Sucks to be Seth Rollins … this week.
The 2026 King of the Ring had found its first two semi-finalists in Oba Femi and Dominik Mysterio heading into Monday’s bout pitting a field of Rollins, Je’Von Evans, Talla Tonga, and Ricky Saints. And with Rollins having never actually lost the title now held by arch-rival Roman Reigns, one would have expected him to be making a play at renewing their acquaintance at the most important party of the summer.
In actual fact, there had been rumors circulating that Rollins and Femi were being eyed as major Reigns programs in the approaching future. Thus lending to the concept, even without winning all of it, Rollins would have been somewhere in and across the finals. That proved to not be the case when Evans ultimately pinned Saints to qualify for the subsequent round, where he’ll meet the winner of a four-way between Jey Uso, LA Knight, Finn Balor, and Royce Keys.
Rollins will as an alternative proceed to be stuck within the Vision Vortex of his own making, as his former pupil Bron Breakker and Austin Theory emerged to cost him the match. Heaven forbid the Tag Team Champions focused on being a tag team for a bit while.
But, as one door closes for only one person, a couple of others have remained barely ajar. Evans is the pick of the bunch, getting his win regardless of Rollins and advancing to maintain a “WWE NXT” rivalry renewal possible for the ultimate. Oba Femi has one less foremost event caliber talent and proven winner standing in his way, even when Brock Lesnar’s shadow looms over his entire run.
Dominik Mysterio will either profit from that shadow or withstand a beating from Femi – but he has a likelihood, and that is greater than may be said about Rollins. And the opposite 4 potential semi-finalists shall be facing Evans, which given he’s a young up-and-coming talent on the WWE foremost roster, is about the most effective likelihood they will have of going to the ultimate.
The tournament seems a bit more open now. The seal has been broken and interference has already cost one among the favorites to win dearly. Mysterio is someone that may only profit from that style of precedent, considering the Judgment Day all the time waiting within the wings. But so can the likes of Jey Uso, given his Bloodline backing, and knowing he shall be facing Evans within the semi-final would – within the realms of kayfabe – lean towards him having higher possibilities than against Rollins.
Sucks to be Rollins, sure, however the others will certainly be sighing a breath of relief that he’s out of the running.
Written by Max Everett