The Mid-Card Chain of Events: Good or Bad?

[Barbedwire Ropes]

So it is quite apparent that Kofi Kingston is finally getting his push up into the main event level on RAW with his developing fued with Randy Orton. I do think its an overall good move for the WWE and for RAW to start building up mid-carders for main event stardom but is this the wrong time for Kofi Kingston?

We also heard tonight that Sheamus is now a RAW superstar, who was picked up through "free agency"?! While, I also think Sheamus is a talented performer there is one huge flaw I see with all of this.

WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE SHELTON BENJAMIN?!

Shelton Benjamin, lack of charisma not-the-point, has been in due for a HUGE main-event push for years now. At least since his first Money in the Bank match as far as I'm concerned. He was finally swerved back into a Face with his ongoing program with Sheamus, which I was also getting excited for ever so slowly. But I just cant see Shelton also making the jump over to monday nights to continue that fued. I also cant see him getting turned heel so quickly and being forced into a program with Christian. So, this seemingly leaves him no where and it automatically cuts off his momentum at the hips.

What do you all think? Are the recent sudden moves by the WWE a good thing or bad judgement on creative's part?

and

WHAT WILL BECOME OF SHELTON BENJAMIN?!

 

[4-Real]

Well, he and Christian have had good matches in the past, so I would not be surprised to see them square off sometime soon. If Yoshitatsu can get forced and I mean FORCED in to an ECW title shot (he is not over AT ALL), why can't Shelton Benjamin?

 

[dvayne]

I could see Benjamin continuing his face push to the point where after the draft and Christian gets drafted

Benjamin will be the face of the brand. He could cut promos about his new "advisor" in the coming weeks which would lead to Booker T making his return as Benjamin's partner, mentor, mouth piece. They could feud with Koslov & Zeke while Christian goes after Regal. Eventually Benjamin could win the title off Regal and then turn heel down the road settin up a good feud between him and Booker T. Under Booker's guidance he could find the confidence on the mic to finally find his groove into the mainevent

 

[Thriller Ant]

Well, he and Christian have had good matches in the past, so I would not be surprised to see them square off sometime soon. If Yoshitatsu can get forced and I mean FORCED in to an ECW title shot (he is not over AT ALL), why can't Shelton Benjamin?

Did you really just claim that Yoshi Tatsu isn't over? Go on youtube and watch any of his last few matches. He may be the most over guy on the roster besides Christian. He is a solid performer, and a real good signing by the WWE.

And the answer to your question is because Shelton sucks. It doesn't matter if he is a heel, a face, a scrotum, whatever: he couldn't buy a reaction from the crowd. He sucks on the mic, can do little more than cool jump spots, and doesn't have an unique look. He has gotten countless pushes, and the fact that he has caused every single one of them to fail should be evidence enough that he isn't worthy of another push.

 

[Darth Krawlie]

If Yoshitatsu can get forced and I mean FORCED in to an ECW title shot (he is not over AT ALL)

That's just not true. Yoshi has gotten very good pops every week since his debut and routinely gets crowds to chant for him. Often they're from the younger audience and that can be reflected by the sound of the chants, but WHO cheers for someone is entirely irrelevant. Yoshi isn't going to win the title, but he's definitely over. Would it translate if he jumped to RAW or Smackdown, probably not, at least not right away--but again, that's irrelevant in this discussion.

 

[The Gribbler]

Who cares?

I suppose I should post more, GIVE BENJAMIN A MOUTHPIECE!!

Really he is great in the ring but I have no reason to care about him at all. I am sure he will have a good time on ECW but I don't expect anything big out of him. I don't expect a title reign, I don't expect a push, unless he wakes up tomorrow with charisma...

Just My Opinion

 

[Ambiguous Turd]

So it is quite apparent that Kofi Kingston is finally getting his push up into the main event level on RAW with his developing fued with Randy Orton.

You might want to slow down there a bit. There is a difference between the Main Event, and being an Upper Midcarder. Kofi Kingston is NOT being pushed into the Main Event. Rather, he is being pushed up to the Upper Midcard with his feud with Randy Orton.

The ranks typically go as follows:

Jobber/Opener
Lower Midcarder
Midcarder
Upper Midcarder
Main Eventer

I do think its an overall good move for the WWE and for RAW to start building up mid-carders for main event stardom but is this the wrong time for Kofi Kingston?

I would say that it would be wrong if it was really a push to the Main Event. But since it's not, I can't say I disagree with their move for him going to the Upper Midcard.

We also heard tonight that Sheamus is now a RAW superstar, who was picked up through "free agency"?! While, I also think Sheamus is a talented performer there is one huge flaw I see with all of this.

WHERE DOES THIS LEAVE SHELTON BENJAMIN?!

ECW is a Developmental League. I wish it wasn't, but that is what it is. So if it is going to be a Developmental League, then it is going to be treated as a Developmental League. Meaning, that if another Brand has a need for one of their talents, then they can go at any time.

Let Shelton feud with somebody else on ECW.

The Brand simply is there to let talent to practice and to prep them for the main roster.

