Kanyon returned to OVW in October 2002 and remained there for a further four months, while continuing working dark matches before "Raw" and "SmackDown" throughout late 2002 and early 2003. He made one appearance in a backstage segment with the APA, where they wanted him to attend a battle royal at the next pay-per-view event. Kanyon was among the challengers, but was largely inactive. On the February 13, 2003 episode of "SmackDown!" he returned to the main SmackDown roster, emerging from a large crate, from The Big Show, dressed as Boy George and singing the 1983 Culture Club hit "Do You Really Want to Hurt Me" to The Undertaker, prompting The Undertaker to attack him. Kanyon made his televised in-ring return on the April 19, 2003 edition of "Velocity" with his "Who Betta Than Kanyon?" gimmick and was defeated by Rhyno. Despite a few appearances on "SmackDown", Kanyon was relegated to "Velocity" from that point on for the rest of 2003, in addition to wrestling on several dark matches and house shows as Mortis.