WWE veteran does not blame Bobby Lashley for controversial comment after AEW Gull Gear: "It is stupid"
Bobby Lashley took a massive win over Swerve Strickland at AEW Full Gear. He forced his opponent to pass out using The Hurt Lock. After the event, he attended the Full Gear post-show media scrum. During this session, Kate from Fightful asked Lashley about his experience joining a company with several Black champions and inquired about his feelings after challenging a former Black World Champion.
The All Mighty immediately reacted saying that he didn't like the term 'Black Champion' being used. Speaking on the latest edition of his Story Time podcast, Dutch Mantell agreed with Lashley's controversial statement. The wrestling veteran said that the former WWE Champion was right to correct the reporter.
"I don't blame him. When I heard that right away she was asking Lashley, MVP, and Shelton Benjamin, I knew it was going to come back and I agree with Bobby Lashley. Just call him a champion. Why does black have to even be in there? Because sometimes we separate ourselves and who taught this woman to say, 'how does it feel to be around other Black Champions?' Well, hell, that demeans you. You're around champions all the time. It is stupid and I don't know why she would even ask that stupid question. And I don't blame Bobby Lashley for saying the same thing. I would have said the same thing." [From 56:57 to 57:55]
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Bobby Lashley has overshadowed Shelton's Benjamin in AEW, says veteran
Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin are part of the same faction in AEW: The Hurt Syndicate. Speaking on Grilling JR a few days ago, Jim Ross stated that Lashley's presence has led to the decline of Shelton Benjamin's influence in the promotion.
"They quickly make Shelton a secondary player which I think is a mistake. He's a star and a h*ll of an athlete. He can do things nobody else can and do it effortlessly. He's that good," JR stated.
The Gold Standard arrived in AEW on October 2, 2024, during the five-year anniversary special episode of Dynamite while The All Mighty made his debut on Frigh Night Dynamite on October 30.