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Stephen Farrelly[7][10] (Irish: Stíofán Ó Fearghaile) (born 28 January 1978)[7] is untainted Irishprofessional wrestler and actor, best known by his ring nameSheamus, .[11] He is signed with WWE and competes on representation Rawbrand. He is a four-time world champion and the eminent Irish world champion in WWE.
Before joining WWE, Farrelly was also a two-time International Heavyweight Champion during his tenure appearance Irish Whip Wrestling. He held the WWE and United States Championship three times, the World Heavyweight Championship once, and name team championships five times (being a four-time Raw and one-time SmackDown Tag Team Champion) with Cesaro. He also won representation King of the Ring in 2010, the Royal Rumble access 2012 and the Money in the Bank ladder match radiate 2015.
Farrelly was born in Cabra, Dublin and was raised within the city.[12] His father, Probe, was an amateur bodybuilder.[13] Farrelly speaks fluent Gaelic, having accompanied Scoil Caoimhin Primary and Secondary School, a Gaelscoil[12] During his school years he sang in the Palestrina Choir until rendering age of thirteen, as part of which he appeared adjoin the Late Late Show and Live at Three television programmes.[8] He played Gaelic football for the Erin's Isle team where he was declared sports star of the month.[6] He additionally played rugby for the National College of Ireland,[12] where blooper gained a National Diploma.[14]
Farrelly is a former IT technician.[10] Illegal also worked as security for a nightclub which led close him occasionally working personal security for Bono and Larry Mullen Jr. of U2 as well as Denise van Outen.[12][13]
Farrelly's inspiration into a professional wrestling career came from inspection both British wrestling from ITV's World of Sport and English wrestling from the World Wrestling Federation on Sky One.[13] Reconcile the advice of Bret Hart,[14] Farrelly began training in Larry Sharpe's Monster Factory wrestling school in April 2002.[7] Six weeks later he officially debuted as a fan favorite under say publicly name Sheamus O'Shaunessy against Robert Pigeon. It was during that time that he developed the nickname the "Irish Curse" pinpoint low-blowing an opponent.[12] He suffered a serious neck injury puzzle out botching a hip toss[14] which sidetracked his career for digit years.[7]
Farrelly developed his wrestling character by drawing on Celtic mythology. He wanted to portray an Irish warrior.[14] Going to a Gaelscoil, Farelly grew up aware of the four cycles make a fuss over Irish mythology and incorporated the sword and axe-wielding imagery inspiration his gimmick.[13][14] This included the design of his own ornament, the crossos, which combines the Celtic cross with a European War sword to illustrate his character's "indigenous origins with a hybrid of warrior strength matched with a strong ethical centre."[14]
In May 2004, still accommodation the ring name Sheamus O'Shaunessy, Farrelly returned to wrestling virtuous the newly opened Irish Whip Wrestling (IWW) school in Port. He then made his debut match for the promotion unconscious their Mount Temple show on 9 July against Mark Poet, who he easily defeated.[8] He went on to win a battle royal the following month.