WHAT WILL BECOME OF SHELTON BENJAMIN?!

I personally could care less, since I am not a Shelton Benjamin mark. But, suffice to say, he'll simply be given someone else to feud with.

 

[CH David]

And the answer to your question is because Shelton sucks. It doesn't matter if he is a heel, a face, a scrotum, whatever: he couldn't buy a reaction from the crowd. He sucks on the mic, can do little more than cool jump spots, and doesn't have an unique look. He has gotten countless pushes, and the fact that he has caused every single one of them to fail should be evidence enough that he isn't worthy of another push.

Couldn't agree more with Thriller on the subject. I don't mean to sound condescending or anything, but every time a thread asks about Shelton not being pushed, the answer is always the same.

He is a good in-ring performer, but other than that, he has nothing going for him. His best match was in 2005 with Shawn Michaels. He has gotten push after push, Intercontinental Title, U.S. Title, and he hasn't done anything with them. He sucks on the mic, gets nothing from the crowd. In my opinion, he has been trying to get over with his in-ring work. It is not happening. He is not Chris Benoit. For Shelton to ever get a Main Event push, he really needs to get his ass in gear, simply put. He is a good performer as I said, but you won't get anywhere without support or hate from the fans. If he can somehow and someway get the fans to legitimately care about him, or seriously hate him, then he can start moving. Until then, the crickets will be his demise.

 

[Ambiguous Turd]

Couldn't agree more with Thriller on the subject. I don't mean to sound condescending or anything, but every time a thread asks about Shelton not being pushed, the answer is always the same.

He is a good in-ring performer, but other than that, he has nothing going for him. His best match was in 2005 with Shawn Michaels. He has gotten push after push, Intercontinental Title, U.S. Title, and he hasn't done anything with them. He sucks on the mic, gets nothing from the crowd. In my opinion, he has been trying to get over with his in-ring work. It is not happening. He is not Chris Benoit. For Shelton to ever get a Main Event push, he really needs to get his ass in gear, simply put. He is a good performer as I said, but you won't get anywhere without support or hate from the fans. If he can somehow and someway get the fans to legitimately care about him, or seriously hate him, then he can start moving. Until then, the crickets will be his demise.

Agreed.

For those that keep on this tireless quest to say that "WWE superstars shouldn't need mic time to get over. All the talent should be able to get over based on their in-ring performances, alone" ...... Shelton Benjamin actually proves this theory wrong.

Great in the ring + Lousy on the mic = Still not over with the fans.

 

[CH David]

Agreed.

For those that keep on this tireless quest to say that "WWE superstars shouldn't need mic time to get over. All the talent should be able to get over based on their in-ring performances, alone" ...... Shelton Benjamin actually proves this theory wrong.

Great in the ring + Lousy on the mic = Still not over with the fans.

I don't want you to entirely think I agree that everyone needs mic time to get over. I somewhat agree and disagree. But hear me out.

Mic time is important for people to get over, not denying that. It isn't the only thing though. Look at Chris Benoit. He is the biggest exception to the rule, at least for me anyways, as I can't recall the 80s and early 90s. He was one guy who didn't need a mic to get over. His in-ring talent did that for him. The fans saw the kind of crazy shit he would do, diving headbutts, the chairshots he would take, and the passion he had in the ring. People got behind him. It doesn't happen for everyone.

I think recently, just my opinion on this one, Kofi did it as well. He is a charismatic young star, and was over pretty well with the crowd. He had people doing his Boom Boom Boom and what not. People cheered him. But now that he has dropped his accent and is talking normally, now we can see a different side of him, and it can elevate him further than no talking could ever do.

So what I am saying, is that mic time in the WWE is important to help develop a star further, but there are usually going to be a few exceptions to the rule. Not everyone needs mic time to get over, the mic helps to further development in a character though.

 

[Barbedwire Ropes]

Agreed.
Lousy on the mic = Still not over with the fans.

So I guess that WWE themed episode of South Park was more correct that originally thought......Because, no one can deny the fact that Shelton Benjamin can wrestle circles around your heroes John Cena and Triple H.

I understand the point you are TRYING to make though.

 

[CH David]

So I guess that WWE themed episode of South Park was more correct that originally thought......Because, no one can deny the fact that Shelton Benjamin can wrestle circles around your heroes John Cena and Triple H.

I understand the point you are TRYING to make though.

It doesn't matter if he can do that though. He is not over with the audience. You can't get a push if you aren't over with the audience. The WWE tried to give him pushes quite a few times. The crowd does not give a crap about him. The crowd actually cares about Cena and Triple H. Shelton is not going to pull a Chris Benoit, or even a Kofi prior to the past few weeks, and get over in the ring, with minimal speaking skills. They have tried to do that for years. He can't work the stick, and he doesn't have the charisma needed to be successful. If he can actually work and improve on both in a quick time, then maybe he can get a push, but I really don't see that happening.

