TAMPA – Sheamus has brawled his way through WWE video games since his virtual debut in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010. But now, the Irish powerhouse takes center stage in the brand-new “Road to WrestleMania” story mode featured in THQ’s new WWE ’12.

Gone are the short, three-month-long Royal Rumble-to-WrestleMania “Road” modes with five different featured Superstars. For the first time since the debut of the popular WrestleMania-centric game mode, THQ has crafted three unique, intertwining chapters full of twists and turns as you guide Sheamus, Triple H and a custom-built Superstar through an 18-month-long career on Raw and SmackDown, with a new focus on the entire WWE calendar.

WWE.com caught up with “The Great White” at THQ’s WWE ’12 media event at WWE’s Florida Championship Wrestling facility, and asked for his thoughts on his great leap into the starring role of “Road to WrestleMania,” going “Old School” and if he will ever join Twitter:

WWE.com: Do you still have the same level of excitement seeing yourself in digital form now that this is your third year in the THQ WWE game franchise, and starring in this new featured storyline?

SHEAMUS: It’s even more [exciting] now that I’m featured in a big storyline career mode like “Road to WrestleMania.” You have to feel excited every day, and I haven’t lost any passion for what I do. Every time I see something as big as this, something like WWE ’12, I’m privileged and honored. It reminds me just how far I’ve come.

WWE.com: There are so many new elements in this year’s game, including new creation features. What’s the one new feature you like most, other than your storyline in “Road to WrestleMania”?

SHEAMUS: I love the new Create-an-Arena setting, where you build your own ring and customize everything around it. Maybe go back to the Old School Raw, or set up barriers or a brick wall around the ring? Maybe put the ring in a soccer stadium? It’s very cool, because it lets you do things that are outside the box.

WWE.com: You mentioned the Old School Raw, and last year, WWE brought back the classic Raw set and ring for one night. How does that feel as a Superstar of today to go out and compete on the Old School Raw set you watched WWE Hall of Famers compete on when you were younger?

SHEAMUS: It was great watching everything get put together, like they used to do in the old days. That’s something I watched all the time, and it’s amazing to see things progress on Raw as everything gets bigger, with the [TitanTron] and the stage and pyro. Yeah, the Old School Raw was very special, and it brought back many memories … lots of great moments from when I used to watch every Monday night.

WWE.com: You’re one of the most requested Superstars the WWE Universe wants to see join Twitter. Now that there are more than 70 WWE Superstars on Twitter, have you considered joining?

SHEAMUS: No, I’m still not on Twitter, fella. I see a lot of guys doing it, but I just don’t see the appeal. It’s not my thing. You know, I like what I do on Raw or SmackDown to be what people remember me for, not what I say on Twitter. That’s what Triple H did, what The Rock and Stone Cold [Steve Austin] did. Times are changing, but I want people to remember what Sheamus did in the ring as The Celtic Warrior, not some tweet about having a banana sandwich or chocolate milk today.

WWE.com: You have a new nickname – “The Great White.” How do you feel about your new moniker?

SHEAMUS: [laughs] It’s great! I mean, I’m “great.” I’m “white.” I’m pasty white. I’m whiter than a bottle of milk. So yeah, it fits me. People seem to like it. It’s grand!

WWE.com: Finally, we know a lot of Superstars are avid gamers, and WWE ’12 is one of the games they’ll be playing often. We know you have a busy schedule, but will you get a chance to play it?

SHEAMUS: Yeah, it’s a very busy schedule. The thing about me is that I like to really get into a game, and with WWE ’12, you can pause the career mode. With some games, I can’t put them down, or I get frustrated that I have to put them down. And it’s hard to get involved in some games these days with all the complex controls, but WWE ’12 is a lot easier to pick up and play. The controls are easier to use, and it’s a lot of fun, especially when you want to play as your favorite Superstar. The graphics are off the charts, the storylines are great and I’m really excited about it.

JoMo out to the ring. The Great White Sheamus joins them. Christian out to the ring, talking smack with Sheamus. Cody out with his bag boys. Henry stalks out to the ring.

