WWE has announced that former WWE Champion Sheamus has been withdrawn from “The Last Time is Now” tournament due to a shoulder injury. The “Celtic Warrior” was scheduled to advance to the quarterfinals after defeating Shinsuke Nakamura in the opening round on Raw earlier this month. However, his pursuit of becoming John Cena’s final opponent has come to an abrupt end.
The official announcement from WWE stated: “BREAKING NEWS: Due to a shoulder injury, @WWESheamus is not medically cleared to continue competition in The Last Time is Now Tournament. Additional information will be provided tonight on #SmackDown.”
Sheamus’s removal leaves a significant vacancy in the tournament bracket. He was expected to face the winner of a fellow blue brand matchup in the quarterfinals. With Sheamus out, questions now surround how WWE will fill his spot or if his prospective opponent will receive a bye to the semifinals. The specifics regarding the tournament’s restructuring are expected to be addressed during tonight’s broadcast.
The tournament continues tonight on Friday Night SmackDown with the final first-round matchups. “Big” Bronson Reed is set to collide with Carmelo Hayes, while Raw superstars Finn Balor and Penta will cross brand lines to face each other. The winners of these matches will move on to the quarterfinals, which are scheduled to take place on the upcoming episode of Monday Night Raw.
On Monday’s Raw, the tournament will heat up further with two quarterfinal bouts. GUNTHER awaits the winner of the Reed vs. Hayes matchup. Meanwhile, Solo Sikoa is set to face the victor of the Penta vs. Balor contest. These matches will determine the semifinalists from the Raw side of the bracket as the field narrows down to see who will face John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13.
BREAKING NEWS: Due to a shoulder injury, @WWESheamus is not medically cleared to continue competition in The Last Time is Now Tournament.
Additional information will be provided tonight on #SmackDown. pic.twitter.com/KoxPgewoO3
— WWE (@WWE) November 21, 2025
