Shelton Benjamin and User:BanRay/Sandbox: Difference between pages

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{{Infobox Wrestler
{{Infobox Football biography
| playername= Tijani Babangida
|name=Shelton poopoo
| fullname = Tijani Babangida
|names='''Shelton Benjamin'''
| height = 1.69 m
|image=<!--Please do not replace this image with a fair use one. This image is free and free images are favored on Wikipedia. See "Wikipedia:Image use policy" for more information -->Shelton Benjamin.jpg
| nickname = "TJ", "Baba", "Okada".
|img_capt=Shelton Benjamin at a [[house show]] in November 2006
| dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1973|9|25}}
|height=height|foot=6in=2(188cm)
| cityofbirth = [[Kaduna]]
|weight=convert248lb( 112 )kg
| countryofbirth = [[Nigeria]]
|real_height=1'
| current club = [[Retired]]
|real_weight=48
| clubnumber = -
|birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1976|7|9}}
| position = [[Midfielder#Winger|Winger]]
|birth_place=[[Orangeburg, South Carolina]]
| years = 1990<br>1991-1996<br>1991-1993<br>1997-2003<br>2000-2001<br>2001-2002<br>2002-2003<br>2003-2004
|death_date=
| clubs = [[Niger Tornadoes]]<br>[[Roda JC]]<br>→[[VVV Venlo]] (loan)<br> [[Ajax Amsterdam|Ajax]]<br>→[[Gençlerbirliği]] (loan)<br>→[[Vitesse Arnhem]] (loan)<br>→[[Al-Ittihad (Jeddah)|Al-Ittihad]] (loan)<br>[[Changchun Yatai]]| caps(goals) =<br>78 {{0}}(26)<br>34 {{0}}(19)<br>77 {{0}}(20)<br>12 {{0}}(2)<br>14 {{0}}(1)<br>5 {{0}}{{0}}(0)<br>29 {{0}}(8)<ref name="Tijani Babangida national-football-teams"/><ref name="RSSSF China">{{cite web
|death_place=
| title = China 2003
|resides=[[Houston, Texas]]
| url = http://www.rsssf.com/tablesc/china03.html
|billed=Orangeburg, South Carolina<ref name="wwe" />
| publisher = RSSSF
|trainer=[[Ohio Valley Wrestling]]
|debut=November 2000<ref name="oww"/>
| accessdate = 2008-10-11}}</ref><ref name="RSSSF China 2">{{cite web
| title = China 2004
|retired=
| url = http://www.rsssf.com/tablesc/china04.html
| publisher = RSSSF
| accessdate = 2008-10-11}}</ref>
| nationalyears = 1994&ndash;2002
| nationalteam = [[Nigeria National Football Team|Nigeria]]
| nationalcaps(goals) = 40 (5)
|date=last update February 5, 2007
| pcupdate = 15:23, 5 february 2007 (UTC)
| ntupdate = [[February 5]], [[2007]]
}}
}}


{{MedalTop}}
'''Shelton Benjamin'''<ref name="oww"/> (born July 9, 1976)<ref name="oww">{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/shelton-benjamin.html|title=OWoW Profile|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=onlineworldofwrestling.com}}</ref> is an [[United States|American]] [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and former [[amateur wrestling|amateur wrestler]] signed to [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) working on its [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown]] [[WWE Brand Extension|brand]]<ref name="wwe" />, where he is the reigning [[WWE United States Championship|WWE United States Champion]].
{{MedalCountry|{{NGA}}}}
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Football]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Team Competition]]}}
{{MedalBottom}}


'''Tijani Babangida'''<ref name="Tijani Babangida national-football-teams"/><ref name="Tijani Babangida playerhistory"/><ref name="PSV - Vitesse">{{cite web
Benjamin has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling in high school and at the [[University of Minnesota]]. After spending time in [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]],<ref name="oww" /> WWE moved him to the SmackDown! brand, where he is the current [[WWE United States Championship|United States Champion]]. During his tenure with the company, he has also won the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship]] three times, and he has held the [[WWE Tag Team Championship]] and [[OVW Southern Tag Team Championship]] two and four times, respectively.
| title = PSV - Vitesse
| url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=19599&cc=5739
| publisher = ESPN Soccernet
| accessdate = 2008-03-02}}</ref> (born [[September 25]], [[1973]] in [[Kaduna]])<ref name="Tijani Babangida playerhistory">{{cite web
| title = Tijani Babangida
| url = http://www.playerhistory.com/Default.aspx?page=player_details&playerID=4734
| publisher = Playerhistory
| accessdate = 2008-02-21}}</ref> is a former [[soccer|football]] [[winger (football)|winger]] from [[Nigeria]]. Known for his pace and dribbling skills,<ref name="Independent">{{cite web
| title = "Robson poised to sign Porto keeper"
| url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960605/ai_n14047999
| publisher = The Independent
| accessdate = 2008-02-21}}</ref><ref name="Nigerianplayers">{{cite web
| title = Tijjani Babangida
| url = http://web.archive.org/web/20070314084724/http://www.nigerianplayers.com/player.asp?pID=161
| publisher = NigerianPlayers
| accessdate = 2008-09-06}}</ref> he spent the prime years of his playing career at [[Ajax Amsterdam]]. ''He played 40 international matches and scored 5 goals for [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria]], and played at the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]], in the process scoring one of the goals of the tournament with a thunderous volley from the right side. He also won the Olympic gold medal in [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996]].''


==Career==
Benjamin has also acted as an assistant coach in amateur wrestling. He has an extensive interest in [[video game]]s, winning the WWE THQ Superstar Challenge four times before retiring from the contest.<ref name=video/>
===Early career===
In 1991, the 17-year-old Babangida left his local [[Niger Tornadoes F.C.|Niger Tornadoes]] to sign with the [[The Netherlands|Dutch]] [[Eredivisie]] side [[Roda JC]], after impessing at the Cairo 91 All African Games.<ref name="Tijani Babangida">{{cite web
| title = Tijani Babangida
| url = http://old.hki.uni-koeln.de/studium/oldPS/ws0001/obiora/players_profile.html
| publisher = Eagles Profile
| accessdate = 2008-02-28}}</ref> The player was immediately loaned out to Roda's league rivals [[VVV Venlo]] until the end of the season.<ref name="Tijani Babangida 123football">{{cite web
| title = Tijani Babangida
| url = http://www.123football.com/players/b/tijani-babangida/index.htm
| publisher = 123Football
| accessdate = 2008-02-21}}</ref> Babangida made only a total of six league appearances, finding the net three times in the second part of the 1991-92 Eredivisie season.<ref name="Tijani Babangida national-football-teams">{{cite web
| title = Tijani Babangida
| url = http://www.national-football-teams.com/v2/player.php?id=14466
| publisher = National Football Teams
| accessdate = 2008-02-21}}</ref> Despite Venlo's relegation to [[Eerste Divisie]],<ref name="Netherlands 91/92">{{cite web
| title = Netherlands 1991/92
| url = http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/ned92.html
| publisher = RSSSF
| accessdate = 2008-02-21}}</ref>Roda decided to extend the player's loan at the club for another season.


