With former WWE Superstar Shelton Benjamin set to make his WWE return, coming off an unfortunate rotator cuff injury that required surgery and pushed his return six months back, the former United States Champion is being looked at to possibly be thrust into a ‘shoot’ stable.
The plan is to use Benjamin, Dolph Ziggler, and Jack Swagger in the new stable that is planned to reside on SmackDown Live, according to a report from Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The goal from WWE creative is to do something similar to the WCW “Varsity Club” stable with Rick Steiner, Mike Rotunda, Steve Williams, Kevin Sullivan and Dan Spivey back in the day.
Wrestling Observer Newsletter also reports that ‘The Chairman Of The Board’ Vince McMahon is not a fan of shoot stables, as he thinks they are dangerous to any and all talents and personnel involved with them. Despite this, it seems this is the direction that WWE creative has decided to go.
Benjamin had previously been with the WWE for ten years before being released from his contract in 2010. Benjamin would win the company’s WWE Tag Team titles with partner Charlie Haas as a member of The World’s Greatest Tag Team. He then would win the Intercontinental Title and remain in the title picture from 2004 – 2007.
After being handed his walking papers from the WWE, Benjamin hit the independent circuit for the next six years, while doing some scattered work for Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling here and there as well.
On the July 26th episode of SmackDown Live earlier this year the WWE teased the former champion’s return to the WWE, however, Benjamin would then suffer the injury to his rotator cuff that would require surgical repair.
As for Benjamin’s scheduled stable members, Dolph Ziggler has currently been embroiled in some WWE title bouts and Intercontinental Title programs for a thin SmackDown Live roster. Jack Swagger hasn’t been doing much of anything as of late, as he has primarily been featured in dark matches and shows such as WWE Superstars and Main Event. A feud Baron Corbin on SmackDown has given the All-American a direction.
How do you feel about Benjamin making his WWE return to a ‘shoot’ stable? Is it the best option for the former World’s Greatest Tag Team member?
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