18.10.2005, 13:46
Wrestler of the Day 18.10.
Shelton Benjamin
[Bild: http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/articl...437843.jpg]
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 245 lbs
Hometown: Orangeburg, South Carolina
Overall: 86
Shelton Benjamin has faced adversity head on his whole life. Growing up fast and hard in a tough neighborhood, Shelton could've joined gangs and faced great pressure to do the wrong thing more times than he'd like to remember. However, "Mr. Benjamin" defied the odds and went on to the University of Minnesota to become an outstanding amateur wrestler before finally doing the impossible -- becoming a WWE Superstar, first on SmackDown and most recently on RAW.
Maybe it was Benjamin's ability to deal with the pressures of the street that has made him the prime time high stakes pressure player he has evolved into as a RAW Superstar. Either way, there's no denying Benjamin's uncanny athletic skills and balance in pulling off some of the most breathtaking high risk maneuvers out there.
Mr. Benjamin's true potential revealed itself after being drafted to RAW in the March 2004 Draft Lottery. Rocking RAW in his first month, Benjamin stood up to Triple H, leading to a series of matches between the two with Shelton squeaking out the wins and showing great promise as his star continued to rise. In the coming months, Benjamin would carve out a reputation as being one of the most explosive newcomers to RAW.
Holding onto the Intercontinental Championship for more than 8 months -- the longest reign since The Rock's 1997-98 run -- Benjamin recently lost his prize possession to 2005 RAW Draftee Carlito ending his reign as champ.
Interesting Notes:
Benjamin is a videogame nut, and has won the annual WrestleMania fan fest championship tournament three years in a row -- though his first win came in controversial fashion after he was defeated by IGN editor Jeremy Dunham on stage in the second round at WrestleMania X8 -- Dunham was later disqualified because he was not a WWE superstar. Shelton has been ducking him... ahem, "declining a rematch" ever since.
Source: WWE.com
2nd Wrestler of the Day 18.10.
Kurt Angle
[Bild: http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/articl...631113.jpg]
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 220 lbs
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pensylvania
Overall: 95
From the moment Kurt Angle became an athlete, success has followed him.
He started as a football and wrestling star in his hometown of Pittsburgh, and he soon became one of the top amateur wrestlers in the entire country, winning a pair of NCAA titles at Clarion University in the rugged heavyweight division. Angle captured national attention in 1996 when he won the 220-pound freestyle wrestling competition at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. Angle's celebration photo was on the cover of USA Today, he appeared on numerous morning talk shows, and he was honored with two parades in his hometown. Angle was even given a tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who at the time were looking to add a fullback to their roster.
Still, Kurt Angle would go from a local hero to a national sports-entertainment Superstar when he joined WWE. Four years after earning Olympic gold, Angle entered WWE for the first time and earned professional wrestling gold. Much like his college and Olympic careers, Angle was never satisfied until he was on top. Just weeks after entering WWE, Angle, who preached the virtues of his three I's (Integrity, Intelligence, and Intensity) won the European Championship. A short time later he earned the Intercontinental Championship and also won the 2000 King of the Ring. Still rolling, Angle then defeated The Rock at No Mercy to win the WWE Championship. Not bad for a rookie. Besides being a four-time WWE Champion, Angle's resume includes stints as United States, WWE Tag Team, and Hardcore Champion.
But perhaps Angle's most memorable accomplishment came in 2003. Angle underwent serious neck surgery in April, just weeks after losing the WWE Championship to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XIX. Amazingly, Angle was back on SmackDown! the first week of June. And at Vengeance on July 27, just 14 weeks after surgery, he regained the WWE Championship by forcing Lesnar to tap out.
Angle has also been a strong leader, forming Team Angle, a successful tag team featuring Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, as well as combining Luther Reigns & Mark Jindrak. Angle even held a management position at WWE, serving as the General Manager of SmackDown! for five months in 2004. He would lose that job in dramatic fashion when Mr. McMahon fired him, and since the summer of 2004, Angle has been back on the active roster.
Kurt Angle went on to face Shawn Michaels in a dream match at WrestleMania 21. After the two Superstars put on a virtual wrestling clinic, Angle eventually made HBK tap out to the dangerous ankle lock. Everyone thought it would be the only time their paths would cross as Angle was a SmackDown! Superstar and Michaels was on RAW. But that all changed when Angle was RAW's second selection in the 2005 Draft Lottery. Angle and HBK immediately renewed their rivalry and met in the highly-anticipated rematch at Vengeance. HBK got the better of Angle this time, catching him with Sweet Chin Music. With both Superstars on RAW, WWE fans everywhere are certainly clamoring for the rubber match between these two RAW Superstars.
Angle also created the Angle Invitational on SmackDown!, where every week a local wrestler gets a chance to win Angle's Olympic Gold Medal if the hopeful can defeat, or sometimes even last just three minutes in the ring with Angle. After a long winning streak, Eugene upset Angle to become the first man to collect on his offer. However, Angle took the Gold Medal back after making Eugene tap out at SummerSlam.
After dispatching of Eugene, Angle announced his hunger to reclaim the WWE Championship. This could be bad news for the rest of the RAW roster and especially John Cena, the current belt holder.