The 1992-93 became a breakthrough season for Babangida as his 16<ref name="Tijani Babangida national-football-teams"/> league goals helped Venlo to the top of [[Eerste Divisie]] and promotion to the Dutch top-flight.<ref name="Netherlands 92/93">{{cite web
==Amateur wrestling==
| title = Netherlands 1992/93
Benjamin grew up in [[Orangeburg, South Carolina]] where he was an accomplished amateur wrestler.<ref name="wwe">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/sheltonbenjamin/bio/|title=Shelton Benjamin's WWE Bio|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wwe.com}}</ref> He began wrestling while in the 10th grade at Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School.<ref name=allabout>{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCO/is_5_3/ai_81826834|title=It's all about the Benjamin|author=Scales, Jason|publisher=Wrestling Digest|accessdate=2007-06-18|month=February | year=2002}}</ref> While in high school, he achieved a 122–10 win-loss record and was a two-time South Carolina state high school heavyweight wrestling champion, earning the title in both 1993 and 1994.<ref name="wwe" /><ref name="oww" /><ref name=allabout/><ref name=slam>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/benjamin.html|title=Shelton Benjamin's Profile|author=Milner, John|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|accessdate=2007-06-18|date=2005-04-17}}</ref> He also was a Junior College National Track Champion in the 100 meter and won the junior college national wrestling heavyweight title in 1996 while attending Lassen Junior College in [[Susanville, California]].<ref name=allabout/><ref name=slam/> He was then accepted to attend the [[University of Minnesota]], where he achieved a 36–6 win-loss record.<ref name="oww" /> Moreover, while attending the university, he was a two-time All-American heavyweight wrestler.<ref name=allabout/> After graduation, he served as an assistant coach at the University and trained with future OVW [[tag team]] partner [[Brock Lesnar]].<ref name=allabout/><ref name=slam/> In 1997, Benjamin went 36–6 and made 12 pins in the Big Ten Championship, in which he placed sixth.<ref name=slam/> Instead of trying to qualify for the [[2000 Summer Olympics|2000 Olympics]], Benjamin decided instead to try and pursue a professional wrestling career.<ref name=slam/>
| url = http://www.rsssf.com/tablesn/ned93.html
| publisher = RSSSF
| accessdate = 2008-02-22}}</ref> The following season Babangida returned to Roda, immediately becoming a first-team regular with the [[Kerkrade]] side. Babangida made a total of 29 league appearances for Roda that season, scoring 11 goals.<ref name="Tijani Babangida national-football-teams"/>


Babangida spent two more seasons at Roda JC. Tijani's 10 league goals in 1995-96, made him the club's top scorer that season. In 1995, Babangida made his European debut, scoring a goal in the [[UEFA Cup]] first-round win over [[Olimpija Ljubljana]], Roda's first European campaign in five years. Roda went on to beat the [[Slovenia]]n side 5-2 on aggregate, but fell to the 27-times [[Portugal|Portuguese]] champions [[S.L. Benfica]] in the second round.
==Professional wrestling career==
===Ohio Valley Wrestling (2000–2002)===
Benjamin was offered and accepted a contract from [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) and was placed in [[Ohio Valley Wrestling]] (OVW) as one half of a tag team with Brock Lesnar, who was a [[Collegiate wrestling|wrestling]] teammate at the [[University of Minnesota|University of Minnesota, Twin Cities]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ovwrestling.com/alumni.htm|title=Ohio Valley Wrestling Alumni|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=ovwrestling.com}}</ref> Together they were known as the "[[Minnesota Wrecking Crew|Minnesota Stretching Crew]],"<ref name=slam/> and they held the [[OVW Southern Tag Team Championship]] on three occasions.<ref name="ovwtag">{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/ky/ovw/ovw-t.html|title=OVW Southern Tag Team Title|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wrestling-titles.com}}</ref> The first two reigns occurred during February and July 2001.<ref name=slam/> They were scripted to win the titles for a third time from [[Rico Constantino]] and [[John Cena|The Prototype]] on October 29, 2001.<ref name=slam/> After Lesnar was called up to the main roster in November 2001, Benjamin formed a tag team with [[Rodney Begnaud|Redd Dogg Begnaud]] called "The Dogg Pound" and once again won the OVW Southern Tag Team Title on July 17, 2002.<ref name="oww" /><ref name=slam/> Throughout the remainder of 2002, Benjamin wrestled at several [[house show]]s for the main WWE roster and eventually on ''[[WWE Heat|Sunday Night Heat]]'' as a fan favorite.<ref name=slam/>


Solid performances at both international and club level led to interest from Dutch giants [[Ajax Amsterdam]], as [[Louis van Gaal]] was looking to replace Babangida's compatriot [[Finidi George]]<ref name="Independent"/>, who had recently departed to [[Real Betis]].
===World Wrestling Entertainment===
====World's Greatest Tag Team (2002–2004)====
{{main|The World's Greatest Tag Team}}


===Ajax Amsterdam===
Benjamin was offered a full-time [[World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWE) contract in September 2002.<ref name=slam/> He joined WWE's [[WWE Friday Night SmackDown|SmackDown!]] brand as a [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] on December 26, 2002, forming Team Angle along with [[Charlie Haas]], with [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] gold-medalist wrestler [[Kurt Angle]] as their on-screen [[mentor]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/021226.html|title=SmackDown! Results - December 26, 2002|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Their first official match together in WWE was on the January 2, 2003 edition of ''SmackDown!'' against [[Adam Copeland|Edge]] and [[Chris Benoit]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030102.html|title=SmackDown! Results - January 2, 2003|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> [[Image:TWGTT-Haas-&-Benjamin-Postmatch-crop,-RLA-Melb-10.11.2007.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Benjamin with [[The World's Greatest Tag Team|Team Angle/The World's Greatest Tag Team]] partner [[Charlie Haas]]]] They continued their storyline [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with Benoit until [[No Way Out (2003)|No Way Out]], when Benoit teamed with Brock Lesnar to defeat Team Angle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/nowayout.html#2003|title=No Way Out 2003 - February 23, 2003|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> The duo were scripted to win their first [[WWE Tag Team Championship]] just a month after their debut by defeating the champions, [[Los Guerreros#World Wrestling Entertainment|Los Guerreros]] ([[Eddie Guerrero|Eddie]] and [[Chavo Guerrero, Jr.|Chavo Guerrero]]) on February 6, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/330086|title=WWE Tag Team - Benjamin & Haas|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wwe.com}}</ref> The two then went on to compete in their first [[WrestleMania]] match at [[WrestleMania XIX]], retaining their tag title in a triple threat match against Los Guerreros, and Chris Benoit and [[Terry Gerin|Rhyno]].<ref name=slam/> Team Angle later lost the title to Eddie Guerrero and his new partner [[Yoshihiro Tajiri|Tajiri]] at [[WWE Judgment Day#2003|Judgment Day]] in a [[ladder match]].<ref name=slam/>
Babangida joined Ajax in the Summer of 1996 in a long-anticipated $5m move.<ref name="Nigerianplayers"/> He appeared in 29 league games, scoring four goals in his first season with Ajax. Babangida played an important role in Ajax's European campaign, scoring three goals, including one against [[AJ Auxerre|Auxerre]] in the group stages<ref name="Indep4">{{cite web
| title = Football: Fenerbahce stay alive with a late strike
| url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19961121/ai_n14081654?tag=content;col1
| publisher = The Independent
| accessdate = 2008-09-06}}</ref> and the dramatic winning goal in the second leg of the [[UEFA Champions League]] encounter with [[Atlético Madrid]] at the [[Vicente Calderón Stadium]], that put Ajax through to the semi-finals of the competition.<ref name="Indep3">{{cite web
| title = Babangida Thrills Ajax
| url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19970320/ai_n14094631?tag=content;col1
| publisher = The Independent
| accessdate = 2008-09-06}}</ref>


