Shelton Benjamin is back to WWE and this time, it’s for real. PWInsider revealed the former WWE Intercontinental and Tag Team champion has signed a deal to officially return to the company.

Benjamin was announced to come back to WWE last year when the brand split happened. Many videos were aired to promote the return of Brock Lesnar’s former Minnesota college mate. But during the pre-signing medical testings, WWE asked its future wrestlers to comply, it was revealed Benjamin was suffering from a torn rotator cuff and he needed surgery that would sideline him at least 6 months.

Like Lesnar, Benjamin signed a developmental deal with WWE in 2000 and trained in OVW. He debuted in the main roster in 2002 as one-half of World’s Greatest Tag Team with Charlie Haas. They even joined the team created by Kurt Angle in order to help him on SmackDown. In 2003, they became WWE Tag Team Champions twice.

Coming back from an injury in 2004, Benjamin was drafted to RAW and started a career on his own. He immediately feuded with Triple H that he defeated 3 times. Later that year, he became the Intercontinental Champion for the first time. A title he will hold 2 other times before 2006.

In less than a year, Benjamin was drafted from ECW to RAW to SmackDown, dubbing himself “The Gold Standard”. In July 2008, he defeated Matt Hardy to become the United States Champion. He also participated in 5 Money in the Bank matches where he impressed with his high-flying manoeuvres. Benjamin was released from his contract in April 2010.

Ever since, Shelton Benjamin had made an impressive career in the independent circuit, in ROH and in Japan working for NJPW as a member of Suzuki-Gun and Pro Wrestling NOAH. Since last August and the no-signing with WWE, he had worked as a free agent for the US indy promotions. It would interesting to see if WWE is planning to reunite Benjamin with his former mentor Kurt Angle and, why not, make him feud with his “illegitimate”‘ son, Jason Jordan.