WWE Officially Confirms Top Star’s Departure After 19 Years

It’s official! Top star is no longer a part of WWE.

Reports recently emerged that Sheamus will part ways with the Stamford-based promotion once his contract expires. For those unaware, The Celtic Warrior, a veteran of 19 years under the WWE umbrella, rejected a restructured deal with lesser pay.

Well, WWE’s website has now officially moved Sheamus to the alumni section of the roster page, confirming his exit. The 48-year-old star joins a long list of talent to have departed the sports entertainment juggernaut following WrestleMania 42.

Sheamus has officially been moved to the alumni section of WWE’s roster site.

The legend has departed the company after 19 years. pic.twitter.com/3vZWsAbnKB

— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) July 6, 2026

Big revelation on TKO and WWE contracts

While speaking during a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer spilled the beans on how TKO approaches WWE talent contracts.

As per Meltzer, TKO are willing to pay big money for people whom they view as stars, a model similar to sports teams. However, they are hesitant to do the same for older wrestlers whom they “perceive as being on their downside” and have huge contracts.

Sadly for Sheamus, he fell in the second category, hence, he was offered a low-ball deal.

“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]

Could TKO pull off this move on other stars as well in the foreseeable future? Only time will tell.

Make TJR Wrestling your choice for news by clicking here.