WWE Raw, Cincinnati, OH
This is a request. Let’s start with the set-up, as it’s an angle over the episode, over the past couple actually. The prior week on Raw, they had the big draft. HHH was (briefly) drafted to SmackDown, a move made so that the company could further stroke his ego on TV by having Eric Bischoff trade like five guys or whatever to get HHH back. But Shelton Benjamin was one of the fellas seen laughing when HHH went to SmackDown, the inferior show.
Shelton had been drafted to Raw the same night. This week, Evolution confront Shelton backstage; well, Batista confronts him and HHH jumps him. Boy I tell ya, if my fat old ass ever has the misfortune to get into a fight again in my life, I am DEFINITELY gonna do a Paul “Triple H” Levesque and go HUH-HWWUUUHHH, HUH-FWAAAHHHH with every strike I unleash.
Later, Shelton demands from Bischoff a match with HHH. He also denies having laughed, but says he did laugh at WrestleMania when Benoit made HHH tap out. Shelton was not and is not a talker. Anyway, after Sheriff Steve Austin shows up and gets Shelton fired up, Shelton demands the match with HHH, and Bischoff grants it.
Later, an old rival from SmackDown confronts Shelton backstage, as Chris Benoit tells Shelton the past is the past and gives him a pep talk. “Show that you are the man, and he isn’t the man!” Inspiring stuff. Then he turns a corner and The Hurricane offers advice. And then a bit further down this video game hallway, Shelton presses X to speak to Mick Foley. And HHH gets hyped up by Ric Flair, his head cheerleader.
Then it’s time for the match. HHH is the established top heel on Raw, Benjamin an up-and-comer, newly arrived from the other brand. HHH is out first, standard HHH entrance. As generic as Shelton’s TitanTron video is, the music is probably worse.
Hunter looks on very confidently, totally underestimating the youngster as JR runs down Shelton’s athletic background. HHH so arrogant he even gives a clean break in the corner, then lightly pats him on the cheek. Benjamin shows his amateur skills by sort of effortlessly riding HHH down to the mat, and offers his own clean break in the ropes. He takes him down with ease again, and then pats HHH on the face on the break to return the insult.
This gets the desired reaction, a big “oooh,” followed by a light but noticeable “Shelton” chant.
HHH almost gets the pedigree, then does the “your wiener is little” fingers to show how close he was. Benjamin returns that after a backslide near fall. This is the story telling. It’s like Shakespeare, lads.
Shelton gets a real good near fall off a spin kick, where HHH had caught his boot a moment before. With the match proving a bit more competitive than expected, Ric Flair joins ringside. HHH dumps Shelton out for Flair to do damage, but then Chris Benoit walks down to stop that happening.
After a break, they’re fighting over a top wristlock in the ring. Benjamin wins the battle. But Benjamin gets his shoulder posted and the tide turns, with HHH running him across the ring and doing it on the other side.
As Sarah Jessica Parker is from Cincinnati, Jerry Lawler figures she’s in the crowd and will party with Evolution later tonight. “There’s gonna be some sex in the city!”
Anyway, HHH is in control and grabs a sleephold. Benjamin’s attempts to fire up are cut short, until HHH goes for an elbow or something off the second rope. Benjamin gets the boots up, jacking Hunter’s jaw, and HHH does the exaggerated face-first flop.
Benjamin sends Hunter to the floor, then clotheslines him from the apron. Flair’s idea to interfere is backed down quickly, and HHH gets his head bounced off the steps. Another good near-fall on a flying clothesline back into the ring.
Hunter drops Benjamin’s face on the top turnbuckle in the middle of a 10-punch, then calls his spots loudly enough that JR has to cover with, “Triple H talkin’ trash!”
Flair finally gets his cheap shotin, but then with HHH distracted by Benoit advancing on his grandfather, Shelton flies in with a blindside Stinger Splash, rolls Hunter up, and gets the upset.
It’s a good match still. It was certainly better live, but most things are. There was some thought that this was going to help Benjamin break out like when Flair went 45 with Sting at the Clash, but it did not. When you combine all the beliefs about WWE’s culture at this point in time with the fact that Shelton just could cut a decent promo — even compared to someone mediocre at that like Benoit, Shelton lacked a certain conviction — his ceiling was limited to second-tier singles star, but he’s had a very good career overall. Could it have been more? I dunno, maybe, but his skill set never screamed “top guy,” either.
Tape Machines Are Rolling 
You must be logged in to post a comment.