WrestleRant
  • Home
  • Columnist Corner
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • WRR
  • Audio
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • About
    • Contact

Columnist Corner

WWE: Is a Sheamus Heel Turn on the Horizon?

4/22/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
By Graham "GSM" Matthews

"So-and-so needs to turn heel" is a common complaint among the members of the Internet Wrestling Community (and I don't disclude myself from that). Whether it be Randy Orton (who did eventually turn back heel last summer) or especially John Cena (it's not happening, people, so get over it), there's always someone that must turn heel according to the IWC. There is one Superstar, however, that actually is in desperate need of a heel turn, that being Sheamus. I promise you that there is reason behind this and I'm not just pitching this because he "annoys" me.

Prior to getting injured in the summer of 2013, Sheamus was mostly directionless. He had, in my opinion, a pretty good run as World Heavyweight Champion throughout 2012 (being involved in the title scene for almost all of the year), but did nothing of note after dropping the strap to Big Show at that year's Hell in a Cell pay-per-view. I remember that his loss to Show marked the first time he had been defeated cleanly since turning face in July 2011, and I don't recall him getting pinned clean many times after that. I know he was was cleanly defeated by Daniel Bryan last July and by Alberto Del Rio (surprisingly) the following month, but all things considered, Sheamus is a top star in WWE and has been protected for the most part as a fan favorite.

Thus, I was shocked to see Sheamus lose cleanly to Batista on the April 18 edition of SmackDown and again to Bad News Barrett in the semifinals of the Intercontinental Championship tournament days later on Raw. These two losses might be telling signs that a heel turn might be on the horizon for Sheamus, but even if they're not, it clearly shows that Sheamus' stint as a fan favorite has run its course. He can be tolerable as a face when he's in serious mode, but the telling of the Irish folktales grew tiresome with fans three years ago. He still receives strong reactions on occasion (i.e. at the Royal Rumble), but most of the meaning behind his current character has been gone for quite a while due to his lack of evolution.

Speaking of the Royal Rumble, he had a hot return in the annual 30-Man Battle Royal this year and I was happy to see him back. He sat on the sidelines for six months rehabbing an injury and looked as dominant as ever against The Shield during the Rumble. His injury was a blessing in disguise because, as previously mentioned, he was doing virtually nothing before going inactive. The injury gave him a chance to reinvigorate his character and feel fresh upon his return, but so far he has failed in developing his persona in recent months.

Upon his WWE debut in 2009, Sheamus was immediately established as a force to be a reckoned with on the roster. He plowed through the likes of John Cena, Randy Orton and Triple H and even captured the WWE Championing within months of jumping ship to Raw. Through he portrayed a ruthless heel to perfection, his WWE Championship run was a flop and was cast aside as an afterthought by the end of 2010. The organic face turn was welcome, especially since he was already starting to get cheered by crowds, so it was a nice change of pace for him. He is spot-on when he's motivated and aggressive, but he's miscast as a goofy Lucky Charm figure more often than not, hindering him more than helping him.

Don't get me wrong, though. His matches are still strong and his last two encounters with Batista and Barrett are proof of that. His in-ring skills haven't changed in the slightest, it's just his character that rubs people the wrong way. I've been an advocate of feud between Sheamus and Brock Lesnar for quite some time now given their similar styles and paths to the top of the company. I peraonlly believe they could have a kick-ass match, but I simply worry that Sheamus wouldn't taken the rivalry as seriously as he should. Plus, he's been so irrelevant for so long that not many people might care to see him square off against Lesnar. After three years as a a fan favorite, I think it's time for The Celtic Warrior to return to his villainous roots.

Daniel Bryan is leading the babyface side of things at the moment as WWE World Heavyweight Champion with John Cena close behind. The Shield are also in the main event scene as they feud with the reunited Evolution and Cesaro appears to be on the cusp of turning face sooner rather than later. Big Show, Mark Henry and Big E and midcard-to-upper-midcard faces as well, so there isn't much room at the top of the roster for other faces such as Sheamus. Aside from Evolution and Bray Wyatt, there aren't many top heels right now. With Batista taking time off soon and Triple H not being an active competitor, there is no better time for the trigger to be pulled on a Sheamus heel turn.

I wasn't a fan of doing this a few months ago, but I'd love to see Sheamus rekindle his rivalry with Bryan over the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. The tables would be turned this time with Bryan as the babyface and Sheamus as the heel, and who wouldn't want to see a repeat of their instant classic at 2012's Extreme Rules event? The series of matches they could produce over the summer would be awesome given their great chemistry and it'd be an excellent way to establish Bryan as a credible champion.

Honestly, I'd even be open to Sheamus joining The Authority. That wouldn't be too much out of the realm of possibility given that he is good friends with Triple H in real life, but I guess it'd also be strange seeing Sheamus in a suit and tie. Regardless, I couldn't care less in what fashion it's done, but The Celtic Warrior must turn back heel at some point in the very near future. If he doesn't, he'll continue to flounder in the midcard and ruin any chance of ever again competing for the prestigious prize.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.


    Categories

    All
    #AskGSM
    Battle Of The Belts
    Cruiserweight Classic
    Halftime Heat
    Hidden Gems
    Lists/Rankings
    Mae Young Classic
    Mixed Match Challenge
    News
    NJPW
    NWA Shockwave
    Opinion
    Previews
    Retro Reviews
    Reviews
    RJ's Two Cents
    Satire
    SummerSlam Recall
    The Deadly Draw
    Tribute To The Troops
    Women's Eliminator
    Worlds Collide
    WrestleMania Recall
    WWE Draft
    WWE Starrcade


    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

    RSS Feed

©2023 WrestleRant. All Rights Reserved.
  • Home
  • Columnist Corner
  • Reviews
  • Interviews
  • WRR
  • Audio
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • About
    • Contact