In his latest, PWP Nation’s Editor-in-Chief Caden Moran details the three-year struggle of Seth Rollins to reclaim his spot at the top of WWE
For three years, Seth Rollins has been on a mission. Ever since the Extreme Rules event in 2016, “The Architect” has been attempting to fulfill the promise he made following his return from injury in 2016.
Seth Rollins’ promise was to “Redesign, Rebuild, Reclaim.”
It took three years, but Rollins finally achieved the third part of that promise.
Finally, Seth Rollins has reclaimed his spot at the top of WWE.
For the majority of 2015, Rollins was rolling as the WWE Champion while being the “face” of WWE and The Authority. With prominent figures such as Triple H, Randy Orton, Kaneand Stephanie McMahonby his side, the young and bright Seth Rollins couldn’t be stopped.
However, in November of that year, Rollins’ rise and momentum came to a screeching halt following a freak injury that saw him tear his ACL, MCL and medical meniscus. The injury couldn’t have come at a worse time with Survivor Seriesand Wrestlemania right around the corner. Rollins was forced to vacate the WWE Championship that day, and a six-month quest to regain what he never lost began.
Seth Rollins was arguably the biggest star in WWE at the time he suffered the injury. He held the WWE Championship for 220 days, and even held the United States Championship along with it for a brief number of weeks. He went on to defeat guys like John Cena,Stingand Orton.
It was an incredible run for “The Architect” that nobody thought he would be able to reciprocate.
Even with Rollins being out on the shelf for a number of months, WWE didn’t lack in finding their next star. For a number of months leading up to the injury to the champion, Roman Reigns was being set up to take over. We don’t know what the result would’ve been, but Rollins versus Reigns was slotted to happen for the WWE title at Survivor Seriesin 2015. However, the injury changed that. Seth Rollins versus Roman Reigns would have to wait.
Over the next six months, “The Big Dog” took Rollins’ spot as WWE Champion and as the face of the company (officially) at Wrestlemania 32 in April of 2016. The next month-and-a-half belonged to Roman Reigns.
However, time began to be in favor for the former champion. It was in May of 2016 where Seth Rollins would make his long-awaited return and where he would set his sights on the title he never lost.
Following Reigns’ successful title defense against A.J. Stylesat the 2016 Extreme Rulesevent, Rollins reintroduced himself to the champion and to the WWE Universe.
The man himself made his way to the ring to a large roar from the crowd and delivered a Pedigreeto the champion. Rollins stood in the center of the ring with a new, reinvented look and held the WWE Championship above his head.
It was that night where Seth’s quest began. His new shirt had the words “Redesign, Rebuild, Reclaim” written across the back. The first two were already completed. All that was left was for Rollins to reclaim.
Following his return to the ring, Seth Rollins found himself in a tough position. He was still positioned as a heel, which nobody wanted, He was still going to old members of The Authority for help, which nobody wanted. The WWE Universe wanted a babyface Seth Rollins.
Not only was he on a quest to win back the WWE title, but Rollins was also on a quest to find out who he truly is as a person.
At Money in the Bank2016, Rollins received his rematch for the WWE Championship against Reigns. Against all odds, “The Architect” pulled off the win, becoming a two-time WWE Champion in the process. For the moment, Seth fulfilled his promise. That was until an old foe and a personal demon came back to haunt the new champion.
Earlier that night, Dean Ambrose won the Money in the Bank ladder match. Following the victory of Rollins, Ambrose wasted no time in taking what he wanted from the man he despised the most.
“The Lunatic Fringe” cashed in and planted Seth with Dirty Deedsto become the new WWE Champion. In the blink of an eye, it all came and went for Seth Rollins.
The next few months continued to test the patience of Seth. At Battleground, following the shocking cash-in victory of Ambrose, the champion defended the title in the much anticipated triple threat match between the three former members of The Shield.
A back-and-forth match between the three ultimately led to Ambrose retaining the gold. As the champion celebrated, more heartbreak flowed through Rollins. It was his last shot at reclaiming the title he never lost, and he failed.
Prior to the Battlegroundevent in 2016, WWE announced the return of the brand split. Monday Night Rawand Smackdown Livewould become two separate entities once again with exclusive talent drafted to each. Rollins was the first-overall pick in the draft for Rawwhile Ambrose went second to Smackdown Live.
Because of this, and because of Rollins’ failure to capture the title at Battleground, the WWE Championship became exclusive to the blue brand. Rawwas left without a world championship.
However, the night after that important event, Stephanie McMahon announced there would be a new world title exclusive to the red brand. McMahon announced the WWE Universal Championship would be unveiled and the first champion would be crowned at Summerslamof 2016.
Seth Rollins was set to fight for the new title against the newest and most exciting NXT call up, Finn Balor.
Seth’s promise still applied. Despite the WWE Championship now being exclusive to Smackdown Live, Seth had a new meaning behind the phrase “Reclaim.”
He may no longer be trying to reclaim the title he never lost, but he was now on a quest to reclaim his spot at the top of WWE. The WWE Universal Championship allowed for that quest to become a success.
Summerslam was an important event for Seth. He had a chance at becoming the inaugural WWE Universal Champion. He also had a chance to silence his doubters and fulfill his destiny. However, after a hellacious match against “The Demon King” Finn Balor, Rollins failed once again. Balor pinned him following a Coup De Grace to win the title.
The next night on Raw, Balor was forced to vacate the title he just won due to an injury suffered in that match. Once again, Rollins had a chance.
After he earned his opportunity to compete for the vacant title, Rollins went up against Reigns, Big Cassand Kevin Owensin a Fatal Four-Way match. It was in this match where we would see the death of the cowardly heel Seth Rollins, and where we would witness the beginning of a new chapter for him.
