On June 20th, Seth Rollins headed back to NXT to defend his World Heavyweight Title, but that was only part of the story.
Sporting a taped-up midsection as a result of two vicious attacks by Finn Balor 24 hours earlier, Rollins went into battle with Bron Breakker. The second-generation star pushed Rollins all the way but was eventually undone by two stomps that left him staring at the lights.
However, as Rollins was heading backstage he was attacked by Balor once again with a steel chair. With the beatdown in full swing, Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams ran in to make the save.
After the show went off the air, Rollins addressed the crowd and paid tribute to a number of legendary World Champions that came before him, including Bret Hart.
“I’ll tell you what, the reason I come down here to NXT and defend the World Heavyweight Championship is because I love this, and this title deserves that respect because there are champions like Harley Race, like Ric Flair, like Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart, like Mr. Five-Time Booker T who took pride in taking the heavyweight title to every city and every town in every single country that they could, and putting on a fight to raise the prestige of a world heavyweight champion.
If I can even lace those boots for two seconds, if I can be a part of that lineage, then I’m doing something right, so thank you guys for giving me the opportunity. Booker T, Shawn Michaels, everybody who’s held a title like this before me, thank you guys for giving me the opportunity to fill your shoes.”
Seth Rollins Admits NXT Return Didn’t Initially Feel Special
Rollins went on to reveal that when he agreed to return to NXT to defend his title the match didn’t feel that special. But that changed when he got to the arena and was greeted so warmly by fans.
“Now I want to tell you guys just a little story. So when I was asked by Bron Breakker to come down here and defend my title on NXT and I accepted, I had a lot of people asking me, ‘Seth, does it feel nostalgic? Are you getting emotional?’ To be honest with you, it had been so long since I’d stepped foot in an NXT ring, and I’ve been fortunate enough to do so much all across the world that my honest answer was no, it wasn’t hitting me like I thought it would. Until I got out here. [Fans chant ‘Welcome back]
That right there, all of you, you guys embody the same energy that I left NXT with a decade ago. You guys are still the proving ground for every single person back there in the back, you guys and your vitality, your love, your energy is what has made me a visionary, it is what has made me a revolutionary, it is what has made me [fans chant his name],”
Seth Rollins is set to make the next defence of his World Heavyweight Championship at Money In The Bank against Finn Balor.
H/t to Fightful