Seth Rollins returned at WWE SummerSlam and cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase, completing a storyline direction that was launched several weeks ago.
On the July 12 edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Rollins feigned a knee injury during his match with LA Knight, with the match playing out as though an audible was called as Knight hit the BFT and pinned Rollins.
Two days prior, I had been informed of an angle that was being planned on the show involving Rollins. Further, it was specifically stated that it would see Rollins placed “on crutches” leading into SummerSlam and eliminate the expectation for a cash-in.
There was a great degree of confusion as this was kept close to the vest to maximize the surprise of Rollins’ return.
In checking in throughout the past three weeks, I was never informed that the plan had changed or that the company had wavered to execute the cash-in at SummerSlam.
During the three weeks, Rollins appeared on crutches backstage at the Evolution show on July 13 and provided an update on The Rich Eisen Show that week. During that appearance, he said the swelling wouldn’t allow for an MRI, but Rollins suspected he would be out for a long time.
Gunther and CM Punk had a 30-minute match, ending after Gunther bled in the closing minutes. Michael Cole and Wade Barrett alluded to a possible “broken nose,” and the reason is that Gunther is supposed to be having sinus surgery imminently.
After Punk sold for most of the match, he struck the bloodied Gunther with the GTS twice to win the title and set the stage for Rollins’ cash-in and title win.
