WWE confirms major star is injured; pulled from The Last Time is Now Tournament

WWE announced that a major star was injured today on social media and that he would not be able to continue competing in the Last Time is Now tournament. The winner of the tournament will be John Cena's final opponent at Saturday Night's Main Event on December 13.

Sheamus defeated Shinsuke Nakamura in the first round of the Last Time is Now tournament on the November 10 episode of RAW. He teamed up with John Cena and Rey Mysterio to defeat The Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, and JD McDonagh in a 6-man tag team match this past Monday night on the red brand at Madison Square Garden. It was Cena's final match on RAW ahead of his retirement from in-ring competition next month.

The promotion announced on social media today that Sheamus was dealing with a shoulder injury and would be unable to compete in the Last Time is Now tournament moving forward. It was also shared that more information would be provided during tonight's episode of WWE SmackDown.

"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"

John Cena is the reigning Intercontinental Champion and will be defending the title against Dominik Mysterio at WWE Survivor Series 2025 next weekend. Sheamus has never won the Intercontinental Championship during his time with the company.

Sheamus wanted to be John Cena's final opponent in WWE

Sheamus recently revealed why he wanted to win the Last Time is Now tournament and battle John Cena in his final match.

Speaking on Busted Open, the veteran noted that he had been chasing the Intercontinental Championship for a long time, and it would be a full-circle moment for him to capture it from The Cenation Leader.

"I think it would be a great full circle moment for me... It was a really, really fast rise for me to win the title, and then it really put me on the map, and I ran with it. I ran with John [Cena] for quite a while and learned a lot from him... So, it would be massive, and I feel like there's nobody else there with skin in the game... Plus, on top of that, he won that one title that I've been chasing like a lunatic for the last 5 years, the Intercontinental Championship. So, there are two things now. So, the stars are aligning here big time, and I'm hungry for this," he said.

Only time will tell what WWE has planned for the Last Time is Now tournament following The Celtic Warrior's untimely injury.

Edited by Robert Lentini