical wrestler by the definition I posted.;)

As for Benjamin, take his annual MITB highlight reel out of the equation and what else from his singles career really sticks in the memory - maybe that cool spot in a RAW match with HBK? I think he's one of the most overrated wrestlers on the internet of recent times. He's good for a fun spot fest - as I said a decent X Division opener or something, or as a tag wrestler he'd be fine, but he has little else of substance to offer IMO.

He could make a great niche for himself as a tag wrestler if the WWE took tag teams seriously. Not everybody has to main event, there is a role there for a talented athlete capable of some big spots. A good tag team title match should be a staple for every PPV in my view.

Benjamin has limitations but he has many attributes which are just dying out to be used.

jaykhunter

Agreed, but for someone with no future for elevation/money-making, WWE aren't willing to fork out half a million. But I'd surely love to see him do his thing in TNA with Haas