Seth Rollins Explains How He Nearly Got Fired From WWE

Seth Rollins may be one of WWE’s top names today, but he wasn’t always walking on sunshine behind the scenes.

During an interview on Mohr Stories, Rollins peeled back the curtain on what it really takes to succeed in WWE—and it’s not just about what happens in the ring.

The former world champ revealed that despite his in-ring skills, his early days in WWE developmental nearly ended in disaster. Rollins came in hot from the indies with a chip on his shoulder, only to run headfirst into WWE’s backstage politics.

“WWE is a different animal. You have to work backstage the same way you had to work out in the ring.”

Advertising

Advertising

He admitted he was combative and defiant with trainers and producers. That attitude didn’t fly. Triple H even issued a direct warning:

“I don’t care how good you are. One more [incident], and you’re gone.”

At that moment, Rollins said he was ready to quit. But former WWE star Joey Mercury pulled him aside and offered some wisdom that changed everything:

“When you go out to the ring, you’re not yourself. You play a character, right? It’s the same thing when you’re talking with these people. You’re playing a character. When you go home and you’re with your girlfriend and your dog, you’re still you. You’re always playing the game.”

That conversation helped Rollins realize that adapting didn’t mean selling out—it meant surviving. Once he embraced the idea that WWE required just as much political navigation as athletic performance, everything changed.

“I had this feeling like I was betraying my authentic self… but Joey reframed it. It’s an act. You’re always playing the game.”

Now a leader in the locker room and one of the most trusted minds in WWE, Rollins’ journey from “combative talent” to company cornerstone is a lesson in wrestling survival. Seth Rollins didn’t just play the game—he mastered it. And it nearly cost him everything.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.