Sheamus’ WWE exit talk may not be some giant mystery after all. If anything, this looks like the kind of cold business call that happens when an older star with a big contract reaches the end of the line.
Dave Meltzer broke down the Sheamus situation on Wrestling Observer Radio, saying TKO is running WWE more like a sports franchise when it comes to contracts. The company will still spend huge money on names it views as real stars, but older talent with bigger deals may not get the same treatment if WWE thinks their best days are behind them.
That fits right into what is going on with Sheamus. His WWE profile was moved to the Alumni section, and the word is that his deal expired after he turned down a restructured offer. That offer was said to be for less money, which makes this feel more like a business split than some dramatic firing. Meltzer said TKO has no problem paying massive money when it believes someone is worth it. The issue is who they see as worth it.
“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.”
That is the big difference. WWE can still throw around serious money. It just may not throw it around for everyone anymore. If the company sees someone as a centerpiece, the checkbook opens. If not, the number can drop fast.
Meltzer said older wrestlers with big contracts are being viewed more like aging NFL players. That means WWE may choose to spend money on younger names instead of keeping a veteran at a higher price.
“But when it’s older wrestlers who they perceive as being on their downside and have big contracts, they’re very much like an 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 to.”
That is where Sheamus falls into this whole thing. He is 48, he has dealt with injuries, and WWE had not been using him like a major piece of the future. So Meltzer said the lower-money offer did not shock him.
“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.”
None of that takes away from what Sheamus has done in WWE. He is a former WWE Champion, Royal Rumble winner, King of the Ring winner, Money in the Bank winner, and one of the company’s most recognizable stars of the last two decades. Still, this is the TKO era. Loyalty and history matter, but age, injury risk, contract size, and future value may matter more when it is time to negotiate.
For Sheamus, that may have been the breaking point. WWE may have wanted him back, just not at the number he wanted. Now his profile is sitting in the Alumni section, and the next question is whether he lands in AEW, TNA, New Japan, the indies, or takes time away.
Sheamus’ situation could be a look at how WWE handles veteran contracts going forward. The top stars will still get paid, but older names with big deals may have a much tougher time keeping those same numbers once TKO starts doing the math.
What do you think about WWE’s contract strategy under TKO? Is this just smart business, or should someone like Sheamus have been handled differently after nearly two decades with the company? Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think.
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