Babangida's second season with Ajax proved to be an even bigger success as the player's fine form helped Ajax to another Eredivisie title with a convincing 39 point gap over [[PSV Eindhoven]], while his 13 league goals in 26 games made him the club's third top scorer, behind the Eredivisie golden boot winner [[Shota Arveladze]] and [[Finland|Finnish]] forward [[Jari Litmanen]].<ref name="Eredivisie">{{cite web
The storyline concluded on the June 12, 2003 ''SmackDown!'', when, as part of the scripted events, Angle confronted Benjamin and Haas and fired them from Team Angle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030612.html|title=SmackDown! Results - June 12, 2003|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> They began referring to themselves as The World's Greatest Tag Team and won the tag title back on the July 3 edition of ''SmackDown!''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030703.html|title=SmackDown! Results - July 3, 2003|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> They lost the title on September 18, after Benjamin suffered a [[Legit (professional wrestling)|legitimate]] knee injury during a match against Los Guerreros.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/smackdown/030918.html|title=SmackDown! Results - September 18, 2003|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> He was sidelined for approximately one month,<ref name=slam/> but the pair competed together again, taking part in a Fatal Four-Way match at [[WrestleMania XX]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#20|title=WrestleMania XX - March 14, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref>
| title = Eredivisie history
| url = http://www.eredivisie.nl/subpage.aspx?l1=1667&l2=1668
| publisher = Eredivisie, the official website
| accessdate = 2008-09-06}}</ref> Ajax clinched the second title of the season with a 5-0 demolition of PSV in the [[KNVB Cup]] final, with the Nigerian scoring the first goal.<ref name="Nigerianplayers"/>


Tijani's fortunes started to change towards the end of 1998. Having missed the start of the season with malaria,<ref name="Indep2">{{cite web
====Intercontinental Champion (2004–2006)====
| title = Sporting Digest: Football
On March 22, 2004, Benjamin was scripted to be moved to the [[WWE Raw|Raw]] brand as part of the [[2004 WWE Draft|2004 Draft Lottery]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040322.html|title=RAW Results - March 22, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> After arriving, Benjamin quickly became a fan favorite when, in his new storyline, he won a [[Pin (professional wrestling)|pinfall]] victory over [[Triple H]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Benjamin stuns HHH &ndash; and WWE|author=Blackjack Brown|publisher=Chicago Sun Times|accessdate=2007-06-18|date=2004-04-04}}</ref> Benjamin then feuded with Triple H, beating him three times in total: once by pinfall, once by countout, and once by disqualification.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/040405.html|title=RAW Results - April 5, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> As part of the storyline, Benjamin then feuded with the other members of Triple H's [[List of professional wrestling slang#S|stable]] [[Evolution (professional wrestling)|Evolution]]. Benjamin defeated [[Ric Flair]] at [[Backlash (2004)|Backlash]] and lost to [[Randy Orton]] in a [[WWE Intercontinental Championship]] match at [[Bad Blood (2004)|Bad Blood]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/backlash.html#2004|title=Backlash 2004 - April 18, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/badd.html#2004|title=Bad Blood 2004 - June 13, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref>
| url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19980724/ai_n14162612?tag=content;col1
| publisher = The Independent
| accessdate = 2008-09-06}}</ref> Babangida gradually lost his starting line-up position as [[Morten Olsen]] was looking to improve on the team's inconsistent performances both in the domestic league and in Europe. Tijani started two of his team's opening [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] games. The European season, however, ended in disappointment as Ajax finished bottom of their group behind [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiacos]], [[NK Dinamo Zagreb|Croatia Zagreb]] and [[F.C. Porto|Porto]]. Overall, Babangida appeared in 18 league games for Ajax that season, starting only seven. He didn't feature in the [[KNVB Cup|Dutch Cup]] final where Ajax managed to retain the trophy after beating [[Fortuna Sittard]] in the final.<ref name="Nigerianplayers"/>


The situation deteriorated even further after the 1999 season for Babangida, as he made a mere eight appearances the following year and didn't play a single game in the first half of the [[Eredivisie 2000-01|2000-2001 season]]. In an attempt to offload the player, Ajax came to an agreement with the [[Turkey|Turkish]] [[Süper Lig]] side [[Gençlerbirliği S.K.|Gençlerbirliği]], who signed Babangida on a half-year loan deal until the end of the season.
[[Image:Shelton Benjamin in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Shelton Benjamin at a house show in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.]]
During a match with [[Lance Cade|Garrison Cade]] on ''[[WWE Heat|Heat]]'', Benjamin [[Punch (strike)|punched]] Cade's knee brace, [[Legit (professional wrestling)|legitimately]] breaking his hand in the process and briefly taking him out of action.<ref name=slam/> Benjamin returned in the fall of 2004 and was chosen by the fans to compete for the Intercontinental Championship in a match against then-champion [[Chris Jericho]] at [[WWE Cyber Sunday#2004|Taboo Tuesday]]. Benjamin was scripted to win the match,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/taboo.html#2004|title=Taboo Tuesday 2004 - October 19, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> giving him his first singles title in the company.<ref name ="oww" /> During his reign as Intercontinental Champion, Benjamin retained the title against challengers such as [[Jason Reso|Christian]] at [[Survivor Series (2004)|Survivor Series]] in November,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/survivor.html#2004|title=Survivor Series 2004 - November 14, 2004|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> [[Maven Huffman|Maven]] at January's [[WWE New Year's Revolution#2005|New Year's Revolution]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/newyear.html#2005|title=New Year's Revolution - January 9, 2005|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> and Chris Jericho at [[Backlash (2005)|Backlash]] in May.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/backlash.html#2005|title=Backlash 2005 - May 1, 2005|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> Benjamin lost the title to [[Carly Colón|Carlito]] when he debuted on ''Raw'' during the June 20, 2005 episode, ending the longest Intercontinental Championship reign of the decade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/636206|title=Intercontinental title reign: Carlito|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wwe.com}}</ref>


===After Ajax===
Benjamin's next storyline began on the December 5, 2005 edition of ''Raw'', when [[Shawn Michaels]] was scripted to give Benjamin a speech to get him "psyched" for their tag match together later in the night.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/051205.html|title=RAW Results - December 5, 2005|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> As a part of the scripted ending to the match, Michaels was preparing to finish the match when Benjamin tagged himself in and missed a crossbody, allowing Carlito to pin Benjamin.<ref name="oww" /> Benjamin was then depicted as having a "losing streak" over the next several weeks,<ref name="oww" /> which led to Benjamin's noisy, scolding and domineering "[[Mammy archetype|Momma]]" (played by comedian/actress [[Thea Vidale]]) coming to ''Raw'' to confront Benjamin. Momma slapped and yelled at Benjamin anytime he lost a match.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060102.html|title=RAW Results - January 2, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Before long, she assisted Benjamin in his matches, often interfering on his behalf.<ref>{{cite news|author=PWI Staff|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated presents: 2007 Wrestling almanac & book of facts|work="Wrestling’s historical cards"|publisher=Kappa Publishing|year=2007|pages=119}}</ref> This led Benjamin once again becoming a villain. In 2006, Benjamin had a staged on-screen rivalry with then-Intercontinental Champion [[Ric Flair]]. On the February 20 edition of ''Raw'', Benjamin defeated Flair to regain the Intercontinental Championship after Momma faked a heart problem, causing enough of a distraction to allow Benjamin to cheat and win the title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060220.html|title=RAW Results - February 20, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Benjamin continued to feud with Flair, but Momma no longer accompanied him to ringside. As part of the scripted events, Benjamin stated that she was undergoing heart surgery in the hospital and that he held Flair responsible.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060313.html|title=RAW Results - March 13, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref>
Looking for a move away from the Netherlands, Tijani Babangida came very close to signing with [[AJ Auxerre]], but received a last-minute call from [[Ronald Koeman]] and agreed to join him at [[Vitesse Arnhem]] instead.<ref name="Babangida optimistic">{{cite web
| title = Babangida optimistic
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1651809.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| accessdate = 2007-12-01}}</ref> Another loan move followed. First team player under Koeman, Babangida subsequently lost his place in the starting line-up,<ref name="Vitesse Arnhem 2001-02 fixtures">{{cite web
| title = Vitesse Arnhem 2001-02 fixtures
| url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/results?id=154&season=2001&cc=5739
| publisher = ESPN Soccernet
| accessdate = 2008-02-02}}</ref> when Ronald Koeman left for [[Ajax Amsterdam]] and was replaced by [[Edward Sturing]].<ref name="Tijani Babadngida">{{cite web
| title = Tijani Babandgida
| url = http://web.archive.org/web/20070703021159/http://www.vitesseplanet.com/index.php?page=20
| publisher = Vitesseplanet
| accessdate = 2007-12-01}}</ref>


He then signed a six-month loan deal with [[Al-Ittihad]] of Saudi Arabia in 2002, becoming yet another experienced addition to the squad that already included the former [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] international [[Bebeto]] and ex-[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] striker [[Titi Camara]], but walked out of the team in November after disagreements with [[José Oscar Bernardi]], the [[Brazil]]ian coach who wanted him to play at the [[right back]] position.<ref name="Middleeastfootball 2">{{cite web
Benjamin competed in the second [[Money in the Bank ladder match]] at [[WrestleMania 22]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/mania.html#22|title=WrestleMania 22 - April 2, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> He then had an on-screen rivalry with the winner of that match, [[Rob Van Dam]], in an attempt to take Van Dam's Money in the Bank contract. During this time, Benjamin emphasized his new villainous persona with a new [[List of professional wrestling slang#G|gimmick]]: wearing shades, jewelry, and occasional colored shirts while entering the ring.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/pictures/s/sheltonbenjamin/15.jpg|title=Picture of Shelton Benjamin|accessdate=2007-07-20}}</ref> At one point, Benjamin was defeated by his former tag team partner, the returning [[Charlie Haas]], during an episode of ''Raw''. A predetermined stipulation added to this loss meant that Benjamin had to defend the Intercontinental Title in the same match as his shot at Van Dam's contract,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060417.html|title=RAW Results - April 17, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> meaning at [[Backlash (2006)|Backlash]] it would be a "Winner Takes All" match. Rob Van Dam was scripted to win at Backlash and take Benjamin's Intercontinental title.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/backlash.html#2006|title=Backlash 2006 - April 30, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref> Benjamin regained the title from Rob Van Dam in a [[Professional wrestling tag team match types#Tornado tag team match|Tornado Tag Team match]], pitting Benjamin, Triple H and [[Chris Mordetzky|Chris Masters]] against Van Dam and [[WWE Championship|WWE Champion]] [[John Cena]];<ref name=slam/> both the WWE Championship and WWE Intercontinental Championship could be won by whoever pinned the appropriate champion. After Triple H [[Facebuster#Double underhook facebuster|Pedigreed]] Van Dam, he turned his attention to John Cena and went for the pin on the WWE Champion. In accordance with the predetermined outcome of the match, Benjamin got to Van Dam first, picking up the pin and his third Intercontinental Championship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/060515.html|title=RAW Results - May 15, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Subsequently, Benjamin feuded with [[Carly Colón|Carlito]] and others for his Intercontinental Championship before losing the title to [[John Hennigan|Johnny Nitro]] in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Basic non-elimination matches|Triple Threat match]] also involving Carlito at [[Vengeance (2006)|Vengeance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/venge.html#2006|title=Vengeance 2006 - June 25, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=prowrestlinghistory.com}}</ref>
| title = Mido's tip sends Tijjani Babangida to Saudis Al-Ittihad
| url = http://web.archive.org/web/20021012082738/www.middleeastfootball.com/article.php?sid=204
| publisher = MiddleEastFootball
| accessdate = 2008-10-11}}</ref><ref name="Middleeastfootball">{{cite web
| title = Babangida wants permission to leave Al-Ittihad
| url = http://web.archive.org/web/20021127023857/http://middleeastfootball.com/
| publisher = MiddleEastFootball
| accessdate = 2008-10-11}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph">{{cite web
| title = Camara hammers the boss
| url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2395398/Camara-hammers-the-boss.html
| publisher = The Daily Telegraph
| accessdate = 2008-10-11}}</ref>


Looking to resolve the deadlock with Ajax, Babangida returned to Amsterdam to continue negotiating a termination of his contract with the club. On [[April 30]], 2003, three years since Babangida played his last game for the club, it was announced that both sides had come to an agreement and the player's contract was finally terminated.<ref name="Contract">{{cite web
During December 2006, Benjamin's former tag team partner Charlie Haas came out to celebrate with Benjamin after he defeated [[Super Crazy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/061204.html|title=RAW Results - December 4, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> [[The World's Greatest Tag Team]] was officially reunited when they defeated the [[The Highlanders (professional wrestling)|Highlanders]] on the December 11, 2006 episode of ''Raw''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/061211.html|title=RAW Results - December 11, 2006|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> The duo feuded with [[Cryme Tyme]] and competed mainly on ''Heat''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/w/worlds-greatest-tag-team.html|title=The World's Greatest Tag Team OWoW Profile|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=Online World of Wrestling}}</ref> Towards the end of his tenure on RAW, Shelton dyed his hair blonde, which would signify the future change in his on-screen character to "The Gold Standard."
| title = Tijjani Babangida and Ajax agree on dissolving contract
| url = http://www.ajaxusa.com/news/2002-2003/tijjani-babangida-and-ajax-agree-on-dissolving-contract.html
| publisher = Ajax USA
| accessdate = 2008-07-02}}</ref>