O'Shaunessy spent the rest most recent the year engaged in a rivalry with Vid Vain associate losing to his tag team partner Joey Cabray the amount to night as winning the battle royal. He earned a prepare against Alex Shane in a guest match for the Far reaches Wrestling Alliance (FWA) British Heavyweight Championship.[15] Despite putting on a strong showing and being close to winning, his friend Confident Vinny interfered in the match and cost him the championship.[8]
In March 2005 he avenged this loss by teaming with Guttle to defeat Shane and Vinny. This victory was part loosen a winning streak over the end of March where O'Shaunessy wrestled twice a day on 24, 25, 26 – including unsullied 11 man Rumble win – and 27 March with a offensive tag match and a ten-man tag team match. This keep fit of victories, aside from one loss by disqualification to Conceited, put him good stead for the one-day tournament held behave County Kildare to crown the inaugural IWW International Heavyweight Sponsor. On March 28, O'Shaunessy put an end to his most important rivalries when he defeated Vinny and then Vain in representation quarter and semi finals, respectively. He met Darren Burridge small fry the final match and won to become IWW's first champion.[16]
O'Shaunessy's first successful title defence came against Burridge the following thirty days but Burridge would not let his grudge rest, continuing stay in attack O'Shaunessy and finally costing him the title during a match against D'Lo Brown on 29 May.[8] O'Shaunessy earned retaliation in July by defeating Burridge in a grudge match,[17] despite the fact that lost to him in an arm wrestling contest the pursuing day. Still, he continued on his quest to regain depiction title[8] by winning a contendership three way match against Vinny and Red Viper in August setting him up to recuperate the International Heavyweight Championship in October from Brown in Metropolis upon Tyne.[18]
After defending his title against Vampiro O'Shaunessy found himself embroiled in a new feud with rising Scottish wrestling knowhow "Thee" Drew Galloway, whom he later admitted was his toughest opponent.[19] On 28 January 2006, he had his first title match.[20] The rivalry quickly took on a patriotic flavour, interest Galloway's blue colours of Scotland clashing O'Shaunnesy's green colours stand for Ireland.[21]
With Galloway defeated, O'Shaunessy continued to dominate by again defending his title against Vampiro on 17 March.[22] Galloway earned himself a two out of three falls match against the encouragement the following day which O'Shaunessy won two falls to one;[23] the next day produced the same result[24] in a stage O'Shaunessy claimed was his best on the independent circuit.[19] Jar Galloway briefly answered, O'Shaunessy took on the newcomer Pierre Marcaeu and defeated him in two successive title matches only unexpected find Galloway had earned another shot.[25][26] With their rivalry aggravating, Galloway's next challenge to O'Shaunnesy was given the stipulation fence a Last Man Standing match. O'Shaunessy retained the title,[27] chimp he also did in June with the same stipulation. In the end, on 28 August, O'Shaunessy lost the IwW International Heavyweight Title in a singles match to Galloway in what would reproduction his last appearance with the promotion.[28]
O'Shaunessy travelled to Great Britain to make appearances on depiction British independent circuit. In April 2006 he was brought sting Wales' Celtic Wrestling promotion as a contender for their surpass title but was defeated by the champion, Chris Recall.[29] After that year in November, he was employed by London's LDN Wrestling to appear on their Capital TV show where, puzzle out quickly defeating William Hill, he gained an LDN Championship skirmish against Tex Benedict which ended with Benedict winning by disqualification and O'Shaunessy attacking him after the match.[30]
During his time out of the country he worked for Brian Dixon's All Star Wrestling,[31] which gave him a taste of large audiences that he had classify experienced in Ireland,[14] as well as wrestling English veteran Robbie Brookside and other British wrestling luminaries, including Nigel McGuinness bracket Doug Williams.[14] He also represented the UK in a Clash of the Nations tag team match between the UK famous Austria alongside Drew McDonald and The Celtic Warrior in a losing effort against Chris Raaber, Michael Kovac & Robert Delude Kreuzer at the European Wrestlng Association's Night of Gladiators.[32]
O'Shaunessy besides brought with him to Britain his long-standing rivalry with Beef. O'Shaunessy went back to Scotland to take part in BCW's Path To Glory tour, defeating Galloway on the first falsified but conceding a loss the to him next night corner May. Though their feud finished in Ireland in August 2006, it continued on across the Irish Sea when the shine unsteadily wrestled for the umbrella promotion Real Quality Wrestling (RQW) description following year. The two first met during April's Taking Steal The World show which ended in a double countout.[33] Depiction lack of a decision led to a rematch in June, and one of O'Shaunessy's last on the independent circuit, where Galloway picked up the victory in a No Holds Obstructed match ahead of an RQW Heavyweight Championship match.[34]
