Shelton Benjamin Undergoing Shoulder Surgery, Putting His WWE Comeback On Hold

Despite vignettes hyping that he would soon join the SmackDown roster, Shelton Benjamin’s return return to WWE has been put on hold.

Benjamin tweeted on Sunday morning that he will soon have to undergo surgery for a torn rotator cuff. Benjamin said that WWE helped him discover the situation, so it seems likely the issue was found when undergoing medical tests for his return.

“I am both disappointed & sadden to announce that due to a serious injury to my shoulder I will not be returning to @WWE at this time. For now I will have to put pro-wrestling to the side as I prepare to undergo surgery to repair my torn rotator,” he tweeted.

“This comes as a shock to me as i am no stranger to performing while in pain yet I had no idea of the severity of my condition. Thank you @WWE for helping me discover this situation & for giving me an opportunity to return. I will be back. For now I must refocus my energy on repairing my body and mind.”

I am both disappointed & sadden to announce that due to a serious injury to my shoulder I will not be returning to @WWE at this time.

— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) August 7, 2016

For now I will have to put pro-wrestling to the side as I prepare to undergo surgery to repair my torn rotator.

— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) August 7, 2016

This comes as a shock to me as i am no stranger to performing while in pain yet I had no idea of the severity of my condition

— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) August 7, 2016

For now I must refocus my energy on repairing my body and mind.

— Shelton J. Benjamin (@Sheltyb803) August 7, 2016

There’s a wide variety in the severity and recovery times from shoulder surgery — as we’ve seen with John Cena, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, Randy Orton and Hideo Itami over the past year — so it’s difficult to estimate when or even if Benjamin’s WWE comeback will begin again.