MANILA, Philippines—For all Sheamus’ merits, it can be said that he is one diamond in the rough.
Sheamus amassed a Hall-of-Fame worthy career in the WWE that spans for nearly a decade having captured the WWE, World Heavyweight, United States, Raw Tag Team, and Smack Down Tag Team championships.
The real life Stephen Farrelly, however, started off in the most unusual of places—Ireland.
As of date, there are only three notable Irish Superstars in the WWE and they are Sheamus, Becky Lynch, and Finn Balor.
With such an obscure origin, Sheamus believes that a Philippine-born Filipino could eventually become a WWE Superstar.
“I came from Ireland and there was no real wrestling scene in our lives… but there’s no such thing as it can’t be done in any country or any area,” said Sheamus during his media availability Thursday at Skinny Mike’s in Bonifacio Global City.
Sheamus is in the Philippines to promote WWE Live in Manila that will take place on Sept. 20 at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I have no doubt in my mind that somebody in this country, in the Philippines, wants to be a WWE Superstar.”
The Philippines was already represented in the WWE when Filipino-American TJ Perkins competed and won the Cruiserweight Classic, becoming the Cruiserweight Champion in the process headlining 205 Live.
Crystal, Jake De Leon, and Ken Warren of Philippine Wrestling Revolution also represented the country during WWE’s tryouts in China in July.
Sheamus, who’s currently out with an injury, also had an unorthodox path to the WWE.
Most of WWE’s Superstars either wrestled in Japan or in competing promotions in the United States but Sheamus started his professional wrestling career with Irish Whip Wrestling where he was the International Heavyweight Champion for two-times before transitioning to Britain’s independent circuit.
Sheamus then moved to WWE’s developmental program with Florida Championship Wrestling where he was a one-time Heavyweight Champion.
“There’s no reason why in, like, five years someone from the Philippines would be the one sitting here with this microphone answering your questions about their journey from here to promoting a show,” said Sheamus whose girlfriend hails from the Philippines. “You know, there’s no reason why that can’t happen.”