Seth Rollins reflects on shock win at WrestleMania 31

IT was one of the WWE’s most iconic moments — but this superstar has revealed his championship win almost didn’t happen.

WWE Superstar Seth Rollins celebrates becoming the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania 31. (Don Feria/AP Images for WWE)

SETH Rollins shock capture of the WWE title at WrestleMania 31 remains one of the more iconic moments in the current era of professional wrestling — now the star has revealed how the memorable moment came about.

Rollins went into the show as the Money in the Bank contract holder, which for WWE storyline purposes gives the possessor the opportunity to cash in the briefcase at anytime and begin a match against the reigning WWE champion.

It has made for several unexpected and shocking moments in WWE history, but nothing like Rollins’ win at Levi’s Stadium in 2015.

Then champion Brock Lesnar and challenger Roman Reigns squared off in the main event of WWE’s biggest show of the year, but Rollins shocked the world when he came running out in the final few minutes of the match to add himself to the equation.

The WWE star would end up winning and claim his first ever heavyweight champion in the process. But amazingly, Rollins has revealed how last minute the whole decision was.

“I didn’t know for sure until the middle of the show (it was happening),” Rollins told news.com.au this month.

“I had a match with Randy Orton early in the day and then I was sequestered backstage and informed that would be the plan at the end of the night. It honestly was a very last-minute thing.”

One of my favourite ever pictures.

Triple H with Rollins after his title win at 31.#WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/iFN9ydw5zD

— PWM (@ProWrestlingMag) April 4, 2018

Rollins says he didn’t tell anyone of the storyline change, hoping to keep the moment special for his family, who were in attendance, and the millions watching around the world.

But in another added titbit, he revealed that with the pay-per-view almost exceeding its running time, the shocking title win very nearly came unstuck, giving him some nervous moments.

“We were getting close to having to get off the air, so maybe it wouldn’t have happened,” Rollins said.

“I was glad I didn’t tell anyone and have that bad luck or that I had jinxed himself.”

WWE is often criticised for their predictable match outcomes, however what made Rollins’ WrestleMania moment special was that no one saw it coming.

Rollins says he is still only realising the impact that moment had with fans. “It’s a huge moment,” Rollins says.

“I had a conversation recently where the guy said, ‘you do know your cash in is like my generations (Hulk) Hogan vs Andre (The Giant) moment’.

“That seems pretty surreal to me. I think back at my classic moments, you have that one, The Rock-Hulk Hogan, Ultimate Warrior-Hulk Hogan, The Rock-Stone Cold Steve Austin.

“To think that you’re in the same company as those, to be in that conversation, it’s pretty wild.”

Seth Rollins will be a part of WWE’s Super Show-Down at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 6, tickets are available now.

Watch WWE pay-per-views, including WWE Summerslam on the WWE Network and Main Event pay-per-view.

The journalist travelled to WWE Summerslam as a guest of the WWE.