When information broke that Seth Rollins had suffered some kind of knee damage in his combat in opposition to Jinder Mahal for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on RAW, it successfully served as an inflection level within the promotion’s present storytelling plan.
Although rumors ran wild as to how badly Rollins was harm, with some suggesting he’d be out just a few weeks and others suggesting the timeline ought to be measured in months, till the “Visionary” got here out and defined what occurred and the timeline surrounding it, followers must surprise simply how ugly issues might get for the present champion and the way his absence might change WWE’s present plans for his or her first three Premium Dwell Occasions of 2024, the Royal Rumble, the Elimination Chamber, and WrestleMania 40.
If Rollins might return by the top of March, who is aware of, perhaps the narrative might change from if the “Revolutionary” ought to retain his title to who ought to problem him at WrestleMania 40, but when his absence extends even additional, say, into the summer time, then who is aware of, perhaps the belt would should be vacated Finn Balor-style, resulting in a brand new champion topped earlier than the “Showcase of the Immortals” as an alternative of on the greatest present of the 12 months.
Taking the ring for the opening section of the present, Rollins marched all the way down to the ring in his standard flamboyant apparel, on this case, a vibrant inexperienced go well with, however lacking from his standard bombastic presentation was his standard jubilant expression, because it’s clear at this level the “Visionary” does not have a lot to smile about on this specific evening in New Orleans.
Seth Rollins – and Gunther – addresses his future within the WWE Universe.
After permitting the gang to sing his music for what could be the ultimate time for fairly a while, Seth Rollins lifted up his microphone and at last let the WWE Universe know what is going on on.
” New Orleans, welcome to Monday Evening Rollins. And it has been a protracted week, so I actually respect that, thanks guys. Seven days in the past I’m on this ring, I’m defending the World Heavyweight Championship in opposition to Jinder Mahal, I-uh.. It’s all proper, I beat him. I beat him. I leap off these ropes right here, I hit him with a moonsault like I do, you recognize, most of my matches, and I felt my knee sort of go in in a means it’s probably not purported to. And, you recognize, I did what I do, I completed the match. I beat Jinder Mahal,” Seth Rollins informed the gang on RAW.
“I spoke to the gang, and I went to the again and sat down, and once I sat down within the again, it was the primary time it actually set in that I could be out for a very long time. , earlier tonight, I’d spoken backstage about how each single title protection I solely get higher, I solely get stronger, and I couldn’t assist however feeling once I was again there, sort of helpless, unable to bend my knee, that I used to be a little bit of a liar. I assumed for the primary time that it was an actual risk that I’d miss WrestleMania. (Crowd chants “No!”) I respect that, however we nonetheless had an MRI to get performed, we needed to have it checked out. Bought the outcomes again center of the week, aaaaaaaand… Not nice. I’ve a grade 2 tear of my MCL, I’ve {a partially} torn medial meniscus as properly, and the docs are telling me, with surgical procedure, we’re three to 4 months. Now if it was as much as me, I’d be out right here subsequent week stomping individuals’s heads into this mat as a result of that’s what I like to do. However, sadly, it’s not simply as much as me, I can’t simply say ‘ no no no’ as a lot as I wish to. We don’t actually know what the longer term holds. And, so I’m taking it day-to-day. I’m taking it week by week…”
Sadly for Rollins, earlier than he might end his thought, who however Gunther marched out to the ring to speak some store forward of the Royal Rumble. When Rollins commanded Gunther to do what he wanted to do, the “Ring Common” informed him to not fear, as he was there to speak store, not drop the hammer.
“There’s no motive to be that a lot on edge, Seth, as a result of I simply got here right here to let you know, proper from the start, you had been within the high spot,” Gunther stated. “You’ve been labeled a Workhorse Champion proper from the start. Any person that has to come back on right here each week and combat actually for each victory. You’ve turn out to be a champion that brings dignity, respect, and honor to a championship. A champion that everyone right here will be happy with. Similar to me. However now, it sort of pulls on my coronary heart strings to see you want that. And I’m discovering out right this moment you won’t make it to WrestleMania? That makes me actually unhappy.”
“Properly, see right here’s the factor, Gunther,” Rollins responded. “You and your boys ought to’ve let me end. As a result of what I used to be about to say is that I don’t give a d*mn what the docs inform me. I don’t give a d*mn how onerous I’ve to rehab, how onerous I’ve to push this knee, I’ll maintain my promise, I’ll take this title into WrestleMania. Hey, and I’ll do each single factor in my energy to stroll out of WreslteMania the World Heavyweight Champion.”
“That’s nice! I’m actually comfortable to listen to that, as a result of final week, I felt all of us bought to see a giant champion fall,” Gunther famous. “However this week, you’re standing right here in entrance of me, proclaiming you’re gonna do all the pieces it takes to be the champion of WrestleMania and stroll out a champion of WreslteMania. what, Seth? I love it. I respect that so much, as a result of, I might do the identical factor if I had been in your place. And in reality, you remind me plenty of myself. So, from one nice champion to a different nice champion, on Sunday, I’m going to win the Royal Rumble, and I’m going to decide on you as my opponent for WrestleMania. However with all due respect, I’m going to focus on you knee, I’m going to focus on your again, I’m going to focus on all the pieces that isn’t 100%, and I’ll beat you and turn out to be the World Heavyweight Champion.”
So what provides? Is Seth Rollins going to wrestle at lower than one hundred pc at WrestleMania, as by his personal admission, it is unlikely he’ll be wholesome sufficient to wrestle at full energy when WWE rolls into Lincoln Monetary Area in South Philadelphia? Or will somebody discover a solution to take his title and finish issues earlier than they actually get going, be {that a} Damian Priest cash-in or Drew McIntyre lastly snapping and demanding a match on RAW? Both means, with Gunther now gunning for the World Heavyweight Championship, it is clear Rollins goes to have a fair tougher time retaining his belt when he returns to one hundred pc, ought to he return with the belt nonetheless in his possession.
