Add as a preferred source on Google Sheamus officially ended his nearly 20-year run in WWE this Friday (10), after turning down a restructured contract offer. Beyond that, people close to the Irishman believe he’d be open to working for AEW, possibly even on a short-term deal.
With that in mind, here’s a look at five directions Tony Khan could take to make the most of the Celtic Warrior.
5 – Immediate Rivalry With MJF
MJF has already opened the door, calling out Sheamus on social media and asking him to show up for a confrontation. The history between the two goes back to 2022 and offers a simple starting point, with personal shots back and forth and a high-impact match for a pay-per-view.
4 – A Reunion With Adam Copeland
Adam Copeland’s final match in WWE came against Sheamus, back in August 2023. A partnership between the two would carry forward the respect they showed each other that night, and it would immediately put the Irishman up against one of AEW’s top stables.
3 – A War With the Death Riders
Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, PAC and Wheeler Yuta make up a group built on violence and physical, hard-hitting matches. Sheamus would fit perfectly as an opponent, especially given his history with Castagnoli and a fighting style similar to that of the Death Riders.
2 – The Bar’s Return
AEW could also take the more obvious route and reunite Sheamus with Claudio Castagnoli. The duo won WWE’s tag team titles multiple times, and a reunion would carry instant weight in the division. The catch would be pulling Castagnoli out of the Death Riders without a convincing build.
1 – A Short-Term Deal for a Run of Big Matches
This looks like the most fitting scenario. Sheamus could face names like Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Samoa Joe, Ricochet and Swerve Strickland without being tied down to a long-term storyline. The possibility of also working for CMLL has already been floated backstage, which would let his final chapter turn into a real tour of “bangers.”
A move to AEW could work, as long as Tony Khan brings a clear plan and doesn’t turn Sheamus into just another big name lost in an oversized roster.