Sheamus recently appeared on the INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet podcast, sharing candid insights about his WWE journey and memorable backstage moments. Among the topics he discussed was the unexpected Roman Reigns Money In The Bank cash-in, plus reflections on his early championship win and unique segments in WWE history.
Throughout the interview, Sheamus, known as The Celtic Warrior, delved into a variety of stories—from his iconic mohawk hairstyle to his encounters with notable figures like John Cena and Mark Cuban, revealing moments that fans may not have known behind the scenes.
Challenges and Changes: The Mohawk and ‘Written In My Face’ Theme
Looking back, Sheamus expressed a desire to revive his classic ‘Written In My Face’ entrance theme, saying,
“I would if I could. I love that song. I miss it, but it’s just that’s a no, that’s a fight for another day. I’ve fought that battle a couple of times, and it’s been a difficult one to try and push over the line.”
The former WWE Champion also recounted how he adopted his distinctive mohawk without getting permission, which caused some backstage friction. He said,
“The great thing about that was I pissed the brass off on that one, because I didn’t ask for permission, I just did it… I thought man, I look cool, dude. I look badass. I look like a bleeding ass kicker again… I walked out, and then some bollocks in the audience started a ‘You look stupid chant’, and that was it. It just carried across all the arena.”
Despite this unexpected reaction, Sheamus embraced the heat and later looked back on the period as a fun and defining moment in his career.
Early Career Breakthrough: Defeating John Cena for the WWE Championship
Sheamus reflected extensively on his rise in WWE, highlighting the significance of winning the WWE Championship against John Cena early on. He shared detailed context around the intense pressure and unpredictability he faced during that time:
“It was mental, because I didn’t know what was happening… I was on ECW, and I had the honor and opportunity of working Goldust… That feud for me, that’s really up there as important to my career… Before that, I was told my first Raw match was so bad they hated it, and I was told I was going to be dead in the water if I didn’t improve,”
Sheamus explained.
He recalled the night of the WWE Championship match at TLC, where he expected to lose but was unexpectedly told by Vince McMahon to win.
“Vince is there, and I’m nervous as hell… Vince said, ‘John, what if we…’ John goes, ‘Put the kid over?’ Vince is like, ‘Yeah, no problem.’ And that was it… When we went out there, that was John, though. Right away, straight up was like, let’s do it.”
Unplanned Roman Reigns Money In The Bank Cash-In Revealed
One of the most surprising moments from the interview involved Sheamus describing his Money In The Bank cash-in on Roman Reigns, which occurred spontaneously. He recounted,
“Happened on the day again, that was the day of, that wasn’t the plan. We were in Atlanta at the time… Seth got hurt on the European tour… I’d won the money in the bank… Then that was the final, it was Dean against Roman.”
Sheamus explained the storyline purpose—prolonging Roman Reigns’ pursuit of the title by having him lose the Money In The Bank opportunity unexpectedly. The decision was made just hours before the event, and Sheamus had a Survivor Series match the same day where he received multiple powerbombs from Ryback.
He added,
“People hated Mohawk Sheamus. They absolutely hate it. Like, really, my mother called me crying when she saw the pictures of me with a mohawk on, literally crying. What have you done to your hair?… I had so much heat as Mohawk, Sheamus, people hated me.”
Unexpected Celebrity Encounter: Slammed Mark Cuban Through a Table
Sheamus shared a humorous story about an encounter with billionaire Mark Cuban during a WWE segment.
“I didn’t even know who Mark Cuban was. I’m serious, I didn’t… I only came over from Ireland a couple of years before that… All I heard was, here this fella has had a vasectomy. Be careful you don’t put him through a table. I’m like, Who is this guy?”
He added that producers warned him not to hurt Cuban, who was a special guest. However, the segment took an unexpected turn when Cuban pushed Sheamus to the ground, a move some producers disliked.
“When he did that and all, I got up and I put him through the table. It was a fun segment, but I had no idea who this guy was… Then I’m watching Shark Tank later, I go, ‘That’s the fella I put through a table!’”
The 1-800-Fella Vignettes and Reflections on WWE Comedy Moments
Sheamus described the infamous 1-800-Fella vignettes as the end of his babyface run and a source of professional frustration. He recalled,
“I remember that being the end of my babyface run. I was brogue kicking trees. I don’t know who came up with that idea… I think I blocked it out of my memory. That is a lot of PTSD.”
He noted how John Cena’s approach to audience engagement during shows influenced him, saying,
“One thing that John Cena always does, it’s very smart… He sits in the chair, and he looks as people pile in. So he’ll watch who’s coming and sitting in the front row… He’s dialed in all the time.”
Sheamus contrasted his own reaction to the vignettes with Cena’s professionalism.
Leaning Into Criticism: The ‘Burger After Burger’ Line
The conversation also touched on Sheamus’s ‘burger after burger’ catchphrase, which stemmed from negative fan reactions about his appearance and attitude at the time. He said,
“I wasn’t happy with the way I came back after the whole thing happened… I kind of just said, I don’t give a sh*t anymore, so I’m going to eat what I want and not really work out.”
After receiving harsh online criticism for his look, Sheamus embraced the moment alongside Drew McIntyre, explaining,
“I leant into it… But the promo me and Drew did the burger after burger line… I’m gonna give you my own unreal moment. I gave Drew the burger after burger line. Because I was gonna lean into it.”
He concluded,
“And you know why? Because that’s what it is, fella, it’s entertainment. That’s what it’s about.”
Behind the Scenes: The Impact of These Moments on WWE and Future Prospects
Sheamus’s disclosures shed light on the unpredictable and fast-changing nature of WWE’s creative process, where decisions like the Roman Reigns Money In The Bank cash-in can occur mere hours before events. These choices shape storylines that keep fans engaged, while also creating unique challenges for the performers involved.
The revelations about the mohawk, vignettes, and unexpected celebrity interactions emphasize the high stakes and sometimes volatile responses wrestlers face both from management and audiences. Sheamus’s willingness to embrace criticism and adapt highlights the resilience required to thrive in this environment.
Going forward, his reflections provide deeper appreciation for the risks entertainers take behind the scenes, while illustrating how WWE continues to evolve through spontaneous creative choices and the personalities who bring its stories to life.
