Seth Rollins, a prominent WWE star currently sidelined by a shoulder injury, has experienced significant changes to his in-ring finisher. Known for his impactful moves, Rollins had to abandon his signature curb stomp after WWE Chairman Vince McMahon expressed concerns over the move being potentially harmful if mimicked by children watching the shows. Instead, Rollins adopted the pedigree, a move closely tied to Triple H, amid discussions about maintaining the uniqueness and impact of his finishing maneuvers.
Vince McMahon’s Intervention on In-Ring Safety and Finisher Selection
During a recent interview with Complex News alongside his wife Becky Lynch, Seth Rollins disclosed the details of a conversation with Vince McMahon that changed his finisher’s trajectory. Vince expressed his disapproval of the curb stomp kick, citing safety reasons related to younger viewers emulating the move. Vince suggested alternative finishers, including the frog splash, which Rollins firmly rejected, emphasizing his preference to protect his knees and elbows from excessive strain.
“Vince is like, ‘Come in. I gotta talk to you about something.’ He’s like, ‘Ah, we’re not gonna do that anymore.’ I was like, ‘Well, what do you want me to do?’ And then they wanted me to do a frog splash and I’m like, ‘Absolutely not. I’m not doing that every single night.’ I like my knees and I like my elbows. It’s not happening.”
— Seth Rollins, WWE Star
Adopting the Pedigree Under Triple H’s Guidance
After ruling out the frog splash, Rollins worked with Triple H, his mentor during their time in The Authority faction, to identify a suitable finishing move. Triple H’s pedigree was brought into consideration, a move that Rollins initially hesitated to take on as his finisher. Despite initial doubts from both men, the pedigree was chosen due to its legacy and established effectiveness, giving Rollins a finisher with decades of history behind it, an important factor in wrestling moves that resonate well with audiences.
“So then it was the process of trying to figure out a new finisher, and thankfully, I was in the mentorship of Triple H at the time in The Authority and no one else had ever used the Pedigree as a finishing move and he was not an active performer at the time so I was like, ‘I think this would be the perfect –’ he was hesitant about it too. He didn’t like it. I think he really hates it now because people kick out of it sometimes,” Rollins laughed. “Yeah, fully, fully diluted it but I think it worked for the time being. It got the desired reaction and it already had the 20 years of equity to it which is the hardest thing to do with a finisher because anything can be a finisher. You just have to beat people with it for a while.”
— Seth Rollins, WWE Star
Context of Rollins’ Career and Ongoing Challenges
Rollins’ career has been marked by complex relationships and intense rivalries, including his well-documented betrayal against Shield teammates Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose, which stemmed from his alliance with The Authority led by Triple H. His recent tenure as the leader of The Vision saw him mentored by Paul Heyman, but after being attacked and losing the World Heavyweight Championship, he was forced to relinquish his title. Current contenders like Bron Breakker have been aggressively pursuing the championship Rollins once held.
Impact on WWE and Rollins’ Wrestling Identity
The replacement of the curb stomp with the pedigree highlights WWE’s careful approach to performer safety and audience influence, particularly regarding younger fans. Seth Rollins’ adjustment reflects both the physical demands of wrestling and the evolving expectations from corporate leadership on how moves are portrayed. While Rollins maintains frustration over these changes, the pedigree provided an established, effective finishing move that sustained his presence as a top-tier performer. How Rollins’ injury recovery and future in-ring style evolve will continue drawing attention from fans and peers alike, as his career remains deeply intertwined with WWE’s dynamic storytelling and athletic culture.
