Add as a preferred source on Google Sheamus has not even officially left WWE yet, but his possible future in AEW is already raising questions within pro wrestling. The Irish star is expected to leave the company when his contract expires after turning down a restructured extension while sidelined with an injury.
On a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer commented on the possibility of Tony Khan trying to sign Sheamus, noting that the situation is not that simple. For Meltzer, Sheamus’ age, as he is now 48 years old, and AEW’s recent track record with former WWE talent both factor heavily into the evaluation.
“He’s an interesting one about will AEW take him, because you can make an argument both ways. The age is kind of a negative. The ex-WWE guy, those are hit and miss. Some are worth it, some aren’t. It’s essentially the attitude.
With some people, I think that you know what their thing is, and others you don’t. And he’s one of those that I just don’t know. I don’t have a good vibe on is he gonna go in there and be the guy who… like Rusev where it’s just like, ‘All I did was job in WWE so I don’t want to job anymore.’ And he wasn’t the only one like that either. But you get that and you become difficult to book, so Tony [Khan] will just stop booking you.
Or you go in there with the attitude that, ‘Hey, I’m in a new environment. Not only that, but I can have way better matches because I’m gonna work with better people.’”
Dave Meltzer on the possibility of Sheamus joining AEW:
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) July 6, 2026
“He’s an interesting one about will AEW take him, because you can make an argument both ways. The age is kind of a negative. The ex-WWE guy, those are hit and miss. Some are worth it, some aren’t. It’s essentially the… pic.twitter.com/5s7yyTSOyk
Meltzer’s comments line up with another analysis he made, where he said Sheamus is still a good wrestler and works hard, but would not necessarily be someone capable of changing AEW’s business on his own.
Fan interest grew even more after MJF took a shot at Sheamus on social media, using the Irishman’s old ring name, “O’Shaunessy.” The post resurfaced a 2022 exchange between the two.