10 Wresting Title Reigns That Were Ruined By Injury
6. Seth Rollins (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)
Finn Bálor’s SummerSlam opponent knows a thing or two about injuries. As The Shield’s first breakout star following the group’s 2014 dissolution, the Authority-aligned Rollins had become one of WWE’s biggest heels, and a standout in-ring performer who was growing in confidence on the microphone.
2014 saw The Architect capture WWE’s Money in the Bank briefcase, and his cash-in provided one of 2015’s most exciting moments. With Brock Lesnar wrestling the maligned Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 31, Rollins charged down to the ring to cash-in and capture the WWE Championship. The show went off the air with a visibly excited Architect swinging the belt wildly overhead, closing out a thoroughly enjoyable PPV with a truly iconic moment.
Rollins enjoyed a long run marred by questionable booking. He was regularly made to look like a weak champion, but he still continued to deliver in the ring. Sadly, Rollins destroyed his knee during a Live Event match against Kane, and tore his MCL, ACL, and medial meniscus. He didn’t return to action until this year’s Extreme Rules, but has picked up exactly where he left-off, and remains one of Raw’s standout performers.
His recovery process was recently documented in the WWE Network special Seth Rollins: Redesign, Rebuild, Reclaim, which comes highly-recommended.