RIC FLAIR VS. SHELTON BENJAMIN

 Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler welcome us to Edmonton, Alberta Canada for tonight’s show. They briefly throw us to Carlos Carbrera and Hugo Savinovich on the Spanish side of commentary before Lillian Garcia introduces Shelton Benjamin. He beat Triple H in the main event of the Draft Lottery Raw (22^nd March) on Benjamin’s Raw debut, and Triple H’s return after his matchless run on Smackdown. Shelton Benjamin then beat Triple H by count out the following two weeks. So it makes perfect sense in wrestling, that Benjamin faces Triple H’s Evolution teammate whilst Triple H gets the World Heavyweight Championship rematch. Ric Flair makes his way out for the match as JR goes over his well-known credentials. He’s also one of the reigning World Tag Team champions on Raw, with Batista.

RIC FLAIR VS. SHELTON BENJAMIN

WWE Backlash 2004 (18^th April 2004)

  The bell rings and Flair taunts his opponent, Shelton Benjamin gets a single-leg takedown, but Flair makes it to the ropes. Benjamin takes him down again with a fireman’s carry and Flair scrambles back to the ropes. Ric Flair shoves Benjamin but gets a slap to the face in return. Flair Flop leads to Naitch backing himself into the corner, Benjamin follows but is kicked in the midsection. Ric Flair chops Benjamin in the corner, then alternates rights and lefts, but he’s not exactly looking like prime Ken Shamrock out there. Benjamin reverses an irish whip sending Flair into the corner, he charges for the Stinger Splash, Flair moves but Shelton Benjamin springs to the top rope. Flair turns around to see Benjamin and kicks him in the gut. Benjamin sends Flair off the ropes but is dropped with a shoulder block, Flair starts running across the ring and Shelton Benjamin leapfrogs him and goes prone before cutting Flair off with a dropkick. Ric Flair is sent over to the floor with a clothesline. Ric Flair’s head is sent off the security wall, he gets a shot in but runs into a backdrop on the floor.

  Shelton Benjamin brings Flair back into the ring and gets thumbed in the eye, Flair knocks him down with a chop and goes to the top rope. Shelton Benjamin sends Flair back to the floor, because it’s just what happens at this time, then knocks Flair down with a clothesline before sending him off the ropes. Ric Flair grabs the rope, stopping the momentum and causing Benjamin to eat shit on a dropkick. Flair takes a breather and gets caught in the inside cradle but kicks out at 2. Shelton Benjamin drops Flair with a clothesline and starts the mounted 10 punches in the corner, but the referee stops him at 5. Ric Flair takes advantage, kicking Benjamin in the knee. Ric Flair hits a knee drop to the back of Benjamin’s leg and starts stomping around the knee and ankle. He drags Benjamin to the corner and wraps his knee around the ropes, Benjamin is trapped for more chops before he drops to the mat. Roc Flair goes back to the leg setting up the Figure Four leglock. Shelton Benjamin tries to fight it off but Flair gets it in. Benjamin’s shoulders go down for a nearfall, he tries to roll over and reverse the pressure. As he does Flair is able to get hold of the ropes and break the hold. Flair drops Shelton Benjamin with a hard chop and covers, but only gets 2.

  Ric Flair decides it’s time to bring a chair into the match, but the referee has other ideas. Ric Flair and Shelton Benjamin exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Chops by Flair get the obligatory “wooo” chant and he kicks Benjamin in the knee to get the advantage. Ric Flair grabs Benjamin’s ankle but is caught with the enziguri as he celebrates. The referee begins counting them both down as they stir to their feet. Benjamin favours his left knee, Flair catches a kick but Shelton Benjamin knocks him down with a heel kick. Ric Flair is still the first to his feet, but Benjamin blocks a right hand, he backs Flair into the corner with shots of his own. Ric Flair is sent across the ring, he goes over the top rope to the floor. Benjamin helps him back in the ring with a suplex. Ric Flair begs off and gets a cheap shot on Benjamin with a brutal chop. He goes back to the top rope, he knocks Benjamin back with a right hand and has something from under the turnbuckle. JR can’t see what it is, but it’s brass knuckles. Shelton Benjamin hits a Stinger Splash to Flair’s back before he has a chance to use them and they drop to the floor. Shelton Benjamin barely connects with a clothesline from the top rope for the win.  

WINNER: SHELTON BENJAMIN

This was a good match until the last 5 seconds. In fact, a very good match and opener. Shelton Benjamin looked great in the match and worked well with Flair’s different pace. A lot of Flair’s matches at this point were really chop and legwork heavy, so it’s to be expected but he did his part in elevating Benjamin. Shelton Benjamin looked like he belonged there and it was the start of him becoming a midcard staple for the Raw brand of the next few years. [***] 6.5/10