In a revealing new interview with Uncrowned, Sheamus admitted he feared his in-ring career was over following a severe neck injury sustained during his match against Edge on the August 18, 2023, episode of SmackDown. That match, which marked the final WWE appearance for Edge before he departed and re-emerged as Adam Copeland in AEW, left Sheamus with an injury that kept him out of action until April 2024.
The former World Champion explained that the possibility of retirement was very real, a fact that has reshaped his perspective on his current run. “Two years ago, I took a bad fall… and I wondered if I would ever step into a ring again,” Sheamus stated. “So now every match I have is like a bonus. That’s why I want to make sure I give the crowd every last penny’s worth this Sunday.”
This Sunday, Sheamus is scheduled to face his former friend Rusev in a Good Ol’ Fashioned Donnybrook match at Clash in Paris. The bout is set to be the decisive chapter in a trilogy of matches that has unfolded on Raw. Their feud began after Rusev’s return to WWE in April 2025, with a breakdown in their friendship leading to a series that currently stands at one win apiece and one no-contest.
While his immediate priority is settling the score with Rusev, the Intercontinental Championship remains a long-term obsession for Sheamus. His goal is to become what he calls the “first-ever Ultimate Grand Slam Champion,” an honor requiring victories in a World Title, Tag Team Title, U.S. Title, Intercontinental Title, Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, and King of the Ring tournament. The Intercontinental title is the only accolade he has yet to secure.
His most recent attempt to capture the elusive championship ended in defeat on January 25, 2025, when he unsuccessfully challenged Bron Breakker at Saturday Night’s Main Event. That loss was one of 13 title shots Sheamus has had since 2022, reinforcing his ongoing struggle to complete his ultimate career goal.