10 Things You Didn’t Know About Shelton Benjamin

Benjamin’s return to the WWE is being touted as the end of a six-year hiatus. And while that’s true in the sense that he hasn’t appeared on WWE television since 2010, there’s something of an asterisk next to this one.

Because Benjamin’s last match in the WWE actually came in 2011—not that you’re likely to have seen it, though.

In another revelation from his appearance on Talk is Jericho, Benjamin spoke about popping in to visit his old colleagues at a Houston house show on Mar 8, 2011. There, after Big Show invited him into the building, he was soon directed to John Laurinaitis, who suggested Benjamin wrestle a dark match.

A mad panic ensued as he made the trek across town to grab his gear, making it back to the arena just in time to face off against Curt Hawkins in singles action. And though Benjamin won, obviously nothing came of the appearance. Although it sounds like this was more of an exhibition outing for old time’s sake, rather than an official try-out, as such.