Finally a [[free agent]], Babangida underwent a successful trial at the [[China|Chinese]] top-flight side [[Tianjin Teda F.C.|Tianjin Teda]] in the Summer of 2003.<ref name="Tianjin Teda">{{cite web
====The Gold Standard (2007–present)====
| title = Chinese First Division Side Likely to Land Babangida
On the November 20, 2007 airing of ''[[Extreme Championship Wrestling (WWE)|ECW on Sci Fi]]'', [[Elijah Burke]] introduced Benjamin as the newest ECW superstar. On ECW, Benjamin began once again receiving more airtime and higher profile matches, defeating [[Tommy Dreamer]] in his debut.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/results/|title=Heating up for the holidays|accessdaymonthyear=20-11-2007|publisher=WWE.com}}</ref> He then qualified for the [[Royal Rumble (2008)|2008 Royal Rumble]] match and won an over the top rope preview. Benjamin appeared in the Rumble match, entering at number 17, but was eliminated by [[Shawn Michaels]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/6164364/|title=2008 Royal Rumble Statistics|accessdaymonthyear=03-02-2008|publisher=WWE.com}}</ref> He suffered his first loss since coming to ECW, to [[Glen Jacobs|Kane]], by count-out, on the January 29, 2008 edition of ''ECW on Sci-Fi''. On the February 22 edition of ''SmackDown!'', Benjamin defeated [[James Yun|Jimmy Wang Yang]] in a qualifying match for the [[Money in the Bank ladder match]] scheduled for [[WrestleMania XXIV]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/02222008/|title=Results: Two roads diverge|author=DiFino, Lennie|publisher=WWE.com|accessdate=2008-03-12|date=February 22, 2008}}</ref> which was won by [[CM Punk]]. After WrestleMania, Benjamin began an on-screen rivalry with [[Kofi Kingston]]. Kingston defeated Benjamin on the April 22, 2008 edition of ECW via his finishing maneuver, [[540 kick|Trouble in Paradise]]. During the rematch on April 29, Kingston won again. On ECW's 100th episode, Benjamin defeated Kingston, thus ending the latter's undefeated streak.
| url = http://web.archive.org/web/20031125040432/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200307/06/eng20030706_119541.shtml
| publisher = People's Daily
| accessdate = 2008-10-11}}</ref>


<s>Babangida then moved to [[China]], where he had a very successful first season and was even called up to join the [[Nigeria national football team]] during their preparations for the [[2004 African Cup of Nations]] in [[Tunisia]]; Babangida, however, failed to make the final squad. After two years in China, Babangida announced his retirement from football.'' [http://web.archive.org/web/20031125040432/http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200307/06/eng20030706_119541.shtml link]
As part of the [[2008 WWE Draft#Supplemental draft|2008 Supplemental Draft]], Benjamin was drafted to the SmackDown brand.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/wwedraft2008/7505418/|title=Official 2008 WWE Supplemental Draft Results|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2008-06-25}}</ref> On the July 11, 2008 airing of ''SmackDown!'', Benjamin defeated [[WWE United States Championship|WWE United States Champion]] [[Matt Hardy]] in a non-title match, earning himself a future title shot. At [[The Great American Bash (2008)|The Great American Bash]] on July 20, Benjamin once again defeated Hardy to win the WWE United States Championship.<ref name="US-title1">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/7684044|title=History Of The WWE United States Championship - Shelton Benjamin|date=2008-07-20|accessdate=2008-07-21|publisher=WWE}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/thegreatamericanbash/matches/uschampionship/results/|title=The Great American Bash: Midas Touch|date=2008-07-20|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|accessdate=2008-07-21|publisher=WWE}}</ref>At Unorgiven he fought in the Championship scramble for the WWE Championship,but without success. On SmackDown's All-Star Kick Off, he lost to Santino Marella
from interference from R-truth.


Upon his retirement from professional football, Babangida has been working as a football agent.<ref>http://www.kickoffnigeria.com/stories/story6757.html</ref> [http://web.archive.org/web/20071218065958re_/www.kickoffnigeria.com/stories/story6757.html link]
==Outside of wrestling==
Shelton is an avid video gamer. He won WWE's THQ Superstar Challenge, a video game tournament that takes place every year during [[WrestleMania]] weekend, four years in a row before retiring in 2007.<ref name=video>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2007/05/11/4172053.html|title=Shelton Benjamin hard to faze|author=Kapur, Bob|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling|accessdate=2007-06-18|date=2007-05-11}}</ref><ref name=games>{{cite web|url=http://www.us.playstation.com/News/Editorials/54|title=Shelton Benjamin: WWE Superstar and PSP® Fan|author=Gaudiosi, John|accessdate=2007-06-18|date=2007-05-18}}</ref> He spends time every day playing.<ref name=games/> Benjamin is also proficient in art. He creates comic book level work and pays close attention to detail. Shelton almost considered a career in the field.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/news/superstarshiddentalents|title=Superstars and Divas Hidden Talents Revealed|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]|accessdate=2008-09-13}}</ref>


Two of his nine brothers, [[Ibrahim Babangida (footballer)|Ibrahim Babangida]] and [[Haruna Babangida]], are also professional footballers.</s>
Benjamin, along with [[Dave Batista|Batista]], [[Candice Michelle]], and [[Josh Matthews]], represented the WWE at the [[2008 Democratic National Convention]] in an effort to persuade fans to register to vote in the [[United States presidential election, 2008|2008 Presidential election]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/overtheropes/wweconventions08/conventionspreview|title=WWE at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions|date=2008-08-22|accessdate=2008-09-13|publisher=WWE.com}}</ref>


===International career===
==In wrestling==
Babangida received his first call-up to the senior [[Nigeria national football team|Nigeria national team]] for a pre-[[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]] friendly against [[Romania national football team|Romania]] in 1994. He then played in a friendly against [[Georgia national football team|Georgia]], but did not make the final cut for [[1994 FIFA World Cup|USA 94]].<ref name="Nigerianplayers"/>
[[Image:Shelton Benjamin - T-Bone Suplex.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Shelton performs a [[Suplex#Exploder suplex|T–Bone Suplex]] on [[Carly Colón|Carlito]].]]
[[Image:Benjamin-clotheslines-Cade,-RLA-Melb-10.11.2007.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Benjamin performs a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Clothesline|clothesline]] on [[Lance Cade]]]]
*'''Finishing and signature moves'''
<!--Do NOT change the order of the moves, as they comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style-->
**'''[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#450° splash|450° splash]]'''<ref name="oww"/> – [[Ohio Valley Wrestling|OVW]]
**'''[[Professional wrestling attacks#Dragon whip|Dragon whip]]'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/383310/|title=A Barbaric Batista|accessdate=2008-07-15|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref> / ''[[Money clip|Money Clip]]''<ref name="oww"/> / ''[[Combat stress reaction|Shell Shocka]]''<ref name="oww"/> – 2002<ref name="oww"/>; Used as a regular move from 2003–present
**'''''Paydirt'''''<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/6490/105/|accessdate=2008-09-07|date=2008-08-12|last=Grimaldi|first=Michael C.|title=Early Smackdown TV report for August 22|publisher=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref> ([[Facebuster#Leaping reverse STO|Leaping spike reverse STO]])
**'''[[Superkick]]'''<ref name="oww"/> – 2002–2003; Used as a regular move from 2003–present
**'''''T–Bone Suplex'''''<ref name="wwe" /> ([[Suplex#Exploder suplex|Exploder suplex lift twisted into a powerslam pin]]) – 2004–2007; Used a regular move from 2007–present
<!--Do NOT change the order of the moves, as they comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style-->
**[[Backbreaker#Cobra clutch backbreaker|Cobra clutch backbreaker]]<ref name="oww"/>
**[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Flying clothesline|Diving clothesline]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/12052005/|title=McMahon to Bischoff: "You're fired!"|accessdate=2008-07-15|date=2005-12-05|publisher[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>
**[[Neckbreaker#Neckbreaker slam|Falling neckbreaker]], as a counter to a [[Suplex#Vertical suplex|vertical suplex]] where Benjamin lands on his feet first
<!--Benjamin never used a reverse bulldog. Joey Styles mistakenly called his leaping reverse STO an "Inverted Bulldog" until it was later called the Paydirt.-->
**[[Neckbreaker#Inverted facelock neckbreaker|Inverted facelock backbreaker]]
**[[DDT (professional wrestling)#Jumping DDT|Jumping DDT]], as a counter to a [[Professional wrestling throws#Back body drop|back body drop]]
**Multiple [[suplex]] variations
***[[Suplex#Exploder suplex|Release exploder]]
***[[Suplex#Northern Lights suplex|Bridging Northern lights]]<ref name="oww"/>
***[[Suplex#German suplex|Bridging / Release German]]
**[[Roundhouse kick]]
**''Shell Bomb''<ref name="oww"/> ([[Powerbomb#Turnbuckle powerbomb|Turnbuckle powerbomb]])<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.f4wonline.com/content/view/6406/105/|accessdate=2008-09-07|date=2008-08-15|last=Mulligan|first=Ryan|title=Ryan Mulligan's Smackdown TV report for August 15|publisher=[[Dave Meltzer#Wrestling Observer Newsletter|Wrestling Observer Newsletter]]}}</ref>
**[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Plancha|Somersault plancha]]
**[[Professional wrestling throws#Spinebuster|Spinebuster]]
**[[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Springboard|Springboard leap]] into either a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Springboard bulldog|modified bulldog]]<ref name="oww"/> or a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Flying neckbreaker|somersault neckbreaker]]<ref name="oww"/>
**[[Professional wrestling attacks#Stinger splash|Stinger splash]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/11142005/|title=Celebrating Eddie Guerrero|accessdate=2008-07-15|date=2005-11-14|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>
**[[DDT (professional wrestling)#Tornado DDT|Tornado DDT]]


