Folks, the All Elite Wrestling universe just got a whole lot more “Gold Standard.” That’s right, Shelton Benjamin, the man who could leap a tall building (or at least the top rope) in a single bound, is officially “All Elite.” And if you thought he was just going to sit back and collect paychecks, think again! AEW President Tony Khan, in his infinite wisdom, took to social media to drop a bombshell: Shelton Benjamin’s in-ring AEW debut is coming on October 16, when he’ll square off against none other than Lio Rush. Get your popcorn ready—this is going to be electric.
Now, let’s rewind for a moment, because this match didn’t just happen out of nowhere. Oh no, folks, there was some drama in the making. It all started during the WrestleDream pay-per-view when Lio Rush, who just re-signed with AEW (long-term deal, folks, multi-year cha-ching), was interrupted by none other than Benjamin and MVP. Now, Rush wasn’t too thrilled about having his spotlight stolen, and who could blame him? But when Rush fired back with that quick tongue of his, Benjamin wasn’t having it. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a steel chair, but MVP managed to calm his buddy down and set the stage for this massive showdown.
This isn’t just another debut match, folks. Lio Rush is coming in hot after signing his new contract, and he’s not going to let Shelton Benjamin—or anyone else—ruin his party. But let’s be honest here: Benjamin’s got experience, power, and a vertical leap that should be classified as a national treasure. With MVP in his corner, pulling the strings like a puppet master, this is shaping up to be an instant classic.
It doesn’t stop there. AEW is stacked for this upcoming episode of Dynamite in San Jose. The one and only Mercedes Mone will be defending her AEW TBS Championship against Queen Aminata, and Adam Cole is set to make his first live appearance since returning from injury. Oh, and AEW World Champion Jon Moxley? He’ll probably be dodging angry mobs after his latest win over Bryan Danielson at WrestleDream.
But make no mistake—the match that’ll have everyone talking is Benjamin vs. Rush. Will Lio’s speed and agility be enough to outmaneuver the Gold Standard, or will Benjamin’s veteran smarts and sheer power send Rush packing?