How TKO Approach WWE Star Contract Offers Update After Sheamus Exit

WWE

A new backstage update has emerged regarding how TKO approach WWE superstar contract offers, following the departure of Sheamus yesterday (July 5).

Yesterday saw the major breaking news that Sheamus would be departing WWE after almost two decades in the company, with his exit later confirmed when WWE moved the former WWE Champion to the alumni section of their roster page.

Sheamus’ departure reportedly came about due to the Irish star turning down WWE’s approach to restructure his contract while he was out with his shoulder injury, but the offer was “swiftly rejected.”

This is the same situation that led to The New Day’s Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston departing WWE in early May, however, unlike them, Sheamus was not released as his contract was due to expire anyway.

With three of WWE’s most tenured stars exiting the company in this manner in 2026, Dave Meltzer shared an update on TKO’s stance  on WWE talent contract offers during the latest Wrestling Observer Radio.

Meltzer said:

“The TKO thing, from talking to people there on this and other situations is they are willing, very willing to pay really really really giant money to people who they perceive as the stars, like a sports team.

“But when it’s older wrestlers who they perceive as being on their downside and have big contracts, they’re very much like a NFL team that will go, rather than pay a guy a giant salary who’s on the downside, we would rather spend our resources on somebody younger, who also we can pay less too.

“So, that offer to Sheamus really doesn’t surprise me at all. He would be a guy I would expect something like this to happen.”

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WWE’s Loss To Be AEW’s Gain?

While there has been some criticism regarding AEW picking up too many former WWE stars in the past, the company have been a lot more selective with their hirings in recent years after mixed results with the likes of Miro (Rusev) and Malakai Black (Aleister Black).

It has more been about picking the right characters to bring into the company. Who will help build AEW up, rather than view it as beneath them?

Sheamus, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston are three names that are beloved by their peers and a move to AEW offers them a chance for a real injection of excitement into their careers, with fresh opponents, a more flexible environment to showcase their in-ring skills and some familiar faces they could do battle with once again.

All three of them should have been “WWE lifers”, however, the TKO era seems to lack sentimentality, as seen with their attempt to let R-Truth go in June 2025.

No matter how much Sheamus actually brings to AEW from an in-ring perspective, he, like his former WWE foe Adam Copeland, would be an invaluable addition to Tony Khan’s company when it comes to experience, and helping both the company and their next generation of stars reach their potentials.

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