Babangida's international chances were partly limited due to the fact that he often found himself behind [[Finidi George]] in the pecking order.<ref name="Nigerianplayers"/> He played an important role in his team's [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] triumph in [[1996 Summer Olympics|Atlanta]] in 1996<ref>{{cite news |first=Taofeek |last=Babalola |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Holland no threat to Dream Team IV —Babangida |url=http://www.thenationonlineng.com/dynamicPage.asp?id=52102 |work= |publisher=The Nation |date=2008-05-30 |accessdate=2008-10-09 }}</ref> as Nigeria overcame tough resistance from [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] and [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], packed with the likes of [[Dida (goalkeeper)|Dida]], [[Roberto Carlos (footballer)|Roberto Carlos]], [[Bebeto]], [[Ronaldo]], [[Rivaldo]], [[Hernan Crespo]], [[Claudio Lopez]], [[Ariel Ortega]] and [[Diego Simeone]] among others.<ref name="USA Today Olympic Report">{{cite web
*'''[[Manager (professional wrestling)|Managers]]'''
| title = Nigeria defeats Argentina for gold
**[[Kurt Angle]]
| url = http://www.usatoday.com/olympics/oso/osom.htm
**[[Thea Vidale|"Momma" Benjamin]]
| publisher = USA Today
| accessdate = 2008-10-09}}</ref><ref name="Nigeria - Brazil FIFA Report">{{cite web
| title = Nigeria - Brazil
| url = http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=197142/matches/match=32247/report.html
| publisher = FIFA
| accessdate = 2008-10-09}}</ref><ref name="Nigeria - Argentina">{{cite web
| title = Nigeria - Argentina
| url = http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=512/edition=197142/matches/match=32249/report.html
| publisher = FIFA
| accessdate = 2008-10-09}}</ref>


Babangida took part in Nigeria's [[1998 FIFA World Cup|France 98]] campaign, playing a total of 120 minutes as he started one game and came on as a sub in the other three. He scored his team's only goal in the second-round defeat to [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]]. <ref name="Top Goals">{{cite web
*'''[[Nickname]]s'''
| title = Top goals
**'''The Gold Standard'''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/ecw/archive/11272007/articles/sheltonbar|title=Shelton Benjamin raises the bar|accessdate=2008-03-27|date=2007-12-02|last=Rote|first=Andrew|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>
| url = http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/statistics/players/topgoals.html
| publisher = FIFA
| accessdate = 2008-10-09}}</ref>


Tijani Babangida only made his [[Africa Cup of Nations|African Nations Cup]] debut in 2000 as Nigeria withdrew from the [[1996 African Cup of Nations|1996 edition]] in [[South Africa]] due to political reasons and missed out on [[1998 Africa Cup of Nations|Burkina Faso 1998]] through disqualification. Babangida scored two spectacular goals against [[South Africa national football team|South Africa]] to put Nigeria through to the final where they were narrowly defeated on penalties.<ref>{{cite news |first=Andreas |last=Evagora |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Football: Babangida beguiles Bafana boys |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20000211/ai_n14288777?tag=content;col1 |work= |publisher=The Independent |date=2000-02-11 |accessdate=2008-10-09 }}</ref> He appeared in all of his team's five games, starting two.<ref name="2000 nations Cup">{{cite web
| title = African Nations Cup 2000 - Final Tournament Details
| url = http://www.rsssf.com/tables/00a-det.html
| publisher = RSSSF
| accessdate = 2008-10-09}}</ref>


He then featured prominently in Nigeria's run to the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 FIFA World Cup finals]], scoring two important first-half goals against [[Ghana national football team|Ghana]] on the final day of the [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|African qualifying round]], helping Nigeria seal the final African region World Cup berth.<ref>{{cite news |first=Albert |last=Asand |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Football: Nigeria win ticket to World Cup |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20010730/ai_n14402715?tag=content;col1 |work= |publisher=The Independent |date=2001-07-30 |accessdate=2008-10-10 }}</ref> Babangida played in all of his team's games at the [[2002 African Cup of Nations|2002 Nations Cup]], but was dropped ahead of the World Cup, alongside several other experienced players like [[Sunday Oliseh]] and [[Finidi George]].<ref name="Oliseh">{{cite web
| title = Oliseh's Nigerian future uncertain
| url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/football/africa/1898853.stm
| publisher = BBC Sport
| accessdate = 2008-10-10}}</ref>


Babangida was recalled to the national team for the pre-Nations Cup training camp in [[Faro, Portugal]] in 2004, but did not make the final squad, making the 2002 Cup of Nations his last major international tournament.<ref name="Training Camp">{{cite web
*'''[[Music in professional wrestling|Entrance themes]] '''
| title = Babangida, Ikedia Hit Camp
**"Medal" by [[Jim Johnston (composer)|Jim Johnston]] (2002–2004; Used while with [[The World's Greatest Tag Team#Initial Run (2002-2004)|Team Angle]])
| url = http://www.nigeriannewsradio.com/011004.htm
**"[[WWE ThemeAddict: The Music, Vol. 6|Ain't No Stoppin' Me]]" by Jim Johnston and Lou$tar (2004–2008)
| publisher = Nigerian News Radio
**'''"[[WWE The Music, Vol. 8|Ain't No Stoppin' Me (Remix)]]" by Axel''' (2008–present)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wweshop.com/Product_detail.asp?cat=cat-newreleases&productId=35-00612|title=WWE Music Volume 8 CD|accessdate=2008-03-27|publisher=[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]}}</ref>
| accessdate = 2008-10-11}}</ref>


====International goals====
==Championships and accomplishments==
[[Image:Shelton Benjamin-Tag Team Championship.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Benjamin has been a two-time Tag Team Champion in WWE.]]
*'''Black Athlete Sports Network'''
**African–American Wrestler of the Year award in 2005<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackathlete.net/artman2/publish/In_the_Black_42/2005_African-American_Wrestler_of_the_Year_1411.shtml|title=2005 African-American Wrestler of the Year|author=Thompson, Korbid|date=2006-01-03|accessdate=2007-06-18}}</ref>


