Add as a preferred source on Google Sheamus’ WWE departure after nearly two decades has been one of the most talked-about topics in pro wrestling this week, and WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has now weighed in.
According to Fightful Select, Sheamus turned down a contract renewal offer from WWE while he was recovering from a shoulder injury, instead staying on his original deal, which was already nearing its end.
Because of that, the company chose not to issue a formal release, also avoiding the standard 90-day non-compete clause. This past Sunday, Sheamus’ profile was moved to the Alumni section on WWE’s official website, confirming his departure.
The “Celtic Warrior” signed with WWE in 2007, starting in Florida Championship Wrestling before moving to the main roster in 2009. Over nearly 20 years, he became a four-time world champion, won the 2012 Royal Rumble and the 2015 Money in the Bank, and became the first Irish champion in company history. His final match took place in November 2025, when he teamed with John Cena and Rey Mysterio against The Judgment Day on the same night as Cena’s Monday Night Raw farewell.
On a recent edition of his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T pushed back on those who see the departure as a problem, noting that the term “lifer” does not really exist in any profession.
“What did I say about talent in the WWE just about a month or so ago? I said we’re in a different time now. It ain’t like it was back in the day, when it’s the Attitude Era and you think guys are going to be around for a hundred years.
When I hear the term lifer, what the hell does that really mean in a job? Does anybody expect any basketball player to stay on the team forever? How many football players stay on the team forever? One may still be coaching, assistant coach and he keep that job for the remainder of his life until he retires. But how many actually do that?
There’s a life expectancy in everything. And I’ve heard these podcasters, these people talking about this could be a problem. Sheamus is 48 years old. Sheamus started in the WWE in 2007 in the FCW program. He started on the main roster in 2009. This guy’s had a damn near 20 year career as a professional wrestler in one company.
The thing is, if Sheamus left WWE, he still can go ahead and make money and still do this thing for however many more years he actually wants to do it, if he wants to do it. When I hear people literally trying to make WWE the bad guy when somebody gets released, laid off, or fired, that happens in any corporation. It really does.”
According to the Wrestling Observer, part of the AEW roster is not said to be excited about the possibility of Sheamus joining the company, with some fearing they could lose television time. Claudio Castagnoli, his former partner in The Bar, is said to be in favor of a reunion.