Shelton Benjamin has asked for and received his release from Ring of Honor. According to reports, this is so that he could negotiate and potentially leave for WWE. For now, Benjamin may continue to appear for the promotion, but he is working on a per appearance deal.
Benjamin has been rumored to be returning to WWE ever since reports surfaced that the promotion was looking to bring back mid-card talent to solidify the current roster.
We reported the following on December 11th, 2012:
Some familiar faces could be returning to WWE in the coming months as there has been a push from several top talents for the organization to bring back some “solid hand” wrestlers that were previously released. Two specific names in mind are MVP and Shelton Benjamin as organization officials have discussed bringing the former Superstars back to the fold.
Since being released from WWE in April 2010 in a cost-cutting measure, Benjamin has kept busy in Ring of Honor teaming with Charlie Haas and New Japan Pro Wrestling. MVP also competes in New Japan, where he teams with Benjamin under the tag team name “Black Dynamite.”
The following day on December 13th, Shelton responded and posted these tweets:
Sorry to kill the rumors but at this point no one from wwe has contacted me about returning.
That being said my foot has an appointment with the Asses
As we reported, they had not been in contact with him at that point.