A photograph of Seth Rollins on crutches, obtained by Ringside News before WWE RAW, has ignited a firestorm of speculation among fans who are convinced his recent knee injury is a work. The prevailing theory suggests the injury is an elaborate setup for Rollins to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase during the John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes match at SummerSlam.
The fan skepticism is fueled by a key contradiction. One user pointed out the discrepancy between Triple H stating Rollins was heading to Birmingham to see a top doctor and Rollins’ own claim that he had not yet received an MRI because of swelling. “100% a work. Hunter said he was going to Birmingham to see one of the best doctors and he couldn’t figure it out because of ‘swelling’,” the fan wrote. This apparent inconsistency has become the cornerstone of the belief that WWE is orchestrating a storyline swerve.
This situation began after Rollins reportedly suffered the knee injury during his match against LA Knight at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The match was stopped early, with an audible called mid-bout, despite Rollins originally being booked to win. The abrupt ending, combined with the current ambiguity, has only strengthened the conviction of fans who see a classic wrestling angle unfolding. One predicted the outcome bluntly: “Biggest ‘work’ of the summer. Seth will leave the SummerSlam as Heavyweight Champion.”
Rollins himself added to the mystery during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show. When asked about his status, he gave a non-committal answer, noting his wife’s match at the event. “To be fair, I might be there. My wife—my wife is wrestling Lyra Valkyria for the Intercontinental Championship at SummerSlam… So, we’ll see,” Rollins stated, adding that the swelling in his knee had so far made an MRI inconclusive.
The belief that Rollins is simply “method acting” has taken hold, with many fans connecting the dots to a surprise return and championship victory. “Seth is pretending,” one fan posted. “He will cash in on John Cena and Cody match. Mark my word.” Others were more direct, with replies like “This brother lying” and declarations that “Kayfabe is back.”
This wave of disbelief aligns with reports that WWE may be employing “Machiavellian” tactics, intentionally creating confusion to blur the lines between reality and fiction. With no official medical timeline released, the company is leveraging the uncertainty to build drama. As one fan aptly summarized the community’s sentiment, “I’m not believing shit till after SummerSlam ngl.”
