HOUSTON -- Talk about breaking onto the national scene. Orangeburg native Shelton Benjamin did a bit more than that as he made a triumphant debut on the top-rated show on basic cable live from Houston, Texas, on Monday evening.

Benjamin, one of pro wrestling's up-and-coming superstars of Monday's WWE Raw, stunned many around the nation by defeating WWE veteran and former champion Triple H in the main event match in what was considered to be a big upset. Benjamin, 27, formerly of WWE's Thursday program, Smackdown, came to Raw as the result of a draft lottery held last week.

Along with Charlie Haase, he was one-half of a duo dubbed "The World's Greatest Tag Team." The duo captured the tag team title on Smackdown twice, before Benjamin's athleticism and charisma made him the breakout star of the team.

But even before he began his trek to becoming a household name, the six-foot-two, 245-pound Benjamin made a name for himself by dominating the local sports scene.

A top wrestler at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School, Benjamin was the heavyweight state champion, a track star and a two-time All-State selection in football. He was also a two-time All American and heavyweight state champion at the University of Minnesota in 1997 and '98.

For years, while he toiled in training for a shot at the "big time" on the WWE's lower circuits, Benjamin was known as the "other" wrestling standout from the University of Minnesota -- the "main attraction" being established superstar Brock Lesner. Lesner was a college teammate of Benjamin, and the young man from Orangeburg even coached the younger Lesner during one season.

The WWE website says that Benjamin is "a unique athlete" that is able to take advantage of his experience on the track to utilize his superior speed in taking down opponents.

Back in live action on Monday in Houston, and among good-spirited insults of Orangeburg being tossed his way by WWE commentator Jerry "The King" Lawler, Benjamin kept his cool and rallied the crowd behind him. Benjamin shocked many by keeping up with Triple H move for move, and then catching him with a small package for the pinfall victory after nearly 20 minutes of non-stop action.

With the Houston crowd in an uproar, WWE analyst Jim Ross said, "It's all about the Benjamin!"  

And with that, Shelton the Orangeburg legend was gone. Shelton the Superstar had arrived.

Lester Echols is a former Orangeburg resident and graduate of Claflin University.

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