Towards the end of the match, the former mentor of Seth, Triple H, made his way ringside and delivered a Pedigree to Reigns. “The Game” yelled at his former protégé to pin his foe, which he would do. It all came down to Rollins and Owens, with Triple H seemingly there to help the man he once led to the mountain top.
However, in a shocking turn of events, Triple H turned on Rollins after planting him with a Pedigree. “The Cerebral Assassin” allowed Owens to pick up the win, meaning he was now the WWE Universal Champion.
This moment was a turning point in Seth Rollins’ career. No longer was he going to be handed anything. No longer was he WWE’s favorite son. He now had to earn and fight for what he wanted. It was that night where his journey back to the top truly began.
Following a series of rematches against Owens, Seth could never get the job done. With Wrestlemaniaseason approaching, Rollins turned his attention to the man who cost him the Universal title. He turned his attention to his former mentor, Triple H.
At NXT TakeOver: San Antonio in 2017, Rollins literally took over the show and called out the founder and producer, who just so happens to be Triple H. We saw a fire light inside of Seth that night. He may not have gotten the confrontation he wanted, but he showed the fans that he would do whatever it takes to get what he wants.
With Rollins having gained a large amount of momentum and fan support, it nearly came to a screeching halt once again. On the episode of Raw following the Royal Rumble event, Rollins was taken out by a debuting Samoa Joe. During the attack, Rollins injured his surgically-repaired knee. The next week was torture not just for the fans, but for Seth himself. In the blink of an eye, Wrestlemanianearly disappeared for Seth for the second year in a row.
Against all odds, however, Seth made it to Wrestlemania 33 to face Triple H in a Non-Sanctioned match. That night, dawning Game of Thrones character Jaime Lannister inspired gear, Rollins defeated Triple H with his own finisher.
That night, Seth Rollins officially became known as “The Kingslayer.”
Over the next few months following Wrestlemania 33, Rollins continued his quest to capture the WWE Universal Championship. Following a failed attempt to face the champion, Rollins turned his attention to his former friend and foe, Dean Ambrose.
The story told with Ambrose during the Summer of 2017 defined who Seth Rollins has truly become. He wanted Ambrose to be his partner once again and he wanted to start over. After weeks of trying to persuade Ambrose to join him, it all came to fruition before Summerslamof 2017.
As Seth was being beat down by the Raw Tag Team Champions The Bar(Sheamus & Cesaro), Ambrose rushed to the ring and saved his former brother.
After a tense standoff, the former members of The Shield threw their fists together, signaling the reunion we were all waiting for. Following this, Rollins and Ambrose defeated The Bar for the titles at Summerslam.
The rest of 2017 was full of tag-team action for “The Kingslayer.” After a small reunion of The Shieldin the late part of the year and a injury to Ambrose, Rollins began to team up with Jason Jordan.
After Rollins and Jordan lost the Raw Tag Team titles at Royal Rumble2018, Rollins once again turned his attention to singles action. With the Universal Champion Brock Lesnarnever showing up on Monday nights, Seth wanted to turn Rawinto “Monday Night Rollins.”
Seth would make Rawhis brand at Wrestlemania 34when he defeated Balor and The Mizto become the new Intercontinental Champion. This win made Seth a Grand Slam Champion, and it allowed for a true champion to bring the fight on Monday nights.
The next few months saw Rollins defending the Intercontinental title countlessly on Rawand everywhere else. Following a back-and-forth story with Dolph Ziggler, Seth once again found himself involved with his Shieldbrothers.
Following another small reunion for the trio, Roman Reigns made a shocking announcement. Reigns stated he had been living with Leukemia for 11 years, and that it had returned. Reigns would need time away, leaving Rawto Rollins and Ambrose once again.
That same night, the two brothers defeated Ziggler and Drew McIntyreto win the Raw Tag Team titles. They dedicated the match to Roman Reigns, and they did him justice. However, following an embrace by the two new champions, Ambrose shocked the world and turned on Rollins. “The Lunatic Fringe” beat down his friend in a merciless attack before walking out of the arena.
The two would go on to battle for the Intercontinental title at TLC2018 in a match that Ambrose would win. We were witnessing a new beginning for both men.
Following his loss to Ambrose, Seth had to turn his attention to the future. He had to turn his attention to the Royal Rumble event, to be exact.
The Royal Rumble2019 event was the moment Seth Rollins had been waiting for. During the Royal Rumble match, Rollins went on to eliminate Braun Strowmanto win the match and to earn himself a championship match at Wrestlemania 35. The next night on Raw, Rollins made his pick.
At Wrestlemania 35, it would be Seth Rollins versus Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship.
A three-year long journey was coming to its end. It was the moment Seth Rollins risked everything for.
Rollins versus Lesnar opened Wrestlemania 35, and after Lesnar obliterated Rollins before the opening bell, the tables turned. Seth gained momentum against “The Beast Incarnate” and proved to be worthy of conquering the conqueror.
After a series of Curb Stomp’s, Seth Rollins shocked the world and dethroned Lesnar to become the new WWE Universal Champion. Three years after he was forced to give up the WWE title, Rollins made his way back to the top, and he did it all on his own.
“The Beastslayer” went through so much to reclaim his spot atop WWE, but he finally did it.
Seth Rollins was once deemed “the future” of WWE. Now, he is the present. It may have taken longer than he anticipated, but Seth Rollins has officially delivered on his promise.
Seth redesigned.
Seth rebuilt.
And now, Seth has reclaimed.
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