Sheamus Suffered Shoulder Injury and Is Out Of The WWE “Last Time Is Now Tournament”
Just when the “Last Time Is Now” tournament was heating up, the injury bug has decided to bite, and it chose Sheamus. The official word dropped on Friday, stating the former WWE Champion is not medically cleared due to a shoulder injury.
What This Means For the Cena Tournament
Let’s be honest, the “Last Time Is Now” tournament bracket had some intriguing matchups, but Sheamus felt like a legitimate contender to go all the way. His history with Cena is the stuff of WWE legend. Remember TLC 2009? A fresh-faced Sheamus put Cena through a table to win his very first WWE Championship. It was a career-making moment, and the idea of that rivalry coming full circle for Cena’s final match had a poetic, almost perfect, feel to it.
The two have been allies and enemies, trading blows and tag team victories for over a decade. Most recently, they teamed up with Rey Mysterio on what was Cena’s final Raw match, defeating The Judgment Day.
Sheamus had already advanced to the quarterfinals by beating Shinsuke Nakamura, so his abrupt exit throws a wrench into the whole structure. Especially as many (including myself) predicted Sheamus to be in at least the finals of the tournament. Well, WWE now has a creative hole to fill, and the clock is ticking toward the Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13.
Who Could Replace Sheamus?
This is where the armchair booking gets fun, isn’t it? WWE has a few paths it could take, ranging from the painfully obvious to the genuinely surprising.
One option, and honestly the laziest approach, is to give a “lucky loser” a second chance. Names who all lost in the first round could be slotted back in. It’s the simple, low-effort solution, but let’s be real, does anyone get excited about a guy who already lost getting another shot? It feels a bit like a consolation prize.
Then there’s the wild card route. The tournament already featured the shocking appearances of TNA stars Zack Ryder (Matt Cardona) and Dolph Ziggler (Nic Nemeth). Could WWE dip back into that well? Or perhaps they’ll pull from the main roster.
What about The Rock? Imagine if he were the final opponent. The pop would be massive, but would it overshadow the tournament’s purpose of anointing Cena’s final opponent? Then again, Rock was a big reason why Cena’s heel run was a disaster. Honestly, I don’t know if The Rock has ever recovered from the fan public opinion after bailing on the Cena heel turn story.
Could It Be a Member From NXT?
Let’s not forget NXT. Cena himself has talked about showcasing up-and-coming talent. Throwing a name like Trick Williams or Oba Femi into the mix would be a massive rub for a future star. It aligns with Cena’s elder statesman role, but would it feel big enough for his grand finale?
My Prediction For Who Will Replace Sheamus
The most intriguing and my prediction for the replacement is Joe Hendry. Currently in NXT after a stint in TNA, Hendry has been vocal about wanting a match with Cena. He’s got the charisma and the fan support. In fact, I would have him advance to the finals to face Gunther, where he will lose, because let’s be honest, Gunther is winning this. Whatever they do, don’t do what Mark Henry wants to do.
Final Thoughts
Whatever WWE decides, they need to act fast. Replacing a star of Sheamus’s caliber isn’t easy. He brought credibility, history, and the promise of a hard-hitting, physical match. Now, the tournament has a void, and the pressure is on to find a replacement who can deliver a farewell worthy of John Cena’s career.
