Seth Rollins stood tall over World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns after laying him out during a heated contract signing on this week’s episode of Raw.
Rollins attacked his former Shield stablemate during a contract signing for their upcoming championship match on SummerSlam which will be held on August 2.
The championship match was made official after Rollins challenged Reigns two weeks ago, setting the stage for another chapter in their long-running rivalry.
Shield brothers turned rivals
The two stars both made their main roster debut back in 2012 alongside Dean Ambrose, who left the company in 2019.
Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose dominated the company as the Shield, before Rollins dismantled and betrayed the group in 2014 in a heel turn.
The trio had individual championship success during the post-Shield era, having multiple stints as world champions.
Reigns and Rollins had shared a bitter rivalry ever since the betrayal, as the “The Visionary” has always been a thorn to “The Tribal Chief’s” side.
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A rivalry worth more than championship gold
When Rollins issued the challenge two weeks ago, he said that if Reigns does not accept the match, he will “never be able to escape the ghost of Seth Rollins.”
Reigns accepted the challenge, expressing that he needed to defeat his former brother-in-arms.
“I need my entire family to witness me beating you. And at SummerSlam that’s exactly what I’m gonna do,” Reigns told a visibly emotional Rollins.
The following week, Rollins said that Reigns was spearheaded as the “chosen one” during their stint as the Shield.
Rollins said being positioned behind Reigns during their time in The Shield “did not sit right” with him, adding that he had always dreamed of becoming the biggest star in the industry.
“Those were my dreams, and to watch those dreams be handed off to somebody else, that broke something in me. And every decision I made after that was in direct response to watching my dreams be handed off to somebody that I didn’t think deserved it.”
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Rollins leaves Reigns laying
During this week’s contract signing, Reigns and Rollins traded a heated exchange, as “The Tribal Chief” kept on calling the challenger the “number two.”
“You and me… we’re not fighting the same fight, and at some point, I had to look in the mirror, I had to be proud of who I am, I had to be proud of what I stand for, I had to be proud for what I fight for,” Rollins said.
“I am so glad I’m not you,” Rollins then said, as tensions erupted with Rollins firing first with a punch to the face.
Reigns responded with a “Superman Punch” before attempting to “Powerbomb” Rollins through the table.
Rollins countered by striking Reigns with the microphone before delivering a “Pedigree” followed by a “Curb Stomp”, leaving the champion laid out to close the show.
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