Matt Hardy believes Shelton Benjamin would have advanced much further if he had debuted in today’s wrestling landscape because the limitations he faced in 2005 are no longer the main criteria for success in the industry. Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy while reflecting on the Unforgiven 2005 roster, Hardy emphasized that no one doubted Benjamin’s immense talent and athletic ability.
According to Hardy, what hindered Benjamin’s progress back then was more about his character work and promo skills rather than his in-ring capabilities. He explained that in today’s wrestling world, those aspects matter less if a performer is highly athletic and skilled in the ring, as companies are now willing to build around those strengths.
Hardy recalled one iconic moment that fans still talk about: when Shawn Michaels countered Benjamin during a top-rope jump, a highlight frequently replayed and remembered. Benjamin held the Intercontinental Title for much of 2005 and had memorable matches with Michaels that year. Despite spending about 15 years in WWE without winning a world championship, he was released in 2010, returned in 2017, and was released again in 2024 before signing with AEW, where he is currently enjoying a prominent run alongside Bobby Lashley and MVP in The Hurt Syndicate.
That same 2005 event featured another standout storyline, this time involving Chavo Guerrero, who adopted the Kerwin White persona—a suburban, golf-loving character based on a racially charged catchphrase implying that if you’re not white, you’re not right. Hardy noted that Guerrero was fully aware of the character’s odd nature but committed to performing it nonetheless. The two share a long history, including matches where Hardy and Shannon Moore faced Chavo and Eddie Guerrero as Los Guerreros.
Hardy praised Chavo’s dedication to the controversial gimmick despite how difficult it was to pull off, calling it a challenging angle even in 2005. When asked if anyone ever advised Vince McMahon against this character, Hardy suggested it wouldn’t have mattered, as Vince was determined to push forward with his ideas regardless.
Guerrero eventually abandoned the Kerwin White gimmick in November 2005 following the death of Eddie Guerrero, returning to wrestling under his own name for a Raw tribute show. Hardy’s reflection highlights that while Benjamin possessed all the in-ring tools, his career was limited by what the company believed he couldn’t achieve outside the ring, whereas Guerrero was given a concept that no amount of effort could make successful. Both wrestlers were featured on the same pay-per-view, contrasting paths shaped by the business environment of the time.
Fan Take: This insight sheds light on how much wrestling has evolved in valuing pure athleticism and in-ring talent, which gives hope to emerging stars who may lack traditional promo skills. For fight fans, it means we might soon see more diverse and dynamic performers rising to the top, potentially changing the way stories and characters are crafted in the sport.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
