Seth Rollins has officially confirmed that he will be available for WWE’s Royal Rumble event this Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as he continues to recover from shoulder surgery. Having been sidelined since September, fans are eagerly anticipating his return to action.
The former world heavyweight champion was compelled to relinquish his title after sustaining a shoulder injury at Crown Jewel in Perth, Australia. Following a storyline betrayal by his faction, Rollins has been absent from WWE shows ever since.
Rollins became involved in a rivalry with CM Punk, who won the vacant championship at November’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. Given that his injury resulted from The Vision’s betrayal, Rollins may be seeking revenge when he makes his comeback.
In an update on his recovery shared during an appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Rollins ruled out participating in the Royal Rumble on January 31st, stating, “Let’s put the brakes on going to the Royal Rumble. I’m not ready for that yet. I just had rotator cuff surgery in October. I have a few months left. I wish I could be there, but that’s not going to happen.”
Rollins’ injury has reportedly altered WWE’s plans for WrestleMania 42, where he was originally slated to defend his title against Roman Reigns at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas—a match that has now been scrapped. Despite this, the 39-year-old wrestler has expressed optimism about returning in time for WWE’s biggest event of the year. It remains unclear whether his comeback will happen at the Royal Rumble or sometime before, but there are several compelling storylines that could feature him.
If Rollins is cleared to compete at WrestleMania, a clash with Bron Breakker would be a logical and exciting rivalry. Breakker recently led a rebellion against Rollins and took control of The Vision, making their feud rich with narrative potential.
While Bron Breakker was initially set to challenge CM Punk for the world title at WrestleMania, his momentum has stalled, and since he recently faced Punk on RAW’s anniversary show—losing in that bout—a fresh matchup with Rollins offers a new main-event opportunity. This bout could also serve as a breakout moment for Breakker as he steps fully into the main event spotlight. Meanwhile, Roman Reigns’ role remains intriguing, as he is expected to vie for the world title, potentially setting the stage for a unification or title showdown with Punk.
Fan Take: This update is significant for WWE enthusiasts because Seth Rollins is a cornerstone of the company, and his return could reshape the landscape of WWE storylines heading into WrestleMania. A potential matchup with Bron Breakker not only introduces fresh energy but could also elevate the next generation of main event stars, signaling an exciting era for the sport.
