If you’re like me, then the following promo aired on the first ever SmackDown Live (not counting the live draft episode the previous week) last July made you giddy with excitement.
I believe my reaction was that I was “super pumped” by the announcement. Unfortunately, a little more than a week later it was revealed that Benjamin had an injury that would keep him out of action for the foreseeable future.
I am both disappointed & sadden to announce that due to a serious injury to my shoulder I will not be returning to @WWE at this time.
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) August 7, 2016
As he would later tell Jim Ross in an interview for an episode of The Ross Report, the injury was to his rotator cuff, an injury that, as I understand, can be a difficult one to get over. Benjamin had been performing with the injury for more than two months without knowing the extent of the damage to his shoulder.[1] It wasn’t until he was examined by the WWE’s staff that he realized he would need surgery. Thankfully he got the surgery he needed, but unfortunately that meant his WWE return would be delayed.
Over the ensuing few months, rumors about Benjamin’s WWE status circulated. Would he return once he healed and was cleared for action? The speculation increased recently when Benjamin declared himself ready to get back in the ring at the end of March.
After 9 of the hardest months of my life, I'm happy to announce I have been OFFICIALLY CLEARED to return to action. Effective Immediately!
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) March 30, 2017
There was no official word from WWE though, so the rumor mill did what it does and made a lot of assumptions. Some people seemed unclear on whether or not Benjamin had ever signed a contract with WWE, with Benjamin’s Wikipedia page adding confusion to the story by saying he was currently under contract. It turns out he never signed a deal.
@MFSteveHere @TheSonOfMuta @JoyOfBearding Let me clear this up now. I am not signed to @WWE. I never signed due to injury. While that could change, as of 4-16-2017 I am a free agent
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) April 16, 2017
Naturally, wrestlers have to pass a physical before competing in a WWE ring, so it would seem that the results of Benjamin’s pre-debut physical were a surprise to everyone. It’s unfortunate that WWE aired a promo before Benjamin actually signed a contract, but at least we finally know where Benjamin stands.
I’m happy to hear that he is healthy and ready to compete, and hopefully WWE will reach out to him so they can try one more time for a spectacular return. I’d love to see Shelton Benjamin in a very long feud with AJ Styles. And Shinsuke Nakamura. Even though those feuds might not happen in WWE any time soon, here’s Benjamin facing Nakamura in NJPW’s G1 Climax in 2013.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Shelton Benjamin (NJPW) ??? JAHMAL1111
And it’s not like you can’t see Shelton Benjamin compete. He’s already taking lots of independent bookings, so if you have a chance you should check put some of these events.
And so it begins- time to kick the tires and crack some skulls pic.twitter.com/TTFXkvhsWM
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) April 17, 2017
Sydney Australia let's try that again pic.twitter.com/GKNt7PieWd
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) April 17, 2017
Chile it's been a loooong time see you June 4th pic.twitter.com/PEWCdXPt25
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) April 17, 2017
Dallas Tx I'll be in action May 29th w/ the stars of @VIP_Wrestling pic.twitter.com/qBLOFzUIFK
— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) April 17, 2017
And just because this is the Wrestling House Show and we like this kind of stuff, here’s a song that fairly accurately expresses my feelings on this whole situation: