A former WWE Superstar could have been the one to portray one of Seth Rollins’ most memorable personas.
In later 2019 and throughout 2020, Rollins turned heel and became known as the Monday Night Messiah, a cult leader-inspired gimmick that saw the former World Champion deliver sermons and sacrifice his opponents for “The Greater Good.” Recruiting AOP and Buddy Matthews as his “disciples”, Rollins’ creativity at a time when no fans were allowed to be in attendance was praised by many and is regarded as some of his best character work. However, according to one former WWE star, it was actually their own creation.
Speaking with Metro, former WWE star Elias [now known as Elijah], discussed how he thought up the Monday Night Messiah moniker and how it was given to Rollins:
‘I was always coming up with different characters, ways to evolve Elias into the next thing. There was a character that I really thought could have been incredible myself, it was the Monday Night Messiah. And if you realise, Seth Rollins and AOP ended up – for lack of better terms, they just gave it to those guys.’
‘I had a real vision of me being the Pied Piper of Monday Night Raw and controlling people, with kind of a cult like leader. The biblical themes and things like that, I always love that Messiah stuff.’
“Seth Rollins Is Absolutely Incredible”: Former WWE Star Elijah
The Messiah pitch was “one of many” that Elijah came up with while in the company and pitched ideas until the day he left. Continuing, Elijah stated that there was no ill will toward Rollins and he is aware that what happened is a part of the wrestling industry:
‘There’s guys that just are getting paid more or getting put more in a spotlight, and they might want to put the resources into those guys,’ he pondered.
‘It’s no discredit to Seth, the guy’s absolutely incredible. But this is how that’s how the system works, you know what I mean? That’s the risk you take with giving these ideas.’
While out injured, it was confirmed that Seth Rollins had signed a new WWE contract.
During the same interview, Elias discussed being pitched his hilarious alter ego.
Inside The Ropes will present An Intimate Evening With Elijah in London on July 12th and in Glasgow on July 15th. Tickets can be purchased here.