Seth Rollins Losing A Lot Of WWE Matches Is Good, Actually

Seth Rollins' unspectacular WWE win/loss record was a prominent discussion topic amongst wrestling fans last weekend, owing to a @WrestleOps tweet pointing out that the former Universal Champion's 50 losses in 2022 were more than anyone else in his company.

14 of those defeats came in the 24 televised matches Seth had wrestled this year at the time of the original tweet. His 2022 pay-per-view record is 1-6, with his solitary win coming via disqualification at Royal Rumble 2022.

These numbers are surface-level surprising. Rollins is a popular, prominently pushed wrestler with four WWE/Universal Title runs to his name, who regularly works with the biggest names in the business. On a more subjective note, Seth is regularly held up as WWE's most consistent performer of the past few years. His 2022 alone has yielded great stories opposite Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, and Cody Rhodes, all of which delivered between the ropes and if the company had an internal Wrestler of the Year race, he'd currently be running away with it.

But wrestling is not a sport easily distilled into numbers and statistics. Seth's record looks grim at first glance, but that he loses so often is a sign of trust, not disrespect, from his bookers.

Rollins has effectively made himself bulletproof in a company that has conditioned its viewers to undervalue wins and losses. His 'Drip God' persona is loud, ostentatious, and painted with the broadest strokes. That Rollins' words and actions so often register as nonsense make it the kind of character that almost certainly wouldn't land in any other company. But in WWE, land it most certainly does - to the extent that Rollins could lose every big match between now and 31 December without losing a drop of popularity.

Seth has struck Sports Entertainment gold with a gimmick perfect for his environment. Provided he can keep it fresh, there's little chance of him slipping from his current spot as the closest thing WWE has to an internet darling in 2022. Win, lose, or draw, he stays over, and his losing record demonstrates the immense trust WWE has in him.

Going 0-3 across three straight premium live event matches with Rhodes did nothing to harm Rollins. WWE knows he will endure as a star no matter his record, which is why he is booked in losing situations so often. Rollins has become a valuable tool, particularly in an era where so few big defeats are constructed with thought for the person taking the fall. His is a scalp worth taking and his shoulders can be pinned freely without damage. Seth will likely continue losing until this is no longer the case.

Rollins' record demonstrates his value beyond quarter-hour ratings pops and ticket sales. Further World Title wins are likely in his future, but for now, they are unnecessary. The 'Drip God' is one of the best losers in the game.