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Hall Of Famer Thinks Sheamus Leaving WWE Could Be Good For His Career

By John Canton • Published Jul 11, 2026 16:00 EDT
Sheamus WWE
Sheamus - Image via WWE.com

A legendary wrestler believes Sheamus could benefit from leaving WWE.

One of the big wrestling news stories of the past week is that former WWE World Champion Sheamus is leaving the company after nearly 20 years in the promotion.

The 48-year-old Sheamus hasn’t wrestled this year due to shoulder surgery in late 2025, but he’s expected to return to the ring soon.

Reports noted that Sheamus was asked to take a pay cut, and he refused, so the company chose to let him go.

After the news broke about the contract situation, WWE already moved the powerful Irishman to its WWE Alumni section on the company website.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE management is willing to pay older wrestlers big money if they are massive stars, but in other cases, they don’t view the older talents that way.

“The TKO thing, from talking to people there on this and other situations is they are willing, very willing to pay really really really giant money to people who they perceive as the stars, like a sports team.

But when it’s older wrestlers who they perceive as being on their downside and have big contracts, they’re very much like a NFL team that will go, rather than pay a guy a giant salary who’s on the downside, we would rather spend our resources on somebody younger, who also we can pay less too.

So, that offer to Sheamus really doesn’t surprise me at all. He would be a guy I would expect something like this to happen” [H/t: WrestleTalk]

Sheamus Leaving WWE Could Be The Perfect Opportunity For Him

While addressing the powerful Irishman’s WWE departure on his Something to Wrestle podcast, WWE Hall of Famer John Bradshaw Layfield tried ot make the point that this could lead to a fresh start for Sheamus.

“As you get older, his career is kind of winding down at WWE. I don’t know if he’s staying or going somewhere else, but I think he should go somewhere else. He’ll be rejuvenated. This is why something like AAA is great — he could go down there if he wanted to, and that’s still part of WWE.

I understand that he may want to go outside the tent completely and go to AEW, go to Japan, go somewhere else.

And if he does, I think he’ll be fantastic. I think he’ll be kind of rejuvenated. Anytime you’re in the same territory for a very long time, which is what he’s done, you have to go through a bunch of rejuvenation phases, and this is the perfect opportunity for him.” (H/T 411Mania)

The transition to AAA seems unlikely for Sheamus since it’s literally owned by WWE, but Sheamus will be able to explore working for other companies, like AEW.

Following the news of his WWE departure, the former Sheamus addressed the fans with this message.

Banger after Banger after Banger after Banger after Banger after Banger after Banger after Banger after Banger after Banger after Banger after Banger after Banger after Burger after Banger after Banger after Banger after 💔😔

slán mo WWE chairde 👋🏻

S. Farrelly

The phrase “slán mo WWE chairde” translates to “Goodbye, my WWE friends.”

Also Read: Top Star Expected To Push For Sheamus’ Arrival In AEW Following His WWE Departure