Orton and Christian dance around, then a kick to Orton’s gut. Christian runs the ropes and Orton does an amazing split leg jump over Christian before clotheslining Christian to the mat. Christian in a corner and blows from Orton. Upper cut to Christian, but Orton tags out and Christian flees Sheamus. Cody tags in.

They lock up, then Sheamus takes him down. Blows on Cody in a corner until Sheamus stomps him. Cody whipped, but comes out with kicks and blows. Sheamus telegraphed and is kicked. Cheap shot to Orton, but then turns into a sweet body drop. Cody tags out. As Henry slowly walks into the ring, Orton runs around and clotheslines Cody. Orton on Cody up the ramp, then backstage.

JoMo on Henry with blows, then eats a head butt an JoMo on the mat. Christian tags in and flies, JoMo moves out of the way. JoMo slingshots off the ropes in a crossbody on Christian for one. Blow to Christian, then Christian eats a back leg for two. Christian sets up, but JoMo manages to hit his new flipping move for two. Henry starts coming in, distracts JoMo. Christian slams JoMo to the mat on his neck. Henry stomps on JoMo. Head butt to JoMo. JoMo dragged to the heel corner and Henry uses the ropes to stand on JoMo.

Christian tags in and pulls JoMo up before hitting him. Christian wrenches JoMo’s neck. JoMo free, but Christian grabs his hair. A back kick, but only Christian is able to tag out. Bear hug on JoMo. JoMo slammed back into a corner. Henry rushes JoMo, but eats an elbow, then a foot. JoMo hangs Henry up top, then a drop kick to Henry’s knee. Christian outside and on Sheamus. Their fighting ends up in the stands. Christian flees with Sheamus on his tail.

In the ring a back kick to Henry’s head, but Henry reverses and slams JoMo to the mat for three.

Winners: Cody & Christian & Henry

Henry talks smack at the camera/fans off mic. Recap of Henry hitting his slam on JoMo. Henry poses with the strap and continues to talk smack.

GALLERY LINKS:
World Wrestling Entertainment > WWE Worldwide > 2011: SmackDown in Monterrey, Mexico – Fall 2011

SHEAMUS
This Week: 6 - Last Week: 4

The Celtic Warrior has struggled with the endless involvement of Christian in his matches over the past few weeks. Sheamus will make Captain Charisma pay as soon as he gets his hands on him.

The eliminations start early, and surprisingly Cody Rhodes is the first one out, the first victim of The Viper. Johnny Curtis is launched by Drew McIntyre outside, manages to land on the apron, but eats a boot and is out. JTG was the third to be thrown out, but the camera angle doesn’t show who did it. Kofi Kingston throws McGillycutty out with a back body drop. Titus O’Neal throws Derrick Bateman out.

Yoshi Tatsu and Titus O’Neal are thrown out. Tatsu by Marella, and O’Neal by Swagger. Matt Striker (yes, Matt Striker) is thrown out by William Regal. As the field starts cleaning, we see Orton and Christian battling it out, as Sheamus try to eliminate John Morrison and Primo is almost thrown out by Justin Gabriel. We go for a break. Back from the break, we are informed that 32 Superstars are still in the match. Daniel Bryan eliminates his master William Regal, so now we’re down to 32. “Showtime” Percy Watson is booted down by Drew McIntyre, and he’s out.

We’re down to 31 Superstars. Ziggler and Swagger make an team effort and they both eliminate John Morrison, leaving us down to 30. Zack Ryder comes from behind and eliminates Dolph Ziggler. While DiBiase and Ryder try to eliminate McIntyre, R-Truth manages to eliminate Trent Baretta. We’re down to 28 Superstars. The Miz also makes his presence felt as he eliminates Jimmy Uso. As CM Punk and Randy Orton battle it out, Ezekiel Jackson eliminates Ted DiBiase. We’re down to 26. Tyson Kidd is eliminated right after, so it’s 25 now.

Back from the break, Christian is shown almost getting eliminated by Zack Ryder, but managing to survive. Meanwhile, Daniel Bryan is thrown out. Mason Ryan eliminates Tyler Reks and Curt Hawkins in sequence. Ryan is on a roll, as he eliminates Drew McIntyre and Justin Gabriel next. We’re down to 20, but we quickly go to 19 as Wade Barrett comes from behind and puts an end to Ryan’s roll. CM Punk eliminates Primo with a kick to the head.