*'''[[Ohio Valley Wrestling]]'''
**[[OVW Southern Tag Team Championship]] ([[OVW Southern Tag Team Championship#Title history|4 times]]) &ndash; with [[Brock Lesnar]] (3) and [[Rodney Begnaud|Redd Dogg]] (1)<ref name="ovwtag" />


{| class="wikitable"
*'''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Result !! Competition !! Scored
**PWI ranked him # '''9''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers in the [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI 500|PWI 500]] in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50005.htm|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 2005|accessdate=2007-06-17}}</ref>
|-
**[[PWI Tag Team of the Year]] award in 2003 &ndash; [[Charlie Haas]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwittoty.htm|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners - Tag Team of the Year|accessdate=2007-06-17}}</ref>
| 1 || [[1998-06-28]] || [[Stade de France]], [[Saint-Denis]] || {{fb|Denmark}} || 1&ndash;4 || [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] || 1
|-
| 3 || [[2000-02-10]] || [[Lagos National Stadium|National Stadium]], [[Lagos]] || {{fb|South Africa}} || 2&ndash;0 || [[2000 African Cup of Nations]] || 2
|-
| 5 || [[2001-07-29]] || [[Liberation Stadium]], [[Port Harcourt]] || {{fb|Ghana}} || 3&ndash;0 || [[2002 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)|2002 FIFA World Cup qualification]] || 2
|}


==External links==
*'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment]]'''
*[http://www.nigerianplayers.com/player.asp?pID=161 Nigerian Players profile]
**[[WWE Intercontinental Championship]] ([[List of WWE Intercontinental Champions|3 times]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/|title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > Intercontinental|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wwe.com}}</ref>
**[[WWE Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of WWE Tag Team Champions|2 times]]) &ndash; with Charlie Haas<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwetag/|title=WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > WWE Tag Team|accessdate=2007-06-17|publisher=wwe.com}}</ref>
**[[WWE United States Championship]] ([[List of WWE United States Champions|1 time]], current)<ref name="US-title1"/>


==References==
*'''[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards]]'''
**[[Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards#Most Underrated|Most Underrated Wrestler]] (2005–2007)

==Footnotes==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist|2}}


{{Nigeria Squad 1998 World Cup}}
== External links ==
{{Portal|Professional wrestling|break=yes}}
{{Commons|:Category:Shelton Benjamin|Shelton Benjamin}}
*[http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/sheltonbenjamin/ WWE Profile]
*[http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/s/shelton-benjamin.html Benjamin at Online World of Wrestling]
*{{imdb|1215864|Shelton Benjamin}}


<!--Comment out categories for sandbox pages so they don't get added to category pages
<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Nigerian footballers]]
[[Category:Roda JC players]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:Vitesse Arnhem players]]
[[Category:Gençlerbirliği players]]
[[Category:Olympic footballers of Nigeria]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medalists for Nigeria]]
[[Category:Footballers at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup 1998 players]]
[[Category:Al-Ittihad (Jeddah) players]]
[[Category:VVV Venlo players]]
[[Category:Nigeria international footballers]]
[[Category:People from Kaduna]]
-->


<!-- http://www.voetbalstats.nl/ec/sp34.html euro apps -->
{{Current World Wrestling Entertainment employees}}
<!-- http://web.archive.org/web/20061107182451/www.kickoffnigeria.com/stories/story374.html footballs -->
<!-- http://web.archive.org/web/20060506221815/www.kickoffnigeria.com/stories/story1271.html move to china -->


{{DEFAULTSORT:Babangida, Tijani}}
{{featured article}}

[[ar:تيجاني بابانغيدا]]
[[de:Tijani Babangida]]
[[fr:Tijani Babangida]]
[[it:Tijani Babangida]]
[[nl:Tijani Babangida]]
[[ja:ティジャニ・ババンギダ]]
[[pl:Tijani Babangida]]
[[sl:Tijani Babangida]]


{{Persondata
|NAME=Benjamin, Shelton
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=Professional wrestler
|DATE OF BIRTH=July 9, 1975
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Orangeburg, South Carolina]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benjamin, Shelton}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
[[Category:African American sportspeople]]
[[Category:American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American sport wrestlers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from South Carolina]]
[[Category:People from Minnesota]]
[[Category:University of Minnesota alumni]]


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[[bg:Шелтън Бенджамин]]
[[ca:Shelton Benjamin]]
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[[it:Shelton Benjamin]]
[[he:שלטון בנג'מין]]
[[nl:Shelton Benjamin]]
[[ja:シェルトン・ベンジャミン]]
[[no:Shelton Benjamin]]
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[[pt:Shelton Benjamin]]
[[ru:Бенджамин, Шелтон]]
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Revision as of 10:24, 11 October 2008

BanRay/Sandbox
Personal information
Full name Tijani Babangida
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Winger
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of February 5, 2007
Olympic medal record
Representing  Nigeria
Men's Football
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta Team Competition

Tijani Babangida[1][4][5] (born September 25, 1973 in Kaduna)[4] is a former football winger from Nigeria. Known for his pace and dribbling skills,[6][7] he spent the prime years of his playing career at Ajax Amsterdam. He played 40 international matches and scored 5 goals for Nigeria, and played at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, in the process scoring one of the goals of the tournament with a thunderous volley from the right side. He also won the Olympic gold medal in 1996.

Career

Early career

In 1991, the 17-year-old Babangida left his local Niger Tornadoes to sign with the Dutch Eredivisie side Roda JC, after impessing at the Cairo 91 All African Games.[8] The player was immediately loaned out to Roda's league rivals VVV Venlo until the end of the season.[9] Babangida made only a total of six league appearances, finding the net three times in the second part of the 1991-92 Eredivisie season.[1] Despite Venlo's relegation to Eerste Divisie,[10]Roda decided to extend the player's loan at the club for another season.

The 1992-93 became a breakthrough season for Babangida as his 16[1] league goals helped Venlo to the top of Eerste Divisie and promotion to the Dutch top-flight.[11] The following season Babangida returned to Roda, immediately becoming a first-team regular with the Kerkrade side. Babangida made a total of 29 league appearances for Roda that season, scoring 11 goals.[1]

Babangida spent two more seasons at Roda JC. Tijani's 10 league goals in 1995-96, made him the club's top scorer that season. In 1995, Babangida made his European debut, scoring a goal in the UEFA Cup first-round win over Olimpija Ljubljana, Roda's first European campaign in five years. Roda went on to beat the Slovenian side 5-2 on aggregate, but fell to the 27-times Portuguese champions S.L. Benfica in the second round.

Solid performances at both international and club level led to interest from Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam, as Louis van Gaal was looking to replace Babangida's compatriot Finidi George[6], who had recently departed to Real Betis.

