Sheamus' seven

If there’s one thing that World Heavyweight Champion Sheamus has made abundantly clear during his dominant reign as titleholder, it’s that The Great White loves to fight.

And, knowing Sheamus' affinity for fisticuffs, WWE.com caught up with the champion himself following his SummerSlam victory over Alberto Del Rio to talk about what other Superstars he’d love to fight in defense of his illustrious title. The Celtic Warrior gave a pretty good indication of his willingness to take on all comers, saying, "As champion, you want to face everybody. You want to know that you’re better than everybody."

Sheamus then proceeded to rattle off seven names. And, while each Superstar he mentioned is different in style and approach, one thing remained constant — each of the seven would-be challengers are tough-as-nails competitors who would keep most champions up at night, just knowing that they’re out there with an eye on the title.

Big Show

Sheamus: "Big Show has achieved so much in WWE, and for me, the tougher the fight, the better. And what tougher fight is there than against the 7-foot giant?"

WWE.com weighs in: Of course Sheamus would want to mix it up with The World’s Largest Athlete. Always one to push himself to the extreme in defense of his championship, The Great White would certainly have his hands full in a bout against Big Show. But the Irish are no strangers to giants, as long-ago tales of the Emerald Isle tell of titans roaming the countryside. If The Celtic Warrior was to enter the ring with the behemoth that is Big Show, we’d bet that the usually overpowering champion would focus more on his submission skills, and bring an educated ground game to the battle to bring the giant down.

Brock Lesnar

Sheamus: "Brock Lesnar? Absolutely, fella. [He’s a] fellow ginger with an aggressive streak in him. You talk about how aggressive I am, but I think [Lesnar] would definitely be one of the toughest opponents I’d face in my life."

WWE.com weighs in: One thing is for certain: A Sheamus/Lesnar match would be a straightforward, slobber-knocker of a battle and the definition of an in-ring brawl. We’d imagine that Lesnar would adopt a style similar to the one he used against John Cena at Extreme Rules and against Triple H at SummerSlam, but The Celtic Warrior’s own straight-ahead power game might be the best defense for Brock’s steamroller offense. It would be a battle more about brute force than tactical maneuvering, but it sure would be compelling to witness.

CM Punk

Sheamus: "I think a match with [CM] Punk would be great. Talking about dream matches, I think the WWE Champion against the World Heavyweight Champion is a match people would like to see. He calls himself 'The Best in the World' — I’d like him to prove it in the ring with me."

WWE.com weighs in: A Champion vs. Champion bout would certainly be a match with a decidedly video game quality to it, especially since it’s clear that The Great White is not sold on The Second City Saint’s claim that he is the "Best in the World." If these two champions ever do lock up with the titles on the line, the WWE Universe could expect nothing short of an instant classic.

Kane

Sheamus: "I’ve faced off with Kane before. He’s another larger-than-life Superstar. It doesn’t happen a lot, but I’d be the smaller guy in that fight. That’s OK — it would be great to go in there and mix it up with [The Big Red Monster]."

WWE.com weighs in: Again Sheamus looks to take on an opponent who’s bigger — a characteristic that plays directly into The Great White’s desire to face only the best of the best. For his part, Kane has achieved so much in his career, and has made his bones as one of the most terrifying competitors in WWE history. Although he’s a 7-footer, The Big Red Monster also possesses agility befitting a much smaller man, and he and Sheamus would match up well. The bout would likely shift between power and finesse, and since each Superstar has a finisher that can connect out of nowhere, having the luck of the Irish on his side might just give Sheamus the advantage.

Wade Barrett

Sheamus: There’s a good rivalry between Ireland and England. Barrett and I definitely mixed it up in the past. It’s never pretty, but it’s always a great fight and I’m sure there’s going to be plenty more opportunities for people to see the two of us go at it."

WWE.com weighs in: National pride aside, when these two guys lock up, the WWE Universe can look forward to the in-ring equivalent of a backstreet brawl. Barrett, the bare-knuckle fighter from the U.K., and Sheamus, WWE’s resident brawler-in-chief, are perfectly suited to clash inside the squared circle. The Barrett Barrage has been unleashed in the past, but with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line, there’s just no telling how low Barrett would steep to acquire Sheamus’ title gold. The Great White will definitely be up for the challenge, though, and with Barrett’s impending return looming large over the WWE Universe, it’s only a matter of time before these two cross each other’s paths again.

Randy Orton

Sheamus: "Me and [Randy] Orton are no strangers to each other. I have a lot of respect for him, though I’m not sure how he feels about me. If he’s top contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, I’m more than happy to give him that opportunity."

WWE.com weighs in: Sheamus pretty much said it all in our interview. He and Orton are known enemies, and as the WWE Universe is well aware, you should never trust The Viper. Regardless of where Orton’s affiliations lie, as long as Sheamus wears the title around his waist, WWE’s Apex Predator will be on the hunt for The Great White. A title match between the two would pit Orton’s classic style against the bull-like force of Sheamus’ street fighting ways, resulting in an evenly matched battle for SmackDown supremacy.

The Undertaker

Sheamus: "I’ve achieved pretty much everything — WWE Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, Royal Rumble winner, King of the Ring — all that’s left for me to do really is to take out The Streak."

WWE.com weighs in: Simply put, The Streak transcends sports-entertainment. And when The Deadman steps through the ropes, the entire WWE Universe stops spinning. The Undertaker’s WrestleMania Streak is quite literally the stuff of legend, and as an Irishman, Sheamus knows a thing or two about legends. Being the one to put an end to The Streak would cement The Celtic Warrior’s place in the annals of history, and elevate a great champion to truly mythic stature.