Jim Cornette Doubts Sheamus Would Move The Needle For AEW

Jim Cornette isn’t buying the idea that Sheamus would suddenly become a game-changing signing for AEW.

With Sheamus’ future still up in the air after his WWE exit, plenty of fans have started fantasy booking him into Tony Khan’s company. Cornette, however, thinks people are confusing a respected veteran with someone who actually moves business. During his YouTube show, he admitted Sheamus is a recognizable name after spending the last twenty years in WWE—but that’s where the excitement stops for him.

“I think Sheamus is a major name because I think if you’re someone who’s dropped into wrestling at any point in the last 20 years, he’s been there and he’s noticeable.”

That kicked off a bigger conversation with Brian Last, who wondered whether Tony Khan would really get anything back from signing Sheamus beyond adding another familiar face to an already crowded roster.

“Well, that’s what I’m—and that’s what I’m saying is that besides the name thing, it’s just the idea that Tony, you could understand sometimes when he paid guys a few million dollars. But for Sheamus would have… Does anybody think Sheamus would have any effect on his business?”

Cornette didn’t hesitate. He argued that there are certain wrestlers worth throwing huge money at because they genuinely change the trajectory of a company. In his mind, Sheamus isn’t one of them.

“No, probably. I don’t think he’s one of the highest-paid guys in the company because you’d have to… If Punk? Yes. Was Jericho at the time you signed him? Yes.”

Cornette then took a swipe at AEW’s spending habits before questioning why either side would make the move if it wasn’t going to change anything financially.

“The Buckaroos weren’t worth two tits and a whistle, but you can’t make a case that would affect their business in any marked way enough to pay him millions of dollars. And why would he want to go over there and work for hundreds of thousands of dollars? Won’t move the needle.”

Brian Last quickly pointed out that underpaying talent has never really been Tony Khan’s reputation, and Cornette agreed he wasn’t suggesting AEW would try to lowball Sheamus. That still didn’t change his overall opinion.

“Sheamus won’t in any meaningful way help or hurt either company by being on their roster. He’s a solid hand to have on the show, but it’s not like…”

Those comments come just days after we reported that several people inside AEW questioned whether the company really needs another veteran former WWE name when so much of its current roster already struggles to get television time. Nobody had anything personal against Sheamus—they simply wondered whether adding another established name would push younger AEW talent even further down the pecking order.

So while Sheamus continues to be linked with AEW, Cornette isn’t debating whether he can still wrestle. He thinks that’s obvious. His argument is much simpler: signing Sheamus might add another good worker to the locker room, but he doesn’t believe it would sell one extra ticket, move television ratings, or convince more fans to buy a pay-per-view.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.