Shelton Benjamin
WWE star Shelton Benjamin dedicated his third tag team title win to friend Shad Gaspard who died in May from drowning. (Photo: John Jewell | Flickr, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0))

WWE stars may look fierce in the ring but some are good friends when they are not competing. This best describes Shelton Benjamin’s relationship with the late Shad Gaspard. Gaspard was best known to be one-half of the defunct tag team duo “Cryme Tyme.” He died in May from apparent drowning at Venice Beach.

Benjamin became a three-time WWE tag team champion at WWE TLC last Dec. 20 when The Hurt Business defeated the New Day duo of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Wood. It was a stunning win for Benjamin and Cedric Alexander considering most had expected the New Day to retain the titles.

Regardless, it appears Benjamin had a motivating factor before the WWE tag team title match. He dedicated the win to Gaspard, a close friend of his on social media.

“This one’s for you Shad,” Benjamin’s post on social media read. The post also included an old picture of the two friends. Other photos showed a picture of his newly acquired title belt next to his wristband which reads "4 S.G" [For Shad Gaspard].

   

Yet another picture showed Benjamin with Gaspard’s son, Aryeh. When the rip current happened, Gaspard told lifeguards to save his son first. He disappeared underwater on May 19. His body surfaced the next day after it washed ashore at Venice Beach. He was positively identified at the Los Angeles County coroner’s office.

For Benjamin, it was a sweet victory in the sense that he last held the tag team champion belt 17 years ago. That happened when he was part of The World’s Greatest Tag Team with Charlie Haas as his partner.

The Hurt Business celebrated the WWE tag team title win at the Dec. 21 edition of WWE Raw. However, it was merely part of an event that saw Bobby Lashley and MVP tangle with Jeff Hardy and Riddle.

For those who caught WWE TLC, there was an odd instance when Benjamin was left befuddled at the blind tag of Cedric Alexander. The 45-year-old was trying to finish off Kingston when the whole thing happened.

A new twist is likely brewing with the WWE Raw tag champions possibly breaking up at some point. It is not a surprise development in the WWE considering there are storylines made similar to it. The only question now is when (and if) the breakup will happen.