“The Standard of Excellence” in AEW has changed.
And Shelton Benjamin is the one leading the charge.
The Hurt Syndicate member joined Aubrey Edwards and Will Washington on the December 12 episode of the company’s official AEW Unrestricted podcast for an in-depth interview, during which he spoke about how he nearly came to AEW a few times over the past year, before ultimately signing on the dotted line and making his debut on the October 16 episode of AEW Dynamite on TBS.
“It was a long time coming,” Benjamin said of joining the mix in AEW. “We almost made it happen a few times over the past year, but to finally actually be there and to be performing in front of a live crowd on television, all of those things culminated into just for me a great night. So far, it’s been a great experience. I’m enjoying my time there. Like I said, I just want to bring the best of me to the programming.”
Benjamin then spoke about the differences between his 18-years in WWE, and how he’s a completely different version of himself now that he is in AEW.
“Hopefully, we can do some big things while there,” he said. “Again, the feeling, surreal because not wanting to harp on my WWE experience too much, but that’s 18 years of my career, so it’s really hard not to reflect and compare the difference. It was humbling. I’m a very humble guy that way, but as far as my actual personality and my in-ring abilities, those have always been there, and it is actually refreshing to be able to show people what I really can do.”
Benjamin continued, “So far, fans seem to have taken to it. I feel like longtime fans always knew, and new fans are going like, okay, is this the same guy from WWE? Honestly, no, I’m not. I’m off the chain, unrestricted, unleashed, however you want to describe it, I’m able to work to my ability, and I feel like I’ll be able to work to my potential. I have big plans while I’m in AEW, and a world title is definitely on that agenda.”
(H/T to Fightful.com for transcribing the above quotes.)
