10 Wrestlers WWE Must Sign After WrestleMania 33
3. Shelton Benjamin
He has been away from WWE since his 2010 release, but Shelton Benjamin's return almost came to fruition last year. The Gold Standard had agreed a deal to return to SmackDown as part of the new brand split, but WWE’s thorough medical examinations uncovered a serious shoulder injury. Benjamin required surgery on his torn rotator cuff, his return was cancelled, and he has been inactive ever since.
Benjamin underwent surgery for the injury in September, and is currently working his way back to full fitness. Though it sounds like his initial WWE deal was cancelled, Benjamin has since stated that he’ll be “making moves to return to WWE” when he reaches 100%, and with doctors projecting a six-month absence at the time of injury, it won’t be long before Shelton is ready to compete again.
Now 41 years old, Benjamin has lost a shred of his trademark athleticism, but he remains a tremendous in-ring competitor. Age has forced him to slow down and work a smarter, more methodical style, but this has only benefited him. If anything, Benjamin is a far more compelling wrestler today than he was when he first left WWE, and high-level matches in NJPW and NOAH have kept him sharp. He’s clearly on WWE’s mind after last year’s failed return, and should be brought back as soon as he’s ready.