The world of wrestling was shaken by one of the biggest surprises at SummerSlam. CM Punk, after defeating Gunther, savored the victory of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, a title he held for only five minutes and ten seconds. However, the celebration was abruptly interrupted. Seth Rollins, with the help of his manager Paul Heyman, appeared on the entrance ramp, leaning on crutches. Uncertainty gripped the audience, who were expecting a possible attack. But Rollins, in an unexpected turn, dropped the crutches and removed his knee brace, then ran towards the ring, unleashing the euphoria of the 53,161 fans present at MetLife Stadium.
The “Ruse of the Century”
Rollins, with unparalleled cunning, cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase, snatching the championship from Punk and claiming the world title. This move, reminiscent of his memorable cash-in at WrestleMania 31, once again demonstrated Rollins’ ability to surprise and captivate the audience.
At WrestleMania 31, Rollins had already starred in the “Heist of the Century”, cashing in his briefcase during the main event between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. That moment earned him his first WWE World Heavyweight Championship, marking a before and after in his career.“When you have the greatest trade of all time, it’s pretty hard to top it. Following in my own footsteps was my biggest concern. I had to find a way to do it differently, still create a great moment, but be able to separate the two in a way and make them equal,” Rollins declared.
Seth Rollins
The first step was at a live event, where Rollins faked the injury during a moonsault attempt. The reaction of the audience and the subsequent improvisation of LA Knight, which allowed him to win, consolidated the farce.
The farce continued with an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show”, where Rollins talked about his injury, increasing the credibility of the deception. The program played a crucial role in convincing the sports world of the seriousness of the injury. Even Rollins and Becky Lynch’s family life was involved in the hoax, including their daughter Roux, who almost revealed the secret. Despite the challenges, the couple managed to maintain the deception until the SummerSlam weekend. The couple had to navigate the New York area without revealing anything, which forced them to keep up the charade a little longer. They met with friends at an Italian restaurant in New Jersey, where Rollins appeared on crutches. The photos of the fans with Rollins on crutches the night before SummerSlam were a clear indication of the complexity of the plan. On the day of the event, Rollins remained hidden in a bus for hours before his big reveal. It was a moment of isolation, but necessary to maintain focus and surprise. Finally, the moment arrived when CM Punk defeated Gunther. Rollins waited for the opportune moment, stopping on the ramp to create suspense. Then, with perfect execution, he got rid of the crutches, the coat, and the knee pads, and then attacked Punk with the briefcase and executed his Curb Stomp. The rivalry with Punk will continue, but Rollins proved to be the master of deception.
