Sheamus has publicly set his sights on his last remaining major goal in WWE: becoming an “Ultimate Grand Slam Champion.” In a post on X, the veteran performer stated the title is “pending,” highlighting his ambition to win the Intercontinental Championship. This is the one title Sheamus needs to complete the Grand Slam, having already secured World, United States, and Tag Team Championships during his tenure with the company, which began in 2009.
At 47, the goal carries a sense of urgency. This comes after Sheamus revealed to Yahoo Sports how close he came to retirement following a severe neck injury sustained in his 2023 match against Edge, who has since joined AEW.
“Every time I go into that ring, I want to prove that I still belong,” Sheamus told Robert Jackman of Yahoo Sports. “Two years ago I took a bad fall [in a match against Edge], and I wondered if I would ever step into a ring again. So now every match I have is like a bonus.”
This championship aspiration follows a significant loss at WWE’s Clash in Paris on August 31. In a Good Ol’ Donnybrook Match, Sheamus was defeated by Rusev after tapping out to a variation of the Accolade applied with a broken shillelagh.
The result was notable as it marked only the second time in Sheamus’s televised WWE career that he has lost via submission. His only other submission loss occurred in 2021 against Bobby Lashley.
The match in Paris was Sheamus’s first appearance on a premium live event since 2022 and followed his decision to re-sign with WWE earlier in 2025.
The Intercontinental Championship is currently held by Dominik Mysterio. He is in a rivalry with AJ Styles.