'This kid is amazing': Former WWE wrestler praises Tekken champion Arslan Ash

LAS VEGAS: Former WWE wrestler Shelton Benjamin, who is currently signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), has lavished praise on Pakistan's Tekken star and eight-time EVO champion Arslan Ash.

The pair faced off in a friendly Tekken 8 match during the recently concluded Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2026 in Las Vegas.

Benjamin took to Instagram to share his experience of playing against the Pakistani esports icon, describing Arslan as the best Tekken player in the world while joking that his only achievement in the match was winning a single round.

"Faced off against the best Tekken player in the world the one & only @arslan.ash this kid is Fn Amazing. I won't lie and say I gave him much of a fight, but I got a round!! We don't need to talk about the rest of the match😜. Having a blast at #evolasvegas2026," Benjamin wrote.

Benjamin's praise came shortly before Arslan once again etched his name into esports history by defeating South Korea's Rangchu 3-2 in a thrilling Tekken 8 Grand Final at the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) 2026, held at the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The victory earned the Lahore-born star a record-extending eighth EVO championship, further cementing his dominance at the world's most prestigious fighting game tournament.

Arslan entered the competition as one of the favourites and lived up to expectations with a series of composed performances before edging past Rangchu in a closely contested final.

The triumph adds another historic chapter to an already unparalleled career, making Arslan the first player to win eight EVO Tekken championships across multiple editions and titles in the Evolution Championship Series.

His rise to global prominence began in 2019 when he stunned the fighting game community by winning both EVO Japan and EVO Las Vegas, defeating many of the sport's biggest names despite receiving little international recognition beforehand.

Arslan repeated the feat by winning both EVO Japan and EVO Las Vegas in 2023 before claiming the EVO 2024 and EVO 2025 Tekken 8 titles. He also lifted the EVO France 2025 trophy, taking his tally to seven championships before securing his latest EVO 2026 crown to reach eight.

Beyond his EVO success, Arslan achieved another landmark in 2023 by winning the Tekken World Tour Finals, becoming the first player to complete the coveted "Triple Crown" in competitive Tekken after capturing EVO Japan, EVO Las Vegas and the Tekken World Tour Finals in the same season.

With his eighth EVO championship now secured, Arslan has once again reinforced his legacy as the most decorated player in EVO Tekken history and one of the greatest competitors the fighting game community has ever produced.