Professional wrestling is a physically demanding industry, and few understand that better than Seth Rollins. The “Visionary” has been a workhorse for WWE for over a decade, but that tenure has come with a physical price. While appearing on a recent episode of Complex News, Rollins opened up about the legitimate pain he was battling throughout the summer of 2025, a period where he was briefly absent from television due to a storyline knee injury.
“My Neck Was Destroying Me”
Rollins returned to the fold at SummerSlam 2025, famously cashing in his Money in the Bank contract on CM Punk to regain the World Heavyweight Championship. However, the road to that moment was paved with agony. Rollins revealed that while the on-screen narrative focused on his knee, his neck was the real issue causing havoc in his daily life.
“Last year, my neck was destroying me. That was really bad… During the summer last year… I couldn’t go 30 seconds without fidgeting. I had to get in a different position, I had to jam my thumb into my neck. I mean, it was not fun and then had to try to go to work and wrestle and be normal and stuff like that.”
The Toll on Family Life
Perhaps the most difficult aspect of the injury for Rollins wasn’t the pain inside the ring, but how it limited his interactions with his daughter, Roux. He expressed deep regret over the moments he couldn’t be the father he wanted to be because of his physical limitations.
“The worst part is when your daughter wants to play and you’re like, ‘Ah, daddy needs a minute…’ It’s seeing her disappointed is the worst feeling in the world. I can get through wrestling stuff, whatever. But seeing my daughter disappointed and the sadness on her face because daddy can’t pick her up. That hurts. That sticks with you…”
Current Landscape of the World Title Picture
Rollins is currently sidelined once again, albeit for a different injury, leaving the World Heavyweight Championship picture in a volatile state. In his absence, CM Punk has taken firm control of the Raw brand. Punk successfully defended the gold against Bron Breakker to start the year and is now scheduled to put the title on the line against Finn Balor next Monday in Belfast, Ireland. With Rollins’ return timeline still uncertain, the “Second City Saint” looks poised to carry the red brand into WrestleMania season unchallenged by his old rival.
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