Anyone trying to pin Sheamus’ WWE exit on Triple H may want to slow down, because that is not how this is being framed. The Celtic Warrior’s WWE run is nearing a rough ending after almost 20 years, but the latest word makes it sound like the real issue came from the contract side of the company, not Triple H suddenly losing faith in one of his longtime favorites.
That came up during WrestleVotes Live, where Joey Votes and TC were talking about the possibility that Sheamus may have already wrestled his final WWE match. Joey brought up the six-man tag at Madison Square Garden with John Cena and Rey Mysterio, which would be a pretty wild final WWE match if that ends up being it.
“Speaking of John Cena, that’s going to turn out to be Sheamus’ last match as well. Remember that six-man at the Garden? That’s Sheamus, Cena and Rey Mysterio’s last match. That’s Sheamus’ last match.”
TC said that only makes the whole situation even more surprising, because Triple H is known to be a huge Sheamus supporter. Joey backed that up and made it clear Triple H has always had love for Sheamus. Then TC got to the part that really matters. According to him, this was not Triple H making the decision to move on from Sheamus. This came down to the people above him who handle contracts and numbers.
“But this is not a Triple H call. This is the powers that be above him that do the contracts, have numbers on guys.”
Joey compared it to sports, where a coach can want a player back badly, but that does not mean he controls the money. That is where this story gets interesting. Triple H can love Sheamus all he wants, but love does not write the contract. If WWE’s money people had a number and Sheamus did not like it, then that is where the problem sits.
As previously reported, Sheamus is done with WWE, though he is still technically under contract at the moment. That means he is not fully clear to run somewhere else just yet, but his time with WWE appears to be ending.
WWE tried to keep Sheamus with a restructured extension, but he turned it down. One WWE source made it sound like the offer went over badly because Sheamus was asked to stay for less money after everything he gave the company. That is the real punch in all this. WWE did not just forget who Sheamus was. They wanted him back, but at a lower number. Sheamus looked at that offer and passed.
That makes the Triple H part even more important. This does not sound like a creative boss deciding Sheamus had nothing left to offer. This sounds like WWE’s contract side putting a price on him, Sheamus feeling disrespected by that price, and the two sides reaching a breaking point.
AEW is already going to be part of the conversation. It was previously noted that AEW sources did not know the Sheamus news was coming, but Sheamus and Claudio Castagnoli are still close. Claudio is expected to be one of the people who would push for him if AEW becomes a real option.
AEW is not the only possible move. CMLL and other outside options could also give Sheamus and Claudio a way to work together again. Sheamus is also expected to draw interest from independent promoters in the United States and overseas, along with signing and convention bookings.
There is also the name situation. His real name is Stephen Farrelly, but he used “Sheamus O’Shaunessy” before WWE. Fightful noted that it would not be unreasonable to think he could use that full name again, though that has not been confirmed.
For now, the biggest takeaway is that Sheamus’ WWE exit is being framed as a contract issue, not a Triple H issue. Triple H may have wanted him around, but WWE’s money side offered less, Sheamus rejected it, and now one of the company’s most respected veterans is heading toward the door.
Where should Sheamus go next after his WWE exit? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comments section below.
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