AEW: Shelton Benjamin on His AEW Signing Decision, Rico on His Surprise Appearance at WrestleDream 2024, Keith Lee AEW Absence & Health Update

Oct 21, 2024

Shelton Benjamin Comments on His Decision to Sign with AEW

A recent episode of the Gabby AF podcast featured Shelton Benjamin as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Benjamin’s thoughts about receiving offers from other promotions following his release from WWE and his decision to sign with AEW.

“I did have a few offers. MLW was very interested. Obviously, I was doing a lot of international things and exploring other options as far as in and out of pro wrestling. Acting was one of them, well, is one of them.
I like to put myself in the best possible position to succeed. When the door closed at WWE, I really thought long and hard about where I wanted to go. Impact was a very tempting place to go, but what it just boils down to is I want the biggest possible audience and outside of WWE, there is no one bigger than AEW.
I don’t have as much time (left) as a lot of guys, as far as in-ring and things like that. Don’t get me wrong, not that I’m going to retire anytime soon, but for the time I have left I want to reach the biggest possible audience I can. What better place than AEW? There is no better place.”

Benjamin also gave his thoughts about what Bobby Lashley’s potential debut in AEW would mean for the company.

“The prospect of Bobby coming to AEW, I think that’s huge. I think it’s a win for AEW because you have, aside from myself, one of the most phenomenal athletes that you can ever get. Two-time WWE World Champion. I think it only brings a bigger audience to AEW, so it’s a plus. When that will happen? I’m not sure. Bobby has his own plans and when and if they coincide with ours is yet to be determined.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com

Rico Comments on His Surprise Appearance at AEW WrestleDream 2024

As noted before, AEW’s WrestleDream 2024 event earlier this month in Tacoma, Washington featured former WWE wrestler Rico making a surprise appearance and teaming up with MxM Collection to be their manager for the night.

A recent episode of the Stylin’ The Podcast featured co-host Rico giving his thoughts about the process that led to his surprise appearance for AEW at their WrestleDream 2024 event.

“Executives from AEW called, and they said their tag team, MxM Collection, needed my guidance because they were going against The Acclaimed, and guess who was Acclaimed’s manager? Saggy-ass Billy Gunn. My old client. The largest disappointment of my entire illustrious career. When I heard that, I was on the plane. They sent a private plane, I got on that, flew to Seattle, and started working with Mason and Mansoor, getting them all ready. Then, we’re having the match, and then things got crazy, everybody spilled out, and my guy was reaching, Mansoor was reaching in the ring. I just went in the ring, I didn’t do anything, but I was trying to pull him up to get his momentum, possibly to get a good countout victory. So I was pulling him in, and I slip, and unbeknownst to me, Billy Gunn snuck up behind me, and he was in the ring with me. We’re not supposed to wrestle. He’s telling me all this stuff, and I went, wait a minute, you’re disrespectful. So I went to spin kick him. He was quick. He caught my foot, kicked me in the gut, and he gave me a Fameasser. He had the audacity to Fameasser me. Saggy-ass Billy Gunn.”

Rico also gave his thoughts about the differences between AEW’s locker room and WWE’s locker room from his wrestling days in the 2000s.

“I just went into AEW’s locker room, and it was night and day from WWE back in the 2000s to AEW now. Everyone was friendly, you didn’t feel that heaviness in the air, people were actually talking to each other, getting along. They got a lot of good. I got to see a lot of guys who were WWE, and everybody in the locker room came up to me at one point and thanked me for my career and what I did as characters. The locker room was fantastic, the executives like Sonjay [Dutt] and stuff like that, I met Mr. Khan. Mr. Khan shocked me. He goes, ‘I remember you from ‘American Gladiators. I was a big fan.’ That’s 34 years ago [laughs]. Everybody came up and thanked me for being there, they said they appreciated my work, what I did in the past. It felt really good to have somebody appreciate your work. It must have made a difference because after 19 [years], they’re still remembering me.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Keith Lee AEW Absence & Health Status Update

Keith Lee has been absent from AEW since this past December’s Collision Holiday Bash show and had underwent two surgeries for undisclosed issues in early 2024.

Lee recently provided an update on Twitter about his current absence and health status.

“I certainly don’t see them all, but I have seen many. I must take the time to say thank you.
And I must take the time to tell you…. we are not done. Hang in there, just like I am. Whatever it is…. the time will come. Let’s move forward.
Oh. And don’t forget to go vote.

I certainly don't see them all, but I have seen many. I must take the time to say thank you.

And I must take the time to tell you…. we are not done. Hang in there, just like I am. Whatever it is…. the time will come. Let's move forward.

Oh. And don't forget to go vote.
— Excellent Lee (@RealKeithLee) October 20, 2024