Shelton Benjamin on Future of His In-Ring Wrestling Career, His Belief Kevin Knight Would “Absolutely” Fit In The Hurt Syndicate, & His History with David Finlay and Viewing Him as Kind of Like “A Little Brother”

A recent episode of the Casual Conversations with The Classic podcast featured Shelton Benjamin as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Benjamin’s thoughts about the future of his in-ring wrestling career and him feeling that he still has a lot to give to the wrestling business.

“The biggest reason is that I still feel like I have something to give. When we talk about the other guys in my class, the industry and the company really taxed them. They gave their lives to this business in huge ways and they were in all of these amazing matches for years and years on end. I’ve always had the same opportunities as them. I’ve had the opportunity to do the same type of thing, but I haven’t had the same opportunities that they have. Quite frankly, I just feel like I still have a lot to give. Physically, I can still do it. So, why would I quit?”

Benjamin also gave his thoughts about how his friends will inform him when it is time for him to wrap up his in-ring career.

“I’ve made this promise to myself and all of my best friends including MVP, Bobby, Cedric, New Day. I’ve told all of my friends, there may come a time when I should step away and I won’t realize it or I won’t want to. I’ve given all my friends [permission to] give me the nod. It’s time, let’s start wrapping this up. I don’t know how much longer I have in the industry but for the time I have and for the ability that I have, I want to give the wrestling business as much of me as I possibly can. To my classmates, it’s congratulations. It’s sad to see some guys from my era start to, for a lack of a better term, fall off. Eventually, I’m going to be one of them but for the time that I’m here — First, backup, it ain’t going to be anytime soon. But for the time that I’m here, I want to give everything that I can and just have fun and enjoy it while I can because when it’s over, it’s over. I’ve got more time behind me than in front of me, so I want to make it count.”

Benjamin also gave his thoughts about the potential of Kevin Knight becoming a member of The Hurt Syndicate in the future.

“Absolutely. No question. Straight up, yes. Absolutely. If it were my choice today, if I said I wanted a new member in the Hurt Syndicate — the Hurt Syndicate wants a fourth member, without a doubt, my first pick would be Cedric Alexander. My second pick would be Kevin ‘Jet’ Knight.”

Benjamin also gave his thoughts about his personal longtime history with David Finlay going all the way back to Finlay’s father Fit Finaly helped train him for his pro wrestling career.

“I know Finlay from way back. His father helped train me, his mother helped guide me. We have a very long history. This will be the first time that we’ve ever stepped across the mat from each other in a professional capacity but there were many times in a galaxy far away, long time ago where we would chase each other around and wrestle in hallways. To see him become a man, it’s like, I kind of look at him as a little brother. But, I’m big brother, so.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com 1, 2, & 3