Some members of the AEW locker room are reportedly unhappy about the possibility of Sheamus joining the company following his expected departure from WWE.
According to Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Live, the concerns are not about Sheamus personally but rather AEW’s already crowded roster and the impact another high-profile signing could have on existing talent.
“I did talk to a lot of people today in AEW who were like, ‘Are we really going to take this guy?'” Alvarez said. “Let me make this abundantly clear, everybody I talked to to a person was like, ‘I really like Sheamus. I really like him,’ but the basic gist of it is like there are so many people under contract and there’s so many people that already can’t even get on TV, and we’re gonna hire another 48-year-old?”
AEW Talent Concerned That Sheamus Signing With Company Could Limit Opportunities For Younger Talent
Bryan Alvarez added that while there is no personal resentment towards the former WWE Champion, many within the company are concerned that more veteran signings could further limit opportunities for younger talent already on the roster.
“Nobody had anything against Sheamus personally. It was just sort of like, ‘Here comes another one,’ because The New Day’s probably coming, then Sheamus would be coming in, and that’s three more slots that people who have been there for a long time, or should be on the way up, or who should be younger, they’re going to be iced out again. People weren’t really thrilled about that idea.”
The reported reaction follows recent reports that Sheamus is expected to leave WWE after rejecting a restructured contract offer.
Fightful Select has also reported that several people within AEW were unaware of Sheamus’ impending departure before the news became public. While Claudio Castagnoli is expected to advocate for signing his longtime friend and former tag team partner, Alvarez’s comments suggest that opinions within the locker room are divided over the prospect of another major free-agent arrival.
