S. Farrelly, known throughout his WWE career as Sheamus, is making it clear that time away from the ring has not meant time away from the gym.
The former WWE star shared a new training post on Friday featuring two photographs and a video from a workout session. In the clip, Farrelly performs seated shoulder shrugs using 120-pound weights. His brief caption, “shrug it out,” fit the exercise, but the post quickly became notable for the reactions from several wrestlers who worked alongside him in WWE.
While there has been no announced next destination for Farrelly following his WWE departure, the comments offered a reminder of the relationships he built during his long run with the company. The post also arrives as fans continue to speculate about a possible move to AEW, despite no reported discussions between Farrelly and that promotion as of early October.
View the referenced post on Instagram
Former WWE colleagues join the conversation
Finn Bálor was among the first recognizable names to respond. Bálor left a toilet emoji in the comments, seemingly poking fun at Farrelly’s intense facial expression while moving the weight. The exchange was in keeping with the playful on-screen and off-screen dynamic the two have shared over the years.
For more background on this topic, read Sheamus’ AEW Status: No Imminent Move, But Top Names Want Him in the Company.
CM Punk also chimed in with a message that read, “Settle down fella,” accompanied by a fire emoji. Grayson Waller took a more direct approach, calling Farrelly a “machine.” Bayley added a comment expressing that she misses him.
The collection of responses gave the post a reunion-like feel, even as each performer is now in a different place professionally from Farrelly. Bálor remains a prominent WWE figure, as do Punk, Waller and Bayley, while Farrelly’s future has become one of the more closely watched free-agent questions among wrestling fans.
There was no wrestling-related announcement attached to the workout update. Farrelly did not identify a promotion, reveal a return date, or suggest that he is preparing for a specific match. What the footage does show is that he is still undertaking demanding strength work after the shoulder issue that ended his latest WWE tournament run.
AEW rumors remain unconfirmed
Many fans in the post’s comments voiced hope that Farrelly could eventually land in AEW. That interest has been a recurring part of the discussion around his future, particularly given the number of high-profile opponents and potential first-time matchups available to him there.
However, there were reportedly no discussions between Farrelly and AEW as of October 1. While some wrestlers within the AEW locker room were said to be interested in seeing him join the roster and become “All Elite,” internal interest should not be confused with a deal, negotiations, or an imminent debut.
That distinction is important as speculation has intensified around a convention booking that falls on the same day as AEW Full Gear. Farrelly reportedly requested the ability to leave that appearance early, indicating that he had a wedding to attend. The timing prompted fans to wonder whether a wrestling appearance might be involved, but there is no confirmation that the convention scheduling situation has any connection to AEW or to a return to television.
For now, the public evidence is limited to continued training, fan interest, and the reactions from his former WWE peers. Farrelly has not publicly announced where he intends to wrestle next, and no promotion has confirmed that he is bound for its roster.
A major name with unfinished possibilities
Farrelly’s WWE résumé ensures that any return to wrestling will attract attention. As Sheamus, he established himself as one of the company’s most decorated stars over the course of his tenure. He worked at the top of the card, held major championships, and built a reputation for a punishing, physical style that translated across singles competition, tag team wrestling, and faction-based stories.
His standing also makes the current uncertainty more compelling. A wrestler of Farrelly’s experience does not need an immediate announcement to remain part of the conversation. Every gym update, public appearance, and interaction with a former colleague is likely to be analyzed by fans looking for a clue about what comes next.
At the same time, the new post should not be overread. Wrestlers train for many reasons: recovery, general health, personal routine, convention appearances, future opportunities, or simply because training has long been a core part of their lives. The 120-pound seated shoulder shrugs are an encouraging visual for supporters who want to see Farrelly back in action, but a social-media workout video does not establish medical clearance or signal a finalized in-ring timetable.
The shoulder is especially relevant because it was the issue that interrupted his most recent WWE activity. Farrelly’s last televised singles match came in November during the Last Time is Now tournament, when he faced Shinsuke Nakamura. He won that match, but it was subsequently revealed that he needed to withdraw from the tournament because of a shoulder injury.
His most recent match overall also took place that November. Farrelly teamed with John Cena and Rey Mysterio in a six-man tag team match against Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh and Bálor. The babyface trio emerged victorious, giving Farrelly a significant final in-ring result alongside two fellow WWE veterans and against a group featuring his recent online sparring partner Bálor.
Training offers a positive sign, not a timetable
The latest images will naturally be seen through the lens of that injury history. Farrelly working through a shoulder-focused exercise with substantial weight is likely to be viewed positively by fans, particularly after his tournament exit. Still, the exact status of his shoulder, whether he has been cleared for a return, and when he may wrestle again have not been publicly established.
That uncertainty has not stopped supporters from imagining potential next steps. A WWE return, an AEW run, appearances on the independent circuit, or a more selective schedule would all generate interest. Yet none of those outcomes can be treated as settled based on the present information.
There is also no indication that Farrelly is rushing to make a decision. The gym post instead presents a simple snapshot of an athlete continuing to work. The reactions from Bálor, Punk, Waller and Bayley added personality to the update, showing that he remains connected to many of the people with whom he shared a locker room.
For a performer who spent years portraying toughness and resilience on WWE programming, that is an appropriate image to project during a period of transition. Farrelly is still training hard, still drawing engagement from major names in wrestling, and still leaving fans eager to learn what his next chapter will be.
Until he addresses those plans himself or a promotion makes an official announcement, the focus remains on the facts at hand: S. Farrelly is in the gym, his former WWE colleagues are taking notice, and the question of when and where he will next step between the ropes remains open.
In pictures
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.