WWE Superstar Sheamus Living the Dream as Champion

Last year at this time, WWE superstar Sheamus was still learning the ropes and training at Florida Championship Wrestling, the company's developmental group in Tampa, Florida. But a lot has happened since then for the muscular, pasty-skinned Irishman with fiery red hair.

First, he got the call he'd been waiting for and was brought up to the main WWE roster last June. Once there, he quickly stood out and became a breakout star. It only took six months before he was in the main event of a pay-per-view. That was last December where he defeated John Cena at Tables, Ladders and Chairs to become the WWE Champion.

This Sunday, Sheamus will once again be in the main event as he defends the WWE Championship against Randy Orton at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view. FanHouse spoke with Sheamus about his recent success, how he has fit in so far in the WWE and more.

Brian Fritz: So what has the last year been like for you?
Sheamus: Brian, it's been an absolute roller coaster from the time we spoke in FCW, my WWE tenure has been like a dream come true. I started out with an opportunity in ECW in June. I got moved over to Raw because I was beating up everybody in ECW and they felt sorry for the entire roster. Then on Raw, I became the WWE Champion in six weeks and now I'm going to the Royal Rumble as the WWE Champion. Actually, my first pay-per-view as WWE Champion is going to be at the Royal Rumble, a very special pay-per-view for me actually. One I've always loved watching as a kid. I remember, coming from Dublin, Ireland and being five hours ahead, I'd sneak downstairs with my parents asleep just to watch that at 2, 3 o'clock in the morning. So, this is very special for me. So far, it's been an incredible couple of months.

If somebody had told you a year ago that not only would you be brought up to the main roster but you would beat John Cena to become the WWE Champion, what would you have said?
I would have said how quickly? (laughing) I've been telling people since day one that I would become WWE Champion. I've been telling people here, anyone who would listen, that I didn't come all the way over here from Ireland and leave my home, my family, my house, friends, everything -- the beautiful rain everyday and overcast skies -- that to come to America to be part of a roster just to make up a couple of numbers. From day one, it's always been serious for me. My goal has always been WWE Champion. People think right now I'm going to rest on those laurels and think "oh, another WWE Champion that can sit back" has another thing coming. My goal now is to be the best WWE Champion there ever has been, the longest reigning WWE champion. This Sunday at the Royal Rumble when I step in the ring with Randy Orton, he's going to realize there is a changing of the guard. He's going to realize there is someone more vicious, more vindictive then him. Just like St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland, I'm going to step all over that viper and let him know who is the greatest WWE Champion.

"I think more and more the WWE has become realistic because a lot of the top guys -- the sports entertainers -- a lot of them are themselves." When you got the word that you were going to be brought up from Florida Championship Wrestling, were you ever afraid that you would have some kind of a stereotype with your character like a leprechaun or did you know that it would be a more serious role?
I always thought it would be something taken seriously. There's always that cloud in your mind if you think what way are they going to go, especially with the character. I think more and more the WWE has become realistic because a lot of the top guys -- the sports entertainers -- a lot of them are themselves. Guys coming in like Drew McIntyre and Lance Hoyt -- Lance Archer -- Trent Barreta, Caylen Croft. You've got a lot of guys coming in. I always believed in my character because my character was something that stayed away from those stereotypes, stayed away from leprechauns and shillelaghs and drunken parties. It's something different. The Celtic Warrior is something the WWE has never seen. I think when they first saw it they realized what they had. I've tried my best to portray the character as much as I could and it seems to be working very well. At the end of the day, there is no one as aggressive as me, no one that looks like me and I think they realized that why change something that works, especially that worked so well in FCW. So far, everything has worked. As you can see, I'm walking in the Royal Rumble on Sunday as the WWE Champ so it couldn't be any better.

You have fit right in with WWE and the top stars, in particular John Cena. Why do you think you've clicked so well with him including the program you've had and the matches with him?
Well, I think the thing about Cena is that he is such a physical athlete. He's so strong, he moves well. A lot of people call him 'Super Cena' and they would be right because he backs everything up. You like someone in there who you consider an equal. I like me and him because I consider me an equal and not better than Cena. I'm absolutely just as much a physical presence and I have a lot of experience myself. He took me lightly going into TLC. He thought I was just a new upstart, but I've had my experiences in FCW and when I put him through the table I think he realized he underestimated me big time. I guess because of that if you watch on Monday night that a lot of it between us was back and forth. We match each other on so many levels. But I was just a little bit better.

"People have said to me before that you have to pay your dues and take your time. I don't believe that. Me personally, I couldn't care less about dues." Has it been intimidating for you being such a young guy and new to the main roster being right in the mix as one of the main guys and now being the WWE Champion?
Intimidating? No, I really don't get intimidated because, the way I see it, I belong there. I belong where I am. People have said to me before that you have to pay your dues and take your time. I don't believe that. Me personally, I couldn't care less about dues. I don't care about anyone but myself. I mean, intimidated? No, this is where I want to be and I don't really care what people think. To me, paying your dues is for people who fail or make excuses for themselves. Honestly Brian, where I am right now is where I've always seen myself being. Regarding the intimidating thing, there's always those elements where you go in the beginning that you don't know what's going to happen. It's such a different scene than FCW. The guys you see on TV are guys I've watched on TV for years. Yeah, maybe at the beginning there's a situation where you're overwhelmed but after a while it all fades away and it's business as usual. Every Monday Night Raw, every live event, it's the same thing -- I just go out and work my backside off and go out there and get results. So far it's proved great because I'm walking into the Rumble as the WWE Champion. It's been awesome.

Has there been anyone in particular behind the scenes that you've leaned on for advice?
Absolutely! When I first got there, I got help from people like William Regal, Scott Armstrong, Triple H, Arn Anderson, Finlay ... a lot of the agents. A lot of those guys have helped me basically make leaps and bounds. Without them, I probably wouldn't have made the progress I have because as far as I'm concerned, if you're going to go into anything Brian, you always go to the people that are successful that can help you. For me, that's common sense. I've always looked at the guys at the top, looking at the guys with the experience, ask them for advice and basically take shortcuts to help get to the top by using their experiences and feeding off their mistakes and what worked for them and what didn't. Those guys have definitely helped me. Without those guys there -- and there's a lot of other guys too -- without those guys' help I probably wouldn't, it probably would have taken me longer. They're great teachers and I'm just a student picking their brains all the time and working all the time. This is a continuing process as well. Just because I'm WWE champ now doesn't mean that I'm gonna just sit back and relax and put my feet up. I'm working harder then ever now. I want to make sure that the WWE Championship doesn't leave my sight.

How much fun has this period been for you and getting this opportunity?
It's been incredible Brian. Talking out there in front of crowds, like 20,000 people on Monday Night Raw or the last pay-per-view TLC. I'm just taking a breather and realizing how far I've come. It's incredible. It's going to be even better this Sunday. The first pay-per-view I'm going in as champion is the Royal Rumble and that's special for me. There's going to be so much going on with the Royal Rumble elimination match from Great Khali, Big Show, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, John Cena. It's going to be one hell of a Royal Rumble especially with my match with Randy. I'm going to kick the viper into torture and let him know who the real man is. Of course, you've got The Undertaker and Rey Mysterio [for the World Heavyweight Championship] in there too. And again, I'll pinch myself again this Sunday going into that pay-per-view because right now I'm living the dream and it couldn't be any better, but it will get better once I defeat Orton and take one more step to becoming the greatest WWE Champion of all time.

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