Black Sports Legends of South Carolina: Shelton Benjamin | Sports

ORANGEBURG — When you think of professional wrestlers, names like John Cena, Randy Orton and Roman Reigns probably pop up in your head. When you ask avid fans, they’ll tell you that Shelton Benjamin is a slept-on legend. He’s still going to this day, and he may still be in his prime. 

Hailing from Orangeburg, he began his wrestling career at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High in 10th grade. He was a two-time state champion with 122-10-1 record. The dominance continued at the University of Minnesota, where he held a 36-6 record. He has the chance to participate in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games but instead chose to pursue pro wrestling. 

And the rest is history. 

He’s been in the pro wrestler since 2000, where he was a multi-time tag team champion with Brock Lesnar in Ohio Valley Wrestling. He made his first WWE appearance in 2002, and he would end his time in the mega-company as a three-time intercontinental champion, three-time tag team champion and a one-time United States champion. He was a large part of the growing black wrestling scene that included Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Booker T and more.

He’s not retired, though, and not even close to it. He’s currently signed with All Elite Wrestling, and according to some fans, putting on the best matches of his career. Pretty good for a 49-year-old who is a 25-year veteran of the industry.