Champion Bobby Lashley in a losing effort and backstage, attacked United States Champion Riddle. The following week, Sheamus defeated Riddle in a non-title match to earn a championship opportunity at WrestleMania 37. On the second night of the event on 11 April, Sheamus defeated Riddle to win the United States Championship for the third time. He would go on to defend the title against the likes of Humberto Carrillo and Ricochet over the next several months. At SummerSlam on 21 August, Sheamus dropped the title to Damian Priest, ending his third reign at 132 days. The Brawling Brutes (2021–present) As part of the 2021 Draft, Sheamus was drafted to the SmackDown brand. In November, Sheamus formed an alliance with Ridge Holland, after Holland would refer to him as his idol and help Sheamus win his matches. At the Day 1 event on 1 January 2022, he and Holland teamed up to defeat Cesaro and Ricochet. At Royal Rumble on 29 January, Sheamus entered at No. 17 but was eliminated by Bad Bunny. In March, they entered a feud with The New Day, where on the 11 March episode of SmackDown, Sheamus and Holland would introduce Butch as part of their stable. On the second night of WrestleMania 38 on April 3, Sheamus and Holland defeated The New Day in a quick match. At Money in the Bank on 2 July, Sheamus competed in the Money in the Bank ladder match, which was won by Theory. On the 29 July episode of SmackDown, Sheamus faced Drew McIntyre in a "Good Old Fashioned Donnybrook" to determine the #1 contender for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at Clash at the Castle, but lost. On the 19 August episode of SmackDown, Sheamus won a fatal five-way match, earning a match against Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship at Clash at the Castle. The following week on SmackDown, Sheamus and Gunther had a confrontation, in which Sheamus and Gunther's respective allies, Butch and Ludwig Kaiser, engaged in a brawl while Sheamus and Gunther remained motionless, staring each other down. At Clash at the Castle on 3 September, Sheamus failed to win the Intercontinental Championship from Gunther in a hard hitting, critically acclaimed match, but received a standing ovation from the Cardiff crowd after the match, turning face in the process. It became the seventh main roster WWE match to receive five stars from Dave Meltzer, and