Seth Rollins Backstage at WWE RAW as Injury Status and Netflix Plans Come Into Focus

Seth Rollins might be sidelined from in-ring action, but he’s very much in the WWE orbit — and tonight’s episode of Monday Night RAW has only added fuel to the speculation.

Earlier in the day on January 5, 2026, Rollins posted an Instagram Story showing himself at the Good Morning Football studio in New York City. While RAW is taking place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, Rollins being in the same city — and notably without a sling — immediately caught fans’ attention.

Rollins has been out since suffering a torn rotator cuff during his match against Cody Rhodes in Perth, Australia, an injury that forced him to vacate the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Back in December, he addressed his recovery timeline during an appearance on Mohr Stories, explaining where things stood medically.

“I had the rotator cuff surgery eight weeks ago, almost nine from when we’re talking right now. So I got another three months.”

Despite that timeline, an update from Fightful Select has revealed Rollins is much closer to tonight’s action than fans realized. According to the report, Rollins is already backstage at RAW.

“Fightful Select has learned that Seth Rollins is backstage at today’s WWE Raw show, which is planned to be a big one. We've not heard if he is planned for the show, or is just visiting. He's been backstage at a number of WWE shows since being sidelined.”

The report also adds that Rollins’ presence ties directly into WWE’s broader plans beyond the ring.

“Seth Rollins is also scheduled to be an integral part in the promotion for WWE Unreal. His fake-injury storyline is a huge part of the upcoming season.”

All of this comes on a night where CM Punk is defending the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against Bron Breakker — the same title Rollins was originally slated to challenge Punk for before his injury. Add in the unresolved history with Breakker and Bronson Reed, who turned on Rollins and kicked him out of The Vision last October, and the pieces are already on the board.

There’s still no confirmation that Rollins will appear on camera tonight, but being backstage — combined with WWE’s Netflix push and WWE Unreal promotion — makes his presence impossible to ignore.

Do you think Seth Rollins shows up on RAW tonight, or is WWE just laying the groundwork for what comes next? Let us know what you think and drop your thoughts in the comments.