Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Seth Rollins Released

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Ben M
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Wrestling Observer Newsletter: Seth Rollins Released

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Extract from Wrestling Observer Newsletter: August 01 2018

Undoubtedly, the big news this week is that Seth Rollins was released from his EBWF contract. EBWF announced his release on Monday night, immediately after Warfare. The fact that the announcement didn't even wish Rollins "all the best in his future endeavors" tells you everything you need to know about the circumstances surrounding his release. To say the situation wasn't amicable would be an understatement.

We’re told that there were three incidents that ultimately led to Rollins being released. The first incident took place after Rollins’ loss to Jimmy Havoc on the July 16th Warfare. Rollins was said to be unhappy with the finish of the match, which was his first on screen defeat since rejoining EBWF back in March. Rollins confronted Director of New Talent Development, Chris Jericho, backstage after the match, which was frowned upon by a number of EBWF personnel including Wes Ikeda, who in addition to being Chairman and CEO, happens to be one of Jericho's best friends. According to backstage sources, Ikeda wanted to have a word with Rollins about the confrontation, but Jericho convinced him to let it go.

The second and third incidents took place within an hour of each other on Monday night while Warfare was being broadcast. The incidents took place in the final hour of the show, after Rollins lost his Breakout Title match with Aiden English. It was always the plan for Rollins to drop the Breakout Title before Summerslam, however apparently Rollins felt frustrated about losing to Havoc, not appearing on the July 23rd episode, and then losing a second match in the run up to his World Title match. This frustration resulted in Rollins having an argument backstage with his girlfriend, Paige, and Rollins kicked Paige out of the dressing room they were sharing while she was half-dressed. We're told that security had to intervene as Rollins refused to give Paige her things. That was strike two.

Strike three came immediately afterwards. The argument between Rollins and Paige drew the attention of Wes Ikeda and his wife, Natalya, both of whom were backstage at Warfare. Natalya was comforting Paige, and she said something to Rollins which he took as an affront. We're not sure what Natalya said, but we've been told by two separate sources that Rollins responded by telling Natalya "if you spent more time in the ring and less time sucking your husband's d**k, maybe I'd respect your opinion". Natalya is said to have ignored the crude comment, only telling Paige that she deserved better, which sources say made Rollins laugh. Ikeda was in the production area as the main event was getting started and was not within earshot, but word of Rollin’s comment reached him before the bell rang and he reportedly went to Rollin’s locker room and fired him immediately. Rollins was said to be stunned, but not more so than EBWF officials who had just lost their current darling and King of the Ring.

The impromptu firing of Seth Rollins led to Wes Ikeda calling an audible and changing the finish of the Gateway Championship match between Dalton Castle and Jimmy Havoc while the match was happening. According to our sources, Jimmy Havoc was originally scheduled to beat Dalton Castle and become the Gateway Champion, but Ikeda told the referee to count the 3 for Castle to retain. As PWInsider have reported, there was mass confusion at ringside as only the referee knew the finish had been changed. While Castle quickly improvised and called his Boys into the ring to celebrate with him, Havoc was said to be legitimately upset, and fans have been sharing footage of Havoc having what appears to be a heated argument with the referee.

The key question which is still to be answered is this - with Rollins gone, what will be the main event at Summerslam?

Given that Ikeda’s immediate reaction after firing Rollins was to change the finish of Castle versus Havoc, this would indicate that one of those two men will step up to challenge The Miz for the World Title at Summerslam. Having retained the Gateway Championship, Castle could cash it in for a World Title match… or will the 2017 King of the Ring Jimmy Havoc main event Summerslam for the second year running?

There are, of course, plenty of alternative Summerslam opponents for The Miz, and with just three more shows before one of the biggest pay per views on the EBWF calendar, we expect to find out more on next week’s Warfare.
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