World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins has lifted the lid on the elaborate injury storyline that set the stage for his title victory at SummerSlam, admitting he has “zero regrets” about the deception and revealing that the ruse was convincing enough to fool John Cena.
Speaking on the SI Media With Jimmy Traina, Rollins discussed the strategy behind what WWE billed as “the Ruse of the Century.” The angle began earlier in the summer, when his match at Saturday Night’s Main Event was cut short with Rollins selling a serious knee injury. He then appeared on crutches for weeks, only to reveal the truth at SummerSlam. After CM Punk had just won the championship, Rollins stormed the ring, discarded the crutches, showed his knee was fine, and successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.
The plan was kept under strict secrecy. Asked how many people were aware, Rollins was blunt: “You can probably count on two hands.”
According to Rollins, the pitch came to him weeks in advance — rare preparation time in WWE’s fast-paced environment. “I thought the idea was brilliant when I first heard it,” he said. “Obviously, the execution was going to be important… I felt the crux of the idea was brilliant. I was the guy to be able to pull that off. I was very excited at the prospect of it. My level of commitment to our industry is second to none. I was the guy for the job.”
That commitment extended to keeping the secret from even his most trusted colleagues. The performance was so convincing it sparked concern from John Cena, who reached out directly. Rollins admitted to some hesitation over misleading him, but said the guilt didn’t last.
“I didn’t feel guilty. I let my wife [Becky Lynch] take all the guilt,” Rollins said. “If someone did this to me, I wouldn’t feel bad in the slightest. I would totally get it. Even my closest friends. Maybe John Cena. John reached out and I had to do my best to wiggle around it. John and I are cut from the same cloth, so when John saw the final outcome, he was very happy and proud.”
The aftermath of the SummerSlam cash-in continues to shape WWE’s main event picture, with momentum building toward the upcoming Wrestlepalooza Premium Live Event in Indianapolis.
The card marks a new milestone as the first WWE show to stream on ESPN Unlimited. Rollins will team with Becky Lynch against CM Punk and AJ Lee in a mixed tag team bout that brings their personal rivalry to the forefront. The show will open with John Cena facing longtime rival Brock Lesnar, while Cody Rhodes defends the Undisputed WWE Championship against Drew McIntyre. Also announced, The Usos will collide with The Vision’s powerhouse tandem of Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker.