WWE Raw: Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin with a great in-ring story

Many, including myself, feared that breaking Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin away from The Hurt Business would relegate them to tag team jobbers. While that seemed to be the direction after a few weeks, their rivalry that began in earnest last night seems to signal that may not be the case.

Alexander and Benjamin put on a great display of storytelling and psychology during their match on the May 10 episode of WWE Raw. They’re more than just mid-card fodder.

First, let’s set the context heading into this match.

Not too long ago, these two not only were a tag team but the Raw Tag Team Champions. In kayfabe, this means they know each other well having teamed successfully in the not-too-distant past, including their in-ring quirks and predilections.

After they lost the titles, however, both were kicked out of The Hurt Business, and their dismissal was followed by an unassuming losing streak.

After their loss to Lucha House Party last week, Alexander erupted on Benjamin, blaming him for their woes and formally ending their tag team.

This led to their singles match tonight, a four-minute, 22-second affair that displayed some wonderful storytelling.

The storytelling began with both men’s entrances. Alexander was first, and both men decided to use their themes from before joining The Hurt Business. Personally, I always liked Alexander’s, so it was nice to hear his theme again.

The shift in music is a definitive signal that they have no ties left to The Hurt Business, and are once again seeking out their own fortunes.

When the match started, Alexander yelled (and he did that a lot during the match) that he “outclassed” Benjamin on every level. Alexander acted like the arrogant up-and-comer who knew his former partner/mentor’s tricks.

Benjamin went for Paydirt early, but Alexander, showing he paid attention to his former partner, slipped out of the move and retreated to the outside. On reentry, Alexander hit Benjamin with a Dragon Screw in the ropes.

Alexander then worked the left leg, including a rolling heel hook that Benjamin nicely transitioned into a Sharpshooter. Still, Alexander would attack that injured knee whenever he needed to regain the advantage.

Subtle, yet nicely told.

Alexander then forced Benjamin to the outside and went for his usual tope trio. Generally, in a WWE match, the counter/reversal is expected on the last of the trio. However, in another nod to their storytelling, Benjamin countered the second tope with a rising knee. Benjamin added to the effect by using the apron to give even more momentum to his usual rising knee strike.

Benjamin then went for Paydirt again only for Alexander to counter again. Alexander hit the Neuralizer, but rather than attempting a pin, he decided to gloat and yell at Benjamin some more.

Again, good storytelling as Alexander was hyperaware of Benjamin’s Paydirt finisher, and Alexander’s character portrayal plays into the promo he cut last week and his actions to start the match.

Alexander then yelled at Benjamin to stand up. Unfortunately for Alexander, Benjamin not only rose to his feet, but he pulled out a move Alexander, and WWE, hasn’t seen Benjamin perform in, what, over a decade?

He hit him with the old T-Bone suplex for the victory! I have to tell you, that hit me right in the nostalgia.

This is where storytelling and psychology hit their apex. Alexander thought he not only learned all he could from Benjamin, but that Benjamin had nothing else to surprise him.

Instead, he showed he wasn’t a student of history, as Benjamin reached into his proverbial bag of tricks to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

(Hey, like WWE, I figured I’d go heavy with the metaphors.)

Like that middle-aged man wearing goggles, a headband, high socks, and Chuck Taylor’s at the gym balling up fools, Benjamin showed that veteran guile and proved that the “old man” isn’t so old after all.

Now, does Alexander seek vengeance out of pure spite, or does he learn from his arrogance and mistakes in defeating Benjamin? How much longer can Benjamin go, and does he have a run to the United States Championship left in him?

All I know is that if they continue telling stories in the ring like they did last night, this will undoubtedly be a must-see rivalry for the subtleties and nuances alone.

Oh yeah, these two can GO in the ring, too.