Seth Rollins Says Today’s Wrestlers Have It Easier Physically But Expectations Are “100 Out of 100 Every Time”

Seth Rollins isn’t shy about comparing today’s WWE grind to the wild days of the past—and in his eyes, the ring might be safer now, but the pressure is on another level.

During his appearance on Strong Talk with Men’s Health, Rollins opened up about how different the pro wrestling business is today, especially when it comes to the physical toll, the perception of fans, and the chaos that once defined life on the road.

Reflecting on films like The Iron Claw and The Wrestler, Rollins said those stories accurately captured the insanity of those older eras—but that era is long gone.

“I think if you made a movie about wrestlers now, it’d be so boring. It’d be so boring because all of the fun stuff, all of that chaos is kind of gone by the wayside. You know, everything’s safer, everything’s cleaner, the schedule is lighter. Everything’s a little more showbiz and a little less like rodeo.”

But that doesn’t mean today’s talent has it easy. If anything, Rollins argues that the modern WWE landscape has become even more demanding from a performance standpoint.

“The only thing I would love about being back in those days is the expectations now for what is good are way higher now. It’s always got to be 100 out of 100. Everything has to be perfect.”

He explained how back in the day, fans—especially adults—often believed what they were watching was real. That gave wrestlers more leeway in how they performed. Not anymore.

“Back then, people thought it was real fighting. Today you have to be 100 out of 100 every time.”

The game may have changed, but for top names like Rollins, the pressure to deliver on every level—athletically, emotionally, and visually—has only intensified.

Whether it’s the modern fan’s access to behind-the-scenes info or just the evolution of entertainment, the standard for in-ring performance has never been higher. And Seth Rollins knows it because he’s living it.

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