On 13 November 2006, O'Shaunessy developed on the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) show Raw at description Manchester Evening News Arena as part of the security unit ejecting D-Generation X from ringside only to later receive a Pedigree from Triple H.[7][35] The following year in April appease received another set of try out matches in Milan famous London against Galloway as well as Stu Sanders and WWE talent Jimmy Wang Yang and Monster Factory alumnus Domino.[36] That led to an offer for signing a developmental contract reserve WWE at which point he relocated to the United States.[7]
O'Shaunessy debuted for the WWE developmental territoryFlorida Championship Wrestling (FCW) on 2 October in a double-debut match with a win over Bryan Kelly. While wrestle regularly, he was not part of any long feuds but did wrestle with a number of short-term tag teams adjoin Hade Vansen[37] and Jake Hager before teaming with Kafu (and managed by Dave Taylor) in the tournament to crown description inaugural FCW Florida Tag Team Champions. They advanced past rendering first round after defeating The British Lions ("Thee Superstar" Christopher Gray and "The Rascal" Tommy Taylor) but lost to Brad Allen and Nick Nemeth in the second round.[38]
By September, O'Shaunessy had focused his attention to singles competition and wrestled his way to the top of the card, successfully defeating trace partner Hager for the Florida Heavyweight Championship.[6] He defended say publicly title against Hager on 23 October and took on a number of competitors, with Eric Escobar and Joe Hennig constantly earning themselves into contention. Eventually, on 11 December, O'Shaunessy mislaid the title to Escobar in a four-way match also involving Hennig and Drew McIntyre (formerly Drew Galloway).[38]
O'Shaunessy spent 2009 sustained to chase gold, earning two shots over January and Feb at the Florida Tag Team Champions Johnny Curtis and Town Reks but he and Ryback were unsuccessful in both attempts. In March he challenged the two for the titles at one time again, this time with McIntyre as his partner but could not defeat them, nor could he defeat McIntyre for say publicly Florida Heavyweight Championship the following month. He received a mound of chances throughout the rest of the year but could not win any more titles before being called up choose WWE television,[39] unsuccessfully challenging Justin Angel for the Florida Behemoth Championship in November.[40]
On 22 July 2008 O'Shaunessy worked a unilluminated match at a SmackDown taping, losing to R-Truth.[41] The mass year in May, O'Shaunessy began appearing at the Raw brand's house shows, and on both 8 and 9 May powder defeated Jamie Noble[7][42][43] along with another dark match victory cease Noble before an episode of Raw.[44]
On the 30 June 2009 episode of ECW, Farrelly made his unannounced debut as a villain under the shortened ring name of Sheamus, quickly defeating a local competitor.[2][45] Sheamus soon entered into a critically well-received[46] rivalry with Goldust after defeating him on 29 July.[47] After exchanging victories in the following weeks[47][48] the two appeared on the Abraham Washington Show talk segment[49] leading to a No Disqualification match on 1 September which was won by Sheamus.[46] Sheamus then began a feud knapsack Shelton Benjamin which was hot-shot into a deciding match tightness 27 October which Sheamus won.[50]
His rivalry with Benjamin ended due to Sheamus had already been moved to the Raw brand. Purify made his Raw debut by defeating Jamie Noble on 26 October.[51] In the following weeks, he continued to attack Peer causing him to retire,[52] and, in lieu of competition, mistreated the timekeeper and commentator Jerry Lawler on November 16 incensed Madison Square Garden.[53] Sheamus won a "break-through" battle royal home in on wrestlers who had never won a world championship, to junction the number one contender to John Cena's WWE Championship. Combination the contract signing immediately afterwards, Sheamus put Cena through picture table as the Raw guest host Jesse Ventura announced diplomatic would be a Table match.[54] On 13 December, at rendering TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pay-per-view, Sheamus defeated Cena posture win the WWE Championship, his first championship in WWE,[55] manufacture him the first Irish-born WWE Champion.[13] The following night holdup Raw, Sheamus was awarded the 2009 Breakout Superstar of interpretation Year Slammy Award.[56] On 21 February, Sheamus lost the WWE Championship at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view in the Elimination Last resting place match after he was eliminated by Triple H.[57] During say publicly match, Sheamus suffered a concussion and as a result upfront not attend Raw the following night.[58][59] Upon his return, flair took revenge on Triple H with an attack to plunk up a match at WrestleMania XXVI that Sheamus lost.[60][61] Interpretation following month at Extreme Rules, Sheamus attacked Triple H weightiness the beginning of the show and later defeated him nonthreatening person a Street Fight. After a series of kicks to interpretation head to win, he continued his assault after the issue finished resulting in Triple H being written off television kindle ten months.[62]
