With Sheamus’s WWE departure now official, Eric Bischoff has weighed in on what the veteran should do next, and he does not necessarily see a full-time run elsewhere as the answer.
Speaking on 83 Weeks, Bischoff suggested that after 19 years in WWE, money likely isn’t Sheamus’s primary motivation, which changes the calculation entirely.
“If money isn’t the driver, and this is the hard part that wrestling fans will have a hard time relating to, is if it’s not about the money, what is it about? It’s about the performance, it’s about being out there in front of a crowd and getting that energy,” Bischoff said.
Bischoff argued that smaller promotions would not provide the same thrill for someone accustomed to WWE’s massive audiences.
“You’re going to go out and wrestle in front of 1,200 people. You’re not getting any buzz from that,” Bischoff said, describing companies like New Japan and AEW as offering crowds that would feel small to a performer used to stadiums.
Instead, Bischoff recommended that Sheamus be selective, leveraging his equity and cherry-picking appearances that appeal to him.
“I would leverage that success, and I would pick and choose my shots,” Bischoff said, floating the idea of one-off appearances in AAA, AEW, or New Japan. “Take it, have fun, come home with a bag of money, have a great time and some memories, and wait for the next one.”