Santino is almost eliminated by Christian, but manages to land in the apron and give Christian a shoulder block. He starts preparing the Cobra, but Christian simply slaps him in the face and he’s out. As Ryder and Christian battle out again, Alex Riley is thrown out by his former mentor, The Miz. Kofi Kingston is almost thrown out by Jack Swagger, but he skins the cat and always takes Swagger out with a headscissors. Ultimately though, Swagger applies the Ankle Lock, and uses Kofi’s pain as distraction to complete the elimination.
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GALLERY LINKS:
World Wrestling Entertainment > WWE.com Exclusives: Sheamus hosts a be a STAR rally in St. Louis

We are live from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and your announcers are the Ghost of Wrestling Announcing Past, the Ghost of Wrestling Announcing Present, and the Ghost of Wrestling Announcing Future.

We go through the hallways in the back and there is nobody there, except for a production assistant walking.

Triple H emerges from his office and he looks down the hall in each direction and then he walks to the ring while the crowd cheers for the man who stripped the WWE of most of its roster.

Hunter says that he showed up as well as the fans. Hunter says that he stood in this ring a week ago and he was bewildered. He saw something that he thought he would never see. He saw fifty-five superstars, camera guys, techs, referees, and announcers walk out. They didn’t walk out on him, they walked out on the fans.

Those superstars now stand outside in the parking lot holding a solidarity rally. Apparently the WWE has gotten too tough for them and they can’t take it any more. They all have their wrestling gear, but not one of them are going to set foot in the building to perform for them unless Hunter steps down.

Hunter says that if he is no longer running Raw, they will come back. Hunter asks everyone what they should do. He asks the fans if he should walk away. Should he quit. He suggests that maybe he should go. Hunter says that the problem is that he has never been a quitter. He says that isn’t in him. He will not quit. He will not be intimidated. He will not be coerced or blackmailed. He will not quit. Hunter tells everyone in the parking lot and pucker up real tight and kiss him where his cheeks meet. Hunter says that he doesn’t care if he has to wrestle a broomstick for two hours. He says that a broomstick will give him a better match than most of the people out there.

Hunter says that he is giving everyone Monday Night Raw.

There is one man who did not walk out on Monday and he makes his way to the ring. That man is John Cena.

John has a mic and he says that there was a reason why he was not part of the group last week. That is also why he did not respond to anyone in the media or on the internet. Cena says that the people who walked out would have been stronger if one man joined them. Cena says that the second that Hell in a Cell ended until he arrived at the building, everyone outside has contacted him to join them. Cena says that Hunter didn’t ask him to stay. Cena says that they want him out there because their boss is egomaniacal and power hungry. Cena says that he has worked for Vince McMahon and Eric Bischoff and they are two of the most humble people in the universe. He has worked for Vickie Guerrero, fifty-six guest hosts, an anonymous computer, and the Mike Adamle era.

Cena says that Hunter is his boss and he is staying. He says that he is staying because he loves Raw and he doesn’t care who is in charge. Cena says that he loves the chaos because that is what brings everyone in each week. He says that loyalty is a principle he believes in and it is in everyone.

Sheamus comes out next and he has something to say fella. Two years ago when he was giving a heartfelt speech about his best friend retiring, he hit Hunter in the head with a lead pipe. He was trying to make a name for himself. If anyone had a right to complain or seek legal action, he would have every right to do it. Hunter came back and gave him the biggest arse kicking of his life. Sheamus says that today the result would be different today. He says that he has a lot of respect for Hunter for doing that. Over the last few months, he tried to follow the same principles. He will not be in the parking lot tonight. He did not leave his family and friends behind to be outside with those losers. He came here to be part of Raw.

CM Punk comes out and he says that he cannot help but feel responsible for all of this. He says that he has been at the epicenter of everything controversial before Hunter was in charge. He was the guy who made walking out look cool. Punk says that everyone in the parking lot having a picnic has everything wrong. He never walked out on his contract. Punk reminds us that his contract expired. Punk says that if anyone has a reason to walk out of WWE and break his contract, it is him. He has had his mic turned off, Kevin Nash has walked briskly to the ring to stop him, someone doesn’t want him to be WWE Champion. This industry is based on people solving things between the ropes. This is the company that gives you Hell in a Cell and the Elimination Chamber. Punk says that he thrives on an unsafe working environment because this is professional wrestling, not ballet. You don’t have a hippie sit in and grill tofu dogs in the background, you fight on the front line.

