‘The Gold Standard’ could soon be All Elite.
Former WWE United States and Intercontinental Champion Shelton Benjamin was released by the company in September 2023, prompting speculation about his future and the potential of the 48-year-old making the move to All Elite Wrestling.
Fightful Select are now reporting that whilst AEW didn’t immediately contact Shelton upon his release, the two sides have recently held talks about potential future appearances.
“Fightful Select has learned that while Shelton Benjamin and All Elite Wrestling didn’t have contact initially upon his free agency, the two sides have recently had conversations and discussed the possibility of him appearing for the company. We haven’t learned whether or not he’d be signing a contract or on a full-time deal, or if anything has been finalized, but the two sides have been in contact and have discussed possible appearances as far back as a month ago.”
-Fightful Select
Additionally, the report notes that there were people within AEW pushing to sign Benjamin last year when rumours of his contract expiring soon began circulating, although these rumours turned out to be untrue. Regardless, Shelton ended up being released by WWE in the fall of 2023 anyway, and thus, he now finds himself in free agency.
After a seven-year spell away from WWE, Benjamin returned to the company in 2017 and therefore has never had the chance to work in AEW, although he does have an extensive history with Ring of Honor.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on the future of Shelton Benjamin as soon as we hear more.
