Seth Rollins’ WWE feud took a dramatic turn on December 30 in Ft. Myers, Florida, when CM Punk, the current World Heavyweight Champion, mocked Rollins’ signature taunt after a title defense. The incident occurred as Rollins, known as The Architect, remains sidelined with a shoulder injury sustained at Crown Jewel during a match in Perth.
At WWE’s Holiday Tour live event in Ft. Myers, CM Punk successfully defended his World Heavyweight Title against The Vision’s Bronson Reed in the main event. After the match, a fan-captured video showed Punk swinging the belt in the distinctive style Rollins made famous, apparently targeting his long-time rival with the gesture. This public mockery added fuel to the ongoing animosity between the two superstars, making the Seth Rollins WWE feud even more poignant for fans in attendance.
Since November 2023, when The Second City Saint, CM Punk, made his return to the WWE, tensions with Seth Rollins have been escalating. Their rivalry has produced several memorable encounters, most notably at Wrestlepalooza. In that Mixed Tag Team Match, CM Punk and AJ Lee emerged victorious over Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch, further intensifying the bitter competition between the stars and cementing their status as prominent figures in WWE’s current storyline.
How Seth Rollins Chose His WWE Name
Before establishing himself as The Architect, Rollins had to adopt a new ring name upon joining WWE. Reflecting on his early days, Rollins recalled in an interview on the Mohr Stories podcast how WWE legend Dusty Rhodes played a decisive role in this transformation.
“When I got signed they were very much like ‘Nope, you can not be Tyler Black. You cannot be anything to do with [that name], none of that, nada… We have to come up with a new name. I just had names on a list. Dusty Rhodes came up with it for me. ‘I see it now, baby. I see it on the marquee. I see it at WrestleMania right now, it’s Seth Rollins, that’s it, it’s done,’”
Rollins said. – Rollins, The Architect
Dusty Rhodes played a crucial part in developing WWE’s NXT brand, mentoring rising stars like Seth Rollins and encouraging inventive character-building. His vision for future greats and dedication to teaching the art of promos and storytelling laid the foundation for many modern wrestling personas.
As fans continue to speculate about the Seth Rollins WWE feud, the intensity of this rivalry suggests major implications for the company’s upcoming events. With Punk’s public mockery and Rollins’ imminent return from injury, WWE audiences can expect more high-stakes encounters, keeping the spotlight on these two electrifying competitors and their volatile history.
CM Punk celebrating his victory tonight like Seth Rollins with the World Title 😂 pic.twitter.com/3bp2cP1MYi
— Teffo (@Teffo_01) December 31, 2025
