The undisputed WWE Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, has not been seen in the ring since his successful title defense against LA Knight at WWE Crown Jewel 2023 in Saudi Arabia on November 4. He was also absent from the WWE Survivor Series WarGames 2023 event in Chicago on November 25.
Recently, the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins, took a slight dig at Roman Reigns for failing to maintain his WWE schedule and also addressed the fact that not everyone in the locker room is interested in challenging Reigns.
Seth Rollins claims not everybody wants to fight Roman Reigns
Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns have been crowned WWE World Heavyweight Champion and Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, respectively, and have successfully defended their titles multiple times. Reigns has been the champion for over 1100 days, while Rollins is not far behind with a title defense streak of over 200 days.
During the “Sports Illustrated” podcast with Jimmy Traina, The Architect didn’t mince words when talking about the championship run of his former Shield buddy, Roman Reigns. Seth Rollins pointed out that Roman Reigns has been so absent that the WWE locker room is also not interested in fighting him for the Universal Championship title.
“To be honest, as of late, because he’s been so absent, I don’t think it’s been a topic of conversation amongst fans, let alone the locker room. I think it’s one of those things where it’s an opportunity, but it’s such a glass-ceiling opportunity. It feels like one of those things where it may never happen. What’s the point in wasting your time because the glass ceiling is so obvious and so thick, which is nice on my end with the World Heavyweight Championship?” said Seth Rollins.
He also said that he is always open to new challenges and is willing to take risks if necessary, which his friend is not taking. He stated, “I feel like there is much more of a real conversation to be had about who is going to be able to dethrone me, if that’s ever the case, because I’m available, I’m around, I’m visible, and I put myself out there and take risks that Roman isn’t taking at the moment.”
It was not the first time that any WWE superstars have criticized Roman Reigns for his absence; previously, many WWE veterans also complained about his absence. Some fans also claim that The Trible Chief is causing a loss to the value of the Universal Championship by not defending it regularly on WWE shows.
Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns rivalry
One of the most iconic rivalries in WWE history is the feud between Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Their story has been full of twists and turns, making it one of the most popular rivalries to date. They both joined WWE in 2012, more than a decade ago, and their journey has been a wild ride. This rivalry has yet to come to an end, as there are still a few more chapters to be written.
In 2012, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose made their WWE debut as a faction called “The Shield.” They went on a rampage and won the tag team titles and the United States Championship, and for the next two years, they were unbeatable. However, in 2014, on an episode of Raw, Seth Rollins betrayed the group, and Roman Reigns was left feeling betrayed. This led to a feud between Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, with Rollins eventually winning with the help of Triple H.
Seth Rollins suffered an injury in late 2015, which kept him out of WWE action until the middle of 2016. He made his comeback at Extreme Rules and challenged Roman Reigns for the WWE Championship. The two had an intense match at Money in the Bank, which Rollins won. However, Dean Ambrose capitalized on his Money in the Bank contract and cashed it in to become the new WWE Champion.
In 2018, The Shield reunited with Rollins and Reigns, joining forces to win the WWE tag team titles. Their friendship was unshakable, but it was put to the ultimate test when Reigns revealed that he had leukemia. Fortunately, The Tribal Chief made a victorious return in 2019, and The Shield embarked on a final tour together.
Last year, their long-standing rivalry reached a boiling point at the 2022 Royal Rumble, and the lead-up to the match was nothing short of intense. Rollins played mind games with Reigns, causing the latter to lose his temper. The fans were hooked, and the match itself was the only highlight in an otherwise mediocre Royal Rumble event.
In the future, will there be any opportunity to see a Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns match? Let us know your thoughts on it in the comment section below!