 

[Freddy4190]

Pretty much gonna mimic what everyone else is saying and say Shelton isn't getting over because he sucks. The last few matches i've seen of his aren't that impressive, he's had push after push, chance after chance, feuded with damn near everyone and still haven't gotten over. I'm not sure why so many people are marks for this guy, I enjoyed some of his matches, but they were so good because he was in matches with people who have proven their talent to get people over. So they did that. I love Kofi Kingston, i'm a huge Kofi mark. I'd like to see him be put in a credible feud with Orton and Legacy, I hope all goes well for him.

 

[JBK2008]

Kofi is going into the upper mid card. He is not main event talent just yet. We'll see how his program with Orton goes first. Shaemus coming to Raw may have stalled Shelton, but I think some way some how he'll get into another program with someone. He should team with Christian to face off with Regal and his goons.

 

[psl19877]

Shelton Benjamin is in need of a push that much is certain, he needs to be moved back to raw and contend for the US title. I mean if your talking about "black" wrestlers getting all the pushes now a days then this guy should in fact be on top of the list right next to Mark Henry.

 

[samthemanbk]

I personally can see Shelton gettting drafted to RAW at the next Draft has he has done everything there is to do and smackdown and ECW.
Basically It's now or Never for him as he's getting older they waste him and they aren't pushing R-Truth cause of his age which sucks.

But think if shelton got drafted he could win the US if its still there And fued with MVP or Swagger ? great mix IMO Finally people would start taking notice of him as he is on the Main Show and he can possibly end up there in a fued with KOFI ?

 

[Southwind]

Shelton has always been a guy who has undeservedly had the IWC's support he can wrestle a good match granted but he is in the Batista category when it comes to mic work (which isn't good).

I remember when he went over HHH he looked legit.... until he got his hands on the stick if your going to be a top star you have to have to complete package Shelton simply doesn't.

 

[jayteeERA]

shelton benjamin just need to surprise alot of ppl. Just like his matches with hhh in 04. He surprise alot of ppl that time and i thought he would get it until his heel turn with his "mama" late 05 was stupid. He is a good in ring performer. I think better then some ppl. His mic do needs work. I just fast foward when he talks. I thought he had a good chance when he faced the undertaker a few months ago on smackdown. He could of cheated, shocked everyone again feud with the undertaker and so on. But imo everytime i think SB is gonna go somewhere he don't. But i'm not giving up on him. Look how long it took for HBK & Benoit. I felt the same way bout benoit in wcw and look what happen. So he still has a chance in my eyes.

 

[johnbragg]

Look at Chris Benoit. He is the biggest exception to the rule, at least for me anyways, as I can't recall the 80s and early 90s. He was one guy who didn't need a mic to get over.

Chris Benoit was at least okay on the mic, though. Part of the reason is that the Chris Benoit character had something to say to his opponents--I am the best technical wrestler in the world and you know it, even if these fans don't, so I am going to go into that ring and hurt you.

 

[CH David]

Chris Benoit was at least okay on the mic, though. Part of the reason is that the Chris Benoit character had something to say to his opponents--I am the best technical wrestler in the world and you know it, even if these fans don't, so I am going to go into that ring and hurt you.

Sure Benoit had the "I'm the best technical wrestler in the world today", but was that really what got him over with the fans? I don't think so. He was average at best when he used the mic. He got over in the ring, which now isn't working with newer wrestlers, short of probably Kofi. But that isn't going to get Shelton over. He has tried that for what, the past 7 years, and it hasn't done anything. His best success, and by success I mean people actually caring about him, was the WGTT, and maybe some of his time on Raw, probably around the time he faced Shawn Michaels. Other than that he has been shit when it comes to fans. He needs to turn it around if he ever wants World Title success in the WWE, because his in ring is not cutting it. Which is probably the reason he has been relegated to ECW.

 

[johnbragg]

Sure Benoit had the "I'm the best technical wrestler in the world today", but was that really what got him over with the fans?

That, combined with being awesome in the ring. That one-sentence character synopsis gave fans a reason to care about Chris Benoit. As a face, as a heel, that one sentence pretty much drove everything his character did. And he backed it up in the ring, with moves like the Crippler Crossface and the Five-Star Frog Splash that Benoit sold almost as much as his opponents.

But that isn't going to get Shelton over. He has tried that for what, the past 7 years, and it hasn't done anything. His best success, and by success I mean people actually caring about him, was the WGTT,

And, once again, "World's Greatest Tag Team" gives a four-word character synopsis of everything they did, face or heel. We are the world's greatest, so cheer us if we're faces or fear us if we're heels. And they backed it up in the ring well enough to work.

Shelton Benjamin's character has nothing to say, which is why he is not over. Can his "gold standard" character really claim to be the best wrestler or best wrestling athlete going?

Maybe if he took some acting lessons and started conveying, outside the ring, "I am the best wrestler in this company and I will prove it, no matter what obstacles are in my way." Maybe it's that he doesn't express intensity. He doesn't look like he's bothered at not being World Champion, at not being at the top of his profession. Triple HHH circa 2000, looked like being overshadowed by the more popular Austin and Rock and Foley was giving hiim an ulcer, which really helped to sell "The Game--I am that damn good" gimmick.