Shelton Benjamin worked a dark match prior to tonight’s SmackDown taping in Houston, Texas, beating SmackDown Superstar Curt Hawkins. He received a solid reaction from the hometown crowd.

During Benjamin’s near ten year tenure with World Wrestling Entertainment, he won the Intercontinental Championship three times, the United States Championship once, and the WWE Tag Team Championship on two occasions. Benjamin was released from his contract last April, along with Slam Master J, Kung Fu Naki, Jimmy Wang Yang, Mickie James and Katie Lee Burchill.

Benjamin appeared for Ring of Honor alongside longtime tag partner Charlie Haas following his dismissal from WWE. It is not known at this time if he has re-signed with the organization.

WWE has decided to go forward with the Curt Hawkins and Vance Archer pairing as the duo officially debuted as a tag team at tonight’s WWE Superstars taping in Buffalo, New York.

The debuting tag team defeated two local wrestlers in a squash match. Following the bout, they cut a quick promo with Hawkins reminding everyone who they were and vowing to “make an impact.”

Hawkins and Archer formed just last week, which saw them quickly defeat two competitors in a dark match.

Other matches scheduled to take place on this week’s episode of Superstars on WGN America are as follows:

* Maryse and Jillian vs. The Bella Twins
* Dolph Ziggler vs. Chris Masters
* Vladimir Kozlov vs. local competitor

— Randy Orton has signed a new long-term contract with World Wrestling Entertainment, reportedly for ten years. He also received a $600,000 payday for working the main event of last year’s WrestleMania pay-per-view.

— Seldom seen SmackDown Superstar Curt Hawkins was given a tryout this past week in Florida Championship Wrestling as a color commentator.

— A SmackDown/ECW house show taking place on Valentine’s Day in Guadalajara, Mexico is sold out.

source: Wrestling Observer Newsletter