Shelton Benjamin Signs WWE Contract

Earlier this week, Seth Rollins stated that today's WWE's roster was "the most talented of all time. Well, it's about to get a little better.

According to PWInsider, Shelton Benjamin has officially signed a contract to return to the wrestling conglomerate. There's still no word on which brand the 42-year old will be joining but the source claims that his debut is to be happening "soon."

About this time last year, Benjamin entered talks to join SmackDown after the original brand split. Things were so imminent that WWE aired a vignette on Smackdown in order to promote the Gold Standard's return. However, before anything was finalized it was revealed that Benjamin was significantly injured.

A few days later, we found out that he needed shoulder surgery and would be out for a considerable amount of time.

Benjamin was last seen in WWE 2010. He owns three Intercontinental Title reigns along with two turns as a Tag Team Champion and one run with the US Title. Benjamin quickly established himself as one of the company's most gifted in-ring workers, earning the reputation being one of the most underrated performers in WWE.

Benjamin's high-octane style may be better aligned with today's WWE product. Similar acts like AJ Styles and Finn Balor find themselves at the top of WWE's card today. 10 years ago, perhaps, these guys would have slipped into relative obscurity as WWE held such an infatuation with bigger athletes. Benjamin has been praised by many, including WWE Hall of Famer announcer and one of the current voices of New Japan, Jim Ross as the "pound for pound best athlete" the WWE has ever seen.

This finally may mark the end of Benjamin's and WWE's game of cat and mouse. On March 30th, Shelton Benjamin tweeted that he was officially cleared for action. The proclamation led many to believe the former WWE star might become a surprise entrant into the Andre The Giant Battle Royal at WrestleMania. When Benjamin was nowhere to be seen, it was assumed he would debut immediately afterward on Smackdown. Two weeks later and there was no word of Benjamin's whereabouts.

However, this news of him actually signing a contract makes things imminent. Sooner rather than later we will be seeing Benjamin back on WWE TV. If we had to guess, he'll be joining WWE's blue brand on Tuesday nights.