With WrestlePalooza days away, the rivalry between WWE’s two power couples has escalated into a full-blown verbal battle. World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, never one to step out of the spotlight, reignited the feud during a national media appearance by addressing his heated exchange with AJ Lee on Raw.
The segment closed with Becky Lynch dropping Lee with a Manhandle Slam, but it was Lee’s slap to Rollins beforehand that drew attention. Speaking on ESPN’s Get Up, Rollins made it clear the strike was no staged shot. “She [AJ Lee] slaps me right in the face. She’s got a h—l of a right hand on her, I’m not gonna lie,” he said.
Rollins then reframed the moment as part of a larger tactical plan. He explained that he and Lynch used the appearance of tension to manipulate their opponents, CM Punk and Lee. “But at the end of the day, they think we’re a squabbling couple. They think we’re gonna have some sort of domestic dispute here. Absolutely not. We are the greatest couple in the history of professional wrestling. And we proved why, right here. Got inside their head, mind games, put AJ Lee on the mat.”
The champion’s confidence carried over to a separate ESPN spot on First Take, where he once again leaned into his reputation for delivering high-profile moments. Calling himself a “moment-making machine,” Rollins argued that returning stars naturally gravitate toward sharing the spotlight with him. “I am the greatest superstar, not just of my generation, but every generation in the history of this company… I will be on the Mount Rushmore of this industry. No question about it.”