The impacts of TKO taking over WWE were difficult to distinguish at first as they more or less coincided with Triple H taking the reins of creative, Vince McMahon’s exodus, and–for whatever combination of factors–a hot streak for the company.
Fans’ fears about the new ownership have come more sharply into focus in the last year, though. Creative has become less consistent and more fragmented in ways that suggest the divide between one person being in charge and multiple stakeholders having a say.
Ticket prices and PLEs moving to the expensive ESPN+ platform for US fans have undermined affordable access to the product. And then there are releases and talents slipping to free agency whom no one would’ve anticipated leaving the WWE umbrella in the twilight of their in-ring careers.
Sheamus Is Gone From WWE
Sheamus not re-signing with WWE is the latest story to surprise fans. Sure, The Celtic Warrior is past his peak as a draw and top-level star. Nonetheless, he’s a former four-time world champion, Royal Rumble winner, Mr. Money in the Bank, and King of the Ring.
At the age of 48, the clock was ticking on Sheamus’s in-ring career. However, as his popular Celtic Warrior Workout video series attests—not to mention his most recent featured in-ring efforts putting over Gunther in match of the year contenders—the guy was still in phenomenal shape. He probably has years of at least passable in-ring work in him if he so chooses.
So it was that fans were surprised when news of his free agency came out in early July. While no one necessarily expected him to have another main event run, the idea of him winning the Intercontinental title to complete his Grand Slam Champion resume remains a popular talking point, besides the potential for him to be a good opponent for a range of younger stars he hasn’t yet faced one-on-one.
WWE Is Losing Locker Room Wisdom
Until someone spills the full story, it won’t be clear if WWE chose not to re-sign Sheamus, if they low-balled his new contract offer, or if he decided to walk away of his own volition. Nonetheless, with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods also recently departing and the muddled story around what happened to R-Truth in 2025, the writing is on the wall that WWE is, at minimum, not going out of its way to retain non-main event veterans.
One of the biggest casualties of these losses is the wisdom long-time performers bring to the locker room. Yes, guys like CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, and Drew McIntyre can still harken back to what WWE was like fifteen years ago and the hard-earned lessons that come with that much experience. But having fewer voices, and most of them busy top guys, limits the chance for veteran voices to steer the larger roster constructively.
A guy like Sheamus did not come across as a bad influence or desperate to keep his spot, which can be toxic behind the scenes and purportedly plagued WCW back in the day and WWE at certain junctures. Rather, he seemed like a respected elder whom it’s odd to see not find a place in modern WWE.
WWE Is Losing Utility Players
On air, one of the advantages of veteran performers is the variety of roles they can play. Take The Miz, who is a major contributor to elevating Danhausen and Kit Wilson by being the familiar, steady hand whom fans know all too well and have an investment in.
Likewise, there’s R-Truth, who slotted into the WWE Championship picture just last year after long staying away from main events. Truth had the long-term trust of fans such that they accepted him in that spot.
These are the kinds of spots Dolph Ziggler filled for years as someone who could readily become a stop-gap world title contender or secondary champion based on his talent and years of credibility.
It’s similar to how even an unsuccessful heel run didn’t preclude New Day reentering the tag title picture. Despite critics often blasting WWE for pushing the same guys over and over, there is merit to having familiar faces around to cycle through fresh opponents and featured spots, putting on engaging matches and energizing long-time fans who are excited every time they return to prominence.
WWE Fans Love Veterans
Much has been said about TKO gambling with fan engagement via high ticket prices for live events, PLE streaming markups, and a willingness to send any event—up to and including WrestleMania—to Saudi Arabia if the price is right. A similar logic applies to the roster.
Does WWE need Sheamus to retain fans in 2026? Probably not. But add in New Day and The Wyatt Sicks. Consider the landscape without talents like The Miz, too, and with Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar, and Rey Mysterio in the twilight of their careers, and names like John Cena and AJ Styles recently retired.
Before long, the roster of stalwart familiar faces may be all but depleted. It’s good to see fresher names like Oba Femi, Penta, Je’Von Evans, and Ethan Page get opportunities. However, WWE increasingly risks not having veterans around to effectively get fans to tune in in the first place to grow familiar with newer acts.
Time will tell what TKO’s long-term strategy looks like, what choices aging talents will make, and how fans will react. In the meantime, though, Sheamus’s departure feels emblematic of issues WWE will have to reckon with more and more in the years ahead if the company continues down its road it’s now on.
