Seth Rollins disclosed that he faced significant neck problems last year, which affected his wrestling career. The former World Heavyweight Champion has not appeared on WWE programming since October 2025, following his removal from the Vision stable due to a shoulder injury. After undergoing surgery several months ago, Rollins recently spoke about his recovery progress during an interview with Complex News.
“It’s coming along. It’s coming along,”
Rollins said before adding,
“I had surgery about almost three months now. So, I can do most normal things, like wash my hair and scratch my armpit and all those things. So, it’s good. I still got time. I don’t know exactly when we’re gonna come back but, I’m making progress in the right direction.”
Details on Neck and Lower Back Issues During His Championship Tenure
In addition to the recent shoulder surgery recovery, Seth Rollins talked openly about the serious neck pain he experienced in 2025. He also reflected on the hardships caused by lower back issues during his first reign as World Heavyweight Champion in 2023. The physical toll during those times was especially difficult, impacting his ability to perform.
“Last year, my neck was destroying me. That was really bad. I had the low back stuff… when I was World Heavyweight Champion for the first time. That was a really rough stretch, where I would land wrong like one time and I felt like I couldn’t do anything for weeks. That was a struggle,”
Rollins shared.
Rollins Discusses His Discomfort with WWE: Unreal Docuseries
Seth Rollins also revealed his unease with participating in the Netflix series WWE: Unreal, which explores behind-the-scenes wrestling stories. During a recent ESPN New York interview, he explained why he initially resisted being involved in the first season and was hesitant about the second.
“I’m super uncomfortable with it, to the point where I resisted and didn’t want anything to do with the first season,”
Rollins explained.
“‘Keep me out of it. Don’t put me in it.’ I didn’t want anything to do with the second season, but they asked and asked and asked. I said, ‘There are some things that I want to protect and that I will protect. If you cross those lines, we’re going to have a problem, but there are things I’m okay with sharing. If you want to talk about my family and my story, the real person behind Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, we can get into all of that stuff.’”
He elaborated on the challenges of constant recording and the lack of control over what is captured during matches.
“It’s more because you don’t know who is mic’d all the time. Wrestlepalooza, we have this mixed tag team match, and there are cameras all over the place. There are some things I don’t want filmed or want you to see. I just raise an eyebrow at the crew and they know when to put it away, press the button, turn the microphone off, and have my moment,”
Rollins said.
Implications for Rollins’ Career and Future Prospects
The disclosure of Seth Rollins’ ongoing neck and past back difficulties highlights the physical sacrifices involved in professional wrestling, especially in his high-profile championship period. While his recent surgical recovery shows positive signs, his return to the ring remains uncertain. Fans and industry observers will be watching closely as he continues rehabilitation, with hopes that these health challenges will eventually be resolved, allowing him to compete safely again.
