Seth Rollins' WWE Raw Open Challenge Turns Into Bait & Switch

WWE didn't deliver Seth Rollins' World Heavyweight Title open challenge as advertised.

by Andy H Murray
Seth Rollins
WWE.com

Seth Rollins' advertised World Heavyweight Championship open challenge did not go ahead as planned on last night's WWE Raw, with the promotion effectively pulling a bait and switch in the form of a beatdown angle.

Rollins had opened the door for any wrestler to challenge him on Raw - and hit the ring at the start of the show for that very purpose. Rather than wrestling, however, Seth was attacked by Finn Balor. The Judgment Day man battered Rollins all across ringside, hitting the Coup de Grace multiple times, before attacking the World Heavyweight Champion again in the backstage area.

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A fuming Balor had rendered Rollins "unable to compete." In parting, Finn claimed he had been waiting seven years for a shot.

Rollins is due to defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Bron Breaker on tonight's episode of NXT. Following this, Seth meets Balor at Money In The Bank 2023 on Saturday, 1 July.

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WWE ran last night's angle to sow seeds of doubt in the outcome ahead of Rollins vs. Breakker in particular, with the company questioning, on air, if Seth will be able to make it to Tuesday's show.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.