Seth Rollins Shoots on The Rock; WWE Rumors on Finn Bálor Injury; Rikishi Eyes Return

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from WWE and AEW.

Rollins Says The Rock Is Past His Prime

It's looking increasingly like Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes will take on The Rock and Roman Reigns in a tag team match at WrestleMania. Rollins and Rhodes hinted at the possibility of a match against the two Bloodline members over the weekend during a segment at Elimination Chamber.

Rhodes challenged Rock to a one-on-one match during an appearance on the "Grayson Waller Effect," and Rollins said he would be right by Rhodes' side if that challenge is accepted. If we know anything about wrestling lore, we should all be expecting this to some how Teddy Long itself into a tag match one way or another.

Rollins managed to keep himself in the storyline as well by publicly ripping The Rock, saying the veteran could not "lace my boots."

"Look, he's [The Rock] a specimen. He's a specimen, but he hasn't had a match in a decade. John Cena, two times at WrestleMania," Rollins said on Inside the Ropes. "Had a couple of stuff, you know, tag matches, some appearances, here and there. Look, I'm on a different level right now. I'm in my prime. I'm operating at a level so high above any level he's ever operated at. He could not lace my boots in the best years of his career. Let alone, right now."

WWE is shoehorning Rollins in here so that he doesn't look small in the Rhodes-Reigns-Rock build, and it's only had limited success so far. Rollins' public "shoot" comments have done a better job of making him look like something other than Cody's sidekick.

---

Finn Bálor Not Seriously Injured

Everyone worried about Finn Bálor's status can breathe a sigh of relief.

Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Radio reported Bálor was not seriously injured despite bleeding from his thumb during Saturday's Elimination Chamber match against Pete Dunne and Tyler Bate.

"And then we had Finn Balor who, at the end of the match, holds up his hand and his thumb is bleeding like crazy. And man, he sold that thing big," Alvarez said. "And we weren't sure if he had broken his thumb or cut it open or whatever. But apparently, whatever it was, he's alright."

Alvarez did not seem to have insight on whether it was a legitimate injury, but it seems like Bálor came out of the event no worse for wear. We'll just have to see if he has his thumb bandaged up or in a splint Monday night on Raw.

Balor and Damian Priest were victorious to retain their tag team championships.

---

Rikishi Hints at Joining Usos in Ring

Rikishi hasn't appeared in a match since 2019 and it's been a decade since he had a match on WWE programming, but he does seem open to a short-term return to the ring.

The Hall of Famer hinted at a comeback to be part of the storyline between his sons, Jimmy and Jey Uso, at WrestleMania.

"When you have 80,000 people either cheering you or booing you, as a dream match for the fans, it would be nice. It would be hella nice," Rikishi said on his podcast. "That'd be great. Everybody would get their photo op. I'll be able to be once again standing in the ring with my two boys, and just enjoying a moment of 80,000, 90,000 people going to be sitting there just soaking all this in."

Jimmy and Jey Uso appear set for a collision in Philadelphia this year, a blow-off to a match that has been several months in the making. Jimmy Uso betrayed his brother at last year's SummerSlam, rejoining the Bloodline in the process.

---

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below.