Sheamus names former WWE champion as someone he wanted to work with

Sheamus named a former WWE champion that he wanted to work with while he was in the company. The star in question has been absent from the promotion for a few months.

Speaking with Adam’s Apple, The Irish Curse praised Ilja Dragunov and noted that the former United States Champion had a similar mentality to his. The veteran added that The Mad Dragon would knock it out of the park if the WWE gave him the opportunity.

“Ilja Dragunov is another guy I wanted to wrestle. He’s just a lunatic. Same as me. He just wants to go out there, put the best fight he possibly can on. Ilja’s another one I never got a chance to dance with, but if he gets a good opportunity, Ilja will be a big hit,” he said. (H/T: WrestlePurists)

You can check out the full interview in the video below:

Dragunov has not competed in a match since the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, won by Royce Keys in April. Sheamus reportedly turned down a restructured contract offer by WWE and is set to become a free agent in October. He teamed up with John Cena and Rey Mysterio to defeat The Judgment Day in his last match with the company in November 2025.

Eric Bischoff comments on WWE’s booking of Sheamus

Wrestling legend Eric Bischoff commented on the company’s booking of Sheamus and stated that he would have used him differently.

Speaking on the 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff shared that he would have booked The Celtic Warrior as a more modern character but with the same attitude.

“I saw so much more in him. I would have made his character more relatable and current, Bischoff said. I felt like the kind of animated, typical badass Irish guy had been done to death. I would have liked to have seen Sheamus come back with the same attitude, the same motivations, the same points of view on things, but in a less animated kind of lucky charms type characterization,” Eric Bischoff said.

It will be fascinating to see what the future holds for the 48-year-old following his WWE exit.