When he had a problem, he dealt with Hunter and Cena personally. Punk says that eventually Sheamus will step on his toes and he will deal with him personally. Punk says that he is probably the last guy they would expect to see here and in the foxhole with them, but he is here. Punk wants to know what is next.

Hunter says that they do what they do on Monday night and that is shut up and fight. Hunter tells Sheamus that he has a match tonight against John Cena. Hunter says that he will be the referee. Hunter tells his foxhole buddy to have a seat at the announce table. Punk asks if he can wear Hunter’s blazer and Hunter says okay so Punk is in.

Hunter asks Punk to ring the bell as well and he gets double pay.
Continue reading »

SHEAMUS
This Week: 4 - Last Week: 5

Sheamus rose to the No. 4 spot after scoring three victories this week, defeating Christian at WWE Hell in a Cell, getting the win for his 12-man tag team on Raw and teaming with Randy Orton on SmackDown.

Sheamus and Randy Orton vs. Christian and Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes

Sheamus and Christian start things off for their teams. They lock-up, but Sheamus quickly takes down Christian with a side headlock takedown. Christian stands up and pushes Sheamus off, but eats a shoulder block. The Great White goes for his hammer club on the ropes sequence, but Christian escapes with elbows to the side of the head and tags Rhodes in. Cody enters the match taking some punches. Sheamus tries to throw him out of the ring, but Rhodes skins the cat, only to take another punch to the gut, and after that Sheamus hits his hammer clubs to chest routine, followed by the knee on the apron. When Sheamus enters the ring again, Rhodes holds his legs, and the ref breaks them up allowing Christian to try to interfere. He grabs Sheamus by the back, but the Celtic Warrior quickly turns around and Captain Charisma bails, but that distraction is enough for the IC Champion to capitalize with a Russian legsweep. He goes for a cover, Sheamus quickly kicks out, but Rhodes goes for a submission. He locks a facelock, drives some forearms and knees that drop Sheamus, and then he locks a front headlock. Sheamus powers out with a back body drop and tags Orton in while Rhodes tags Christian, who ends up on the receiving end of two clotheslines and a snap powerslam. Randy runs towards Christian on the corner but eats boots to the face. Christian runs towards Orton who leapfrogs and when Christian comes back delivers a back body drop. Randy corners Christian and climbs the second turnbuckle to deliver the 10-punch sequence, followed by an apron DDT. He signals for the RKO, but Rhodes enters the ring and rolls out when Orton sees him, allowing Christian to roll out too and try to buy some time. Orton chases Christian, who enters the ring again, and when Orton tries to follow he is held by Rhodes, allowing Christian to hit a baseball slide dropkick as we go for a break.

Back from the break Christian is in control with a facelock. Orton fights out and bounces off the ropes, only to be met with an elbow to the head. Christian tags Rhodes in, who enters stomping and punching away at Randy, and immediately tagging Christian in after doing some damage. Rhodes holds Orton as Christian punches him in the gut and slaps him in the face. Orton fights back and bounces off the ropes but is again countered, this time with a spinebuster by Christian, who signals for the Spear, which fails when Orton counters it with a kick and a clothesline. Both guys tag and is Sheamus and Rhodes back in the ring again. Sheamus drops Cody with double arm clotheslines and a tilt-a-whirl scoop powerslam. Sheamus delivers a clothesline on the corner, followed by a running knee to the head. He goes top rope and tries for a shoulder block, which Rhodes ducks but Sheamus recovers quickly and delivers a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Cover and a nearfall. Sheamus signals for the Brogue Kick, Christian tries to interfere but is thrown out of the ring. Sheamus follows Christian as he tags Orton in, who ducks a clothesline and hits RKO for the three count.

Winners: Randy Orton and Sheamus via pinfall

Orton and Sheamus celebrate togheter, as the Raw Rebound is shown, featuring “The Walk-Out”.