Ajax Amsterdam

Babangida joined Ajax in the Summer of 1996 in a long-anticipated $5m move.[7] He appeared in 29 league games, scoring four goals in his first season with Ajax. Babangida played an important role in Ajax's European campaign, scoring three goals, including one against Auxerre in the group stages[12] and the dramatic winning goal in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League encounter with Atlético Madrid at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, that put Ajax through to the semi-finals of the competition.[13]

Babangida's second season with Ajax proved to be an even bigger success as the player's fine form helped Ajax to another Eredivisie title with a convincing 39 point gap over PSV Eindhoven, while his 13 league goals in 26 games made him the club's third top scorer, behind the Eredivisie golden boot winner Shota Arveladze and Finnish forward Jari Litmanen.[14] Ajax clinched the second title of the season with a 5-0 demolition of PSV in the KNVB Cup final, with the Nigerian scoring the first goal.[7]

Tijani's fortunes started to change towards the end of 1998. Having missed the start of the season with malaria,[15] Babangida gradually lost his starting line-up position as Morten Olsen was looking to improve on the team's inconsistent performances both in the domestic league and in Europe. Tijani started two of his team's opening Champions League games. The European season, however, ended in disappointment as Ajax finished bottom of their group behind Olympiacos, Croatia Zagreb and Porto. Overall, Babangida appeared in 18 league games for Ajax that season, starting only seven. He didn't feature in the Dutch Cup final where Ajax managed to retain the trophy after beating Fortuna Sittard in the final.[7]

The situation deteriorated even further after the 1999 season for Babangida, as he made a mere eight appearances the following year and didn't play a single game in the first half of the 2000-2001 season. In an attempt to offload the player, Ajax came to an agreement with the Turkish Süper Lig side Gençlerbirliği, who signed Babangida on a half-year loan deal until the end of the season.

After Ajax

Looking for a move away from the Netherlands, Tijani Babangida came very close to signing with AJ Auxerre, but received a last-minute call from Ronald Koeman and agreed to join him at Vitesse Arnhem instead.[16] Another loan move followed. First team player under Koeman, Babangida subsequently lost his place in the starting line-up,[17] when Ronald Koeman left for Ajax Amsterdam and was replaced by Edward Sturing.[18]

He then signed a six-month loan deal with Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in 2002, becoming yet another experienced addition to the squad that already included the former Brazil international Bebeto and ex-Liverpool striker Titi Camara, but walked out of the team in November after disagreements with José Oscar Bernardi, the Brazilian coach who wanted him to play at the right back position.[19][20][21]

Looking to resolve the deadlock with Ajax, Babangida returned to Amsterdam to continue negotiating a termination of his contract with the club. On April 30, 2003, three years since Babangida played his last game for the club, it was announced that both sides had come to an agreement and the player's contract was finally terminated.[22]

Finally a free agent, Babangida underwent a successful trial at the Chinese top-flight side Tianjin Teda in the Summer of 2003.[23]

Babangida then moved to China, where he had a very successful first season and was even called up to join the Nigeria national football team during their preparations for the 2004 African Cup of Nations in Tunisia; Babangida, however, failed to make the final squad. After two years in China, Babangida announced his retirement from football. link

Upon his retirement from professional football, Babangida has been working as a football agent.[24] link

Two of his nine brothers, Ibrahim Babangida and Haruna Babangida, are also professional footballers.

International career

Babangida received his first call-up to the senior Nigeria national team for a pre-World Cup friendly against Romania in 1994. He then played in a friendly against Georgia, but did not make the final cut for USA 94.[7]

Babangida's international chances were partly limited due to the fact that he often found himself behind Finidi George in the pecking order.[7] He played an important role in his team's Olympic triumph in Atlanta in 1996[25] as Nigeria overcame tough resistance from Brazil and Argentina, packed with the likes of Dida, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Hernan Crespo, Claudio Lopez, Ariel Ortega and Diego Simeone among others.[26][27][28]

Babangida took part in Nigeria's France 98 campaign, playing a total of 120 minutes as he started one game and came on as a sub in the other three. He scored his team's only goal in the second-round defeat to Denmark. [29]

Tijani Babangida only made his African Nations Cup debut in 2000 as Nigeria withdrew from the 1996 edition in South Africa due to political reasons and missed out on Burkina Faso 1998 through disqualification. Babangida scored two spectacular goals against South Africa to put Nigeria through to the final where they were narrowly defeated on penalties.[30] He appeared in all of his team's five games, starting two.[31]

He then featured prominently in Nigeria's run to the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, scoring two important first-half goals against Ghana on the final day of the African qualifying round, helping Nigeria seal the final African region World Cup berth.[32] Babangida played in all of his team's games at the 2002 Nations Cup, but was dropped ahead of the World Cup, alongside several other experienced players like Sunday Oliseh and Finidi George.[33]

Babangida was recalled to the national team for the pre-Nations Cup training camp in Faro, Portugal in 2004, but did not make the final squad, making the 2002 Cup of Nations his last major international tournament.[34]

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Result Competition Scored
1 1998-06-28 Stade de France, Saint-Denis  Denmark 1–4 1998 FIFA World Cup 1
3 2000-02-10 National Stadium, Lagos  South Africa 2–0 2000 African Cup of Nations 2
5 2001-07-29 Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt  Ghana 3–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification 2

External links

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Tijani Babangida". National Football Teams. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  2. ^ "China 2003". RSSSF. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  3. ^ "China 2004". RSSSF. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  4. ^ a b "Tijani Babangida". Playerhistory. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  5. ^ "PSV - Vitesse". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2008-03-02.
  6. ^ a b ""Robson poised to sign Porto keeper"". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Tijjani Babangida". NigerianPlayers. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  8. ^ "Tijani Babangida". Eagles Profile. Retrieved 2008-02-28.
  9. ^ "Tijani Babangida". 123Football. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  10. ^ "Netherlands 1991/92". RSSSF. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
  11. ^ "Netherlands 1992/93". RSSSF. Retrieved 2008-02-22.
  12. ^ "Football: Fenerbahce stay alive with a late strike". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  13. ^ "Babangida Thrills Ajax". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  14. ^ "Eredivisie history". Eredivisie, the official website. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  15. ^ "Sporting Digest: Football". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-09-06.
  16. ^ "Babangida optimistic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
  17. ^ "Vitesse Arnhem 2001-02 fixtures". ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 2008-02-02.
  18. ^ "Tijani Babandgida". Vitesseplanet. Retrieved 2007-12-01.
  19. ^ "Mido's tip sends Tijjani Babangida to Saudis Al-Ittihad". MiddleEastFootball. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  20. ^ "Babangida wants permission to leave Al-Ittihad". MiddleEastFootball. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  21. ^ "Camara hammers the boss". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  22. ^ "Tijjani Babangida and Ajax agree on dissolving contract". Ajax USA. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
  23. ^ "Chinese First Division Side Likely to Land Babangida". People's Daily. Retrieved 2008-10-11.
  24. ^ http://www.kickoffnigeria.com/stories/story6757.html
  25. ^ Babalola, Taofeek (2008-05-30). "Holland no threat to Dream Team IV —Babangida". The Nation. Retrieved 2008-10-09. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  26. ^ "Nigeria defeats Argentina for gold". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  27. ^ "Nigeria - Brazil". FIFA. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  28. ^ "Nigeria - Argentina". FIFA. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  29. ^ "Top goals". FIFA. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  30. ^ Evagora, Andreas (2000-02-11). "Football: Babangida beguiles Bafana boys". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-10-09. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  31. ^ "African Nations Cup 2000 - Final Tournament Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
  32. ^ Asand, Albert (2001-07-30). "Football: Nigeria win ticket to World Cup". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-10-10. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  33. ^ "Oliseh's Nigerian future uncertain". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2008-10-10.
  34. ^ "Babangida, Ikedia Hit Camp". Nigerian News Radio. Retrieved 2008-10-11.


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