Source: WWE.com
Shelton Benjamin
[Bild: http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/articl...437843.jpg]
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 245 lbs
Hometown: Orangeburg, South Carolina
Overall: 86
Shelton Benjamin has faced adversity head on his whole life. Growing up fast and hard in a tough neighborhood, Shelton could've joined gangs and faced great pressure to do the wrong thing more times than he'd like to remember. However, "Mr. Benjamin" defied the odds and went on to the University of Minnesota to become an outstanding amateur wrestler before finally doing the impossible -- becoming a WWE Superstar, first on SmackDown and most recently on RAW.
Maybe it was Benjamin's ability to deal with the pressures of the street that has made him the prime time high stakes pressure player he has evolved into as a RAW Superstar. Either way, there's no denying Benjamin's uncanny athletic skills and balance in pulling off some of the most breathtaking high risk maneuvers out there.
Mr. Benjamin's true potential revealed itself after being drafted to RAW in the March 2004 Draft Lottery. Rocking RAW in his first month, Benjamin stood up to Triple H, leading to a series of matches between the two with Shelton squeaking out the wins and showing great promise as his star continued to rise. In the coming months, Benjamin would carve out a reputation as being one of the most explosive newcomers to RAW.
Holding onto the Intercontinental Championship for more than 8 months -- the longest reign since The Rock's 1997-98 run -- Benjamin recently lost his prize possession to 2005 RAW Draftee Carlito ending his reign as champ.
Interesting Notes:
Benjamin is a videogame nut, and has won the annual WrestleMania fan fest championship tournament three years in a row -- though his first win came in controversial fashion after he was defeated by IGN editor Jeremy Dunham on stage in the second round at WrestleMania X8 -- Dunham was later disqualified because he was not a WWE superstar. Shelton has been ducking him... ahem, "declining a rematch" ever since.
Source: WWE.com
2nd Wrestler of the Day 18.10.
Kurt Angle
[Bild: http://ps2media.ign.com/ps2/image/articl...631113.jpg]
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 220 lbs
Hometown: Pittsburgh, Pensylvania
Overall: 95
From the moment Kurt Angle became an athlete, success has followed him.
He started as a football and wrestling star in his hometown of Pittsburgh, and he soon became one of the top amateur wrestlers in the entire country, winning a pair of NCAA titles at Clarion University in the rugged heavyweight division. Angle captured national attention in 1996 when he won the 220-pound freestyle wrestling competition at the Olympic Games in Atlanta. Angle's celebration photo was on the cover of USA Today, he appeared on numerous morning talk shows, and he was honored with two parades in his hometown. Angle was even given a tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who at the time were looking to add a fullback to their roster.
Still, Kurt Angle would go from a local hero to a national sports-entertainment Superstar when he joined WWE. Four years after earning Olympic gold, Angle entered WWE for the first time and earned professional wrestling gold. Much like his college and Olympic careers, Angle was never satisfied until he was on top. Just weeks after entering WWE, Angle, who preached the virtues of his three I's (Integrity, Intelligence, and Intensity) won the European Championship. A short time later he earned the Intercontinental Championship and also won the 2000 King of the Ring. Still rolling, Angle then defeated The Rock at No Mercy to win the WWE Championship. Not bad for a rookie. Besides being a four-time WWE Champion, Angle's resume includes stints as United States, WWE Tag Team, and Hardcore Champion.
But perhaps Angle's most memorable accomplishment came in 2003. Angle underwent serious neck surgery in April, just weeks after losing the WWE Championship to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania XIX. Amazingly, Angle was back on SmackDown! the first week of June. And at Vengeance on July 27, just 14 weeks after surgery, he regained the WWE Championship by forcing Lesnar to tap out.
Angle has also been a strong leader, forming Team Angle, a successful tag team featuring Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin, as well as combining Luther Reigns & Mark Jindrak. Angle even held a management position at WWE, serving as the General Manager of SmackDown! for five months in 2004. He would lose that job in dramatic fashion when Mr. McMahon fired him, and since the summer of 2004, Angle has been back on the active roster.
Kurt Angle went on to face Shawn Michaels in a dream match at WrestleMania 21. After the two Superstars put on a virtual wrestling clinic, Angle eventually made HBK tap out to the dangerous ankle lock. Everyone thought it would be the only time their paths would cross as Angle was a SmackDown! Superstar and Michaels was on RAW. But that all changed when Angle was RAW's second selection in the 2005 Draft Lottery. Angle and HBK immediately renewed their rivalry and met in the highly-anticipated rematch at Vengeance. HBK got the better of Angle this time, catching him with Sweet Chin Music. With both Superstars on RAW, WWE fans everywhere are certainly clamoring for the rubber match between these two RAW Superstars.
Angle also created the Angle Invitational on SmackDown!, where every week a local wrestler gets a chance to win Angle's Olympic Gold Medal if the hopeful can defeat, or sometimes even last just three minutes in the ring with Angle. After a long winning streak, Eugene upset Angle to become the first man to collect on his offer. However, Angle took the Gold Medal back after making Eugene tap out at SummerSlam.
After dispatching of Eugene, Angle announced his hunger to reclaim the WWE Championship. This could be bad news for the rest of the RAW roster and especially John Cena, the current belt holder.
Source: WWE.com