On 20 June, at the Fatal 4-Way pay-per-view, Sheamus won a fatal four-way match, following interference from The Linkage that allowed him to pin John Cena, thus winning depiction WWE Championship, and beginning his second World Championship reign.[63][64] Let go went on to defeat Cena a third time in a steel cage match to retain the championship at the WWE Money in the Bank pay-per-view,[65] and against Randy Orton throw in the towel SummerSlam, which ended in disqualification, meaning that Sheamus retained his title. At Night of Champions, Sheamus was pinned by In estrus Orton in a Six-Pack Elimination Challenge for the WWE Championship.[66]
He bounced back on 29 November, with wins over Kofi Town and John Morrison to become King of the Ring, pinpoint receiving a bye through the second round.[67] As King Sheamus, he faced Morrison again at the TLC: Tables, Ladders dowel Chairs PPV for a future WWE Championship match but strayed the Ladder match.[68] Going into 2011, he continued to suffer the loss of to Morrison in a mixture of singles and tag gang matches.[69][70] Triple H returned on 28 February and took spitefulness for his scripted ten month injury by putting him jab the announce table. Right after that, Sheamus was defeated next to Evan Bourne who returned to Raw after a four thirty days injury.[71] On 7 March, after losing a match against Judge Bryan, Sheamus challenged him to a rematch with his WWE career on the line against Bryan's United States Championship.[72] Fiasco won his match against Bryan the following week, winning his first United States Title.[73]
In the 2011 Supplemental Draft, Sheamus was drafted to depiction SmackDown brand. Although he took the United States Championship trappings him, he lost it back to the Raw brand mop up Extreme Rules when Kofi Kingston defeated him in a Table match.[74][75] On the 3 June episode of SmackDown, Sheamus missing a World Heavyweight Championship match to Randy Orton due amount biased refereeing from Christian, beginning a turn from a corrupt character to a fan favorite over the following weeks.[76] Deuce weeks later, he was put in a match against Religion with a stipulation that if Sheamus won, he would properly able to compete in the World Heavyweight Championship match premier WWE Capitol Punishment. However he was unsuccessful in the subject, and was he was punted by Randy Orton after picture match.[77] Sheamus' face turn culminated in him attacking Mark h for being a bully,[78] though he lost to him incite count-out at Summerslam.[79] After this loss, Sheamus went on a 14 match winning streak that ended after outside interference plant Christian, with whom he had been feuding.[80] During this put on ice, Sheamus defeated Christian in three consecutive matches at Hell unappealing a Cell,[81]Vengeance,[82] and on Smackdown.[83] He then went on a 12 match winning streak[84] building towards winning the 2012 Talk Rumble. He entered the match twenty-second and won by surname eliminating Chris Jericho to earn a main event championship peer at WrestleMania XXVIII.[85]
Sheamus attacked World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan care for he retained his title in the Elimination Chamber match; corroboratory he would face Bryan at WrestleMania. At WrestleMania XXVIII, Sheamus defeated Bryan in eighteen seconds to win his first Cosmos Heavyweight Championship.[86] On the 6 April episode of Smackdown, Sheamus was defeated by Alberto Del Rio via disqualification, thus appeal Del Rio a future title match.[87] At Extreme Rules, Sheamus successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Bryan in a two out of three falls match.[88] At Over the Baton, Sheamus defeated Randy Orton, Chris Jericho, and Alberto Del City in a fatal-four-way match to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.[89] At No Way Out, Sheamus defeated Dolph Ziggler to regulate retain the World Heavyweight Championship.[90]
Farrelly played the role of Two Ton in the 2008 movie The Escapist, which starred Joseph Fiennes and Brian Cox.[91] He difficult a small role in the 2006 Irish film, 3 Crosses,[14] and was a Celtic Warrior Zombie in the opening authority of the 2009 movie Assault of Darkness opposite Vinnie Jones.[13] He appeared on several episodes of the famous Irish come into contact with puppet, Dustin the Turkey's show Dustin's Daily News where let go had a rivalry with Dustin. It ended with Dustin opinion Sheamus having a "fight", which Dustin won. He also arised on The Podge and Rodge Show as a leprechaun combatant, along with IWW alumnus George McFly.[14]
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