Sucks to be Seth Rollins … this week.
The 2026 King of the Ring had found its first two semi-finalists in Oba Femi and Dominik Mysterio heading into Monday’s bout pitting a field of Rollins, Je’Von Evans, Talla Tonga, and Ricky Saints. And with Rollins having never actually lost the title now held by arch-rival Roman Reigns, one would have expected him to be making a play at renewing their acquaintance at the biggest party of the summer.
In fact, there had been rumors circulating that Rollins and Femi were being eyed as major Reigns programs in the coming future. Thus lending to the idea that, even without winning it all, Rollins would have been somewhere in and around the finals. That proved not to be the case when Evans ultimately pinned Saints to qualify for the next round, where he will meet the winner of a four-way between Jey Uso, LA Knight, Finn Balor, and Royce Keys.
Rollins will instead continue to be stuck in the Vision Vortex of his own making, as his former pupil Bron Breakker and Austin Theory emerged to cost him the match. Heaven forbid the Tag Team Champions focused on being a tag team for a little while.
But, as one door closes for just one person, a few others have remained slightly ajar. Evans is the pick of the bunch, getting his win in spite of Rollins and advancing to keep a “WWE NXT” rivalry renewal possible for the final. Oba Femi has one less main event caliber talent and proven winner standing in his way, even if Brock Lesnar’s shadow looms over his entire run.
Dominik Mysterio will either benefit from that shadow or withstand a beating from Femi – but he has a chance, and that’s more than can be said about Rollins. And the other four potential semi-finalists will be facing Evans, which given he is a young up-and-coming talent on the WWE main roster, is about the best chance they can have of going to the final.
The tournament seems a little more open now. The seal has been broken and interference has already cost one of the favorites to win dearly. Mysterio is someone that can only benefit from that type of precedent, considering the Judgment Day always waiting in the wings. But so can the likes of Jey Uso, given his Bloodline backing, and knowing he will be facing Evans in the semi-final would – in the realms of kayfabe – lean towards him having better chances than against Rollins.
Sucks to be Rollins, sure, but the others will surely be sighing a breath of relief that he is out of the running.
Written by Max Everett
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