SmackDown Live made another huge acquisition on Tuesday night.
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Former multi-time Intercontinental tag-team champion Shelton Benjamin made his long-awaited return to WWE during a segment with SmackDown Live general manager Daniel Bryan and Chad Gable.
Bryan announced that Benjamin was acquired in the deal that sent Gable's former American Alpha partner Jason Jordan to RAW to be closer to his kayfabe father, general manager Kurt Angle and suggested he be a replacement for Jordan as Gable's tag-team partner.
Benjamin was originally planned to make his return last summer following the WWE Draft, but suffered a torn rotator cuff, which required surgery. He revealed on Twitter that he was medically cleared to compete in March and revealed that he had never officially signed with WWE prior to his injury.
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
Benjamin, a former NCAA wrestling All-American at the University of Minnesota, signed with WWE in 2000 and was with the company until 2010. During that span, he was a three-time Intercontinental championship, a one-time United States champion and two-time tag team champion alongside fellow former amateur wrestler Charlie Haas.
Benjamin has since wrestled on the independent circuit, including stints with Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
