Shelton Benjamin Reveals He Won't Make WWE Return Due to Shoulder Surgery

Shelton Benjamin announced on Sunday that he will no longer be returning to WWE due to shoulder surgery.

The company announced on July 26 that Benjamin would be returning to the company as part of SmackDown Live:

The 41-year-old began wrestling for WWE in the early 2000s. He entered the company's radar based on his amateur success with the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Benjamin formed the Minnesota Stretching Crew along with fellow Minnesota wrestler Brock Lesnar:

Over the years, Benjamin became known for his supreme athleticism. He was always good to provide a crazy moment during Money in the Bank matches:

WhatCulture Wrestling's Adam Pacitti shared an example of Benjamin's agility:

While he was a United States, intercontinental and tag team champion, most fans likely look back on Benjamin's WWE career to date feeling the company failed to make the most of his athletic gifts. Benjamin was never the most charismatic performer on the microphone, but WWE could have found a way to work around that, similar to how it aligned Paul Heyman with Lesnar.

After leaving WWE in 2010, Benjamin wrestled for a variety of companies across the globe, including Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Noah and New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Following the brand split, Benjamin would have been a nice addition. He remains a solid worker and would have provided nice depth to the SmackDown Live roster. Hopefully Benjamin will be able to make his return in the future once he's healthy, because fans were excited to welcome him back to WWE.