Seth Rollins: On facing Triple H at WrestleMania, his love for the UAE and Game of Thrones

Ahead of WrestleMania 33 Seth Rollins spoke to The National about his match with Triple H, his fitness, performing in the UAE, and TV show Game of Thrones.

Seth Rollins was part of the WWE show held in Abu Dhabi last year. On Sunday, he faces Triple H at WrestleMania. Ravindranath K / The National
Powered by automated translation

Two-time WWE World Heavyweight champion Seth Rollins faces Triple H on Sunday at WrestleMania 33 in an unsanctioned match. Ahead of the event he spoke to The National about the match, his fitness, performing in the UAE, and TV show Game of Thrones.

On his fitness after being two months with a knee injury

“My fitness is pretty good. I have been able to be given the go-ahead to do a lot of the training that I am used to ahead of WrestleMania. I have not been in the ring in two months and I am trying to get my wind and my lungs ready to go.”

On the injury helping add intrigue to his match with Triple H

“When the injury happened and I was looking ahead it was miserable. Thinking ‘am I going to be able to make it to WrestleMania?’ Obviously looking back now, allowing my body to rest and rehab was extremely beneficial and yes, the narrastive it has kind of created between me and Triple H I think has made our match unique and very interesting going in.”

__________________________________

Read more

■ Predictions: For WrestleMania 33

__________________________________

On why simply winning on Sunday will not satisfy him

“I have got a chip on my shoulder. For me, we are going out on a stacked card. It is a huge WrestleMania. You have Brock Lesnar and Bill Goldberg, Roman Reigns and the Undertaker, you got Shane McMahon and AJ Styles and Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho. There is a lot of great matches on this show and for me it is not enough to go out and win. I have to have the best match on one of the best WrestleManias of all time.”

On why he enjoys performing to UAE crowds

“I love the UAE. We have been there a few times now. It is such a beautiful part of the world. I have some really great memories of jet skiing in the Gulf and just hanging out there. The crowds are not oversaturated with professional wrestling, as they do not see it all the time, so we go over there and it is different then say New York City, where they have seen every single thing under the sun for years and they don’t appreciate the little things, while in Abu Dhabi and the UAE they do not see it so they appreciate what we do. It makes my life easier as I do not have to kill myself to get a reaction. They are happy to see us and enjoy a good headlock as much as anything.”

On ambitions to return to the WWE Universal title picture

“100 per cent. If you are on Raw, the Universal title is where you want to be. You want to be the Universal champion. So whether it is Lesnar or Goldberg that comes out on top on Sunday I think it is going to be an interesting situation as you are going to have all the top guys: Samoa Joe, Roman Reigns, myself, Brock Lesnar, Bill Goldberg, and whoever else is there, you are going to have a lot chomping at the bit to get in and have the next shot at the Universal title. That is the goal. That is how you build legacies by winning titles so that is where I want to be once I am done with Triple H.”

On whether receiving a suplex from Brock Lesnar is as painful as it looks?

“Worse. It’s worse than it looks.”

On enjoying his new Kingslayer T-shirt paying homage to the Game of Thrones TV series

“It is a great shirt with a great name from a great show. I am happy to have got it on top of a Seth Rollins logo.”

On what he thinks the outcome of the TV show will be with only two seasons remaining, he adds: "I predict the Night King comes out on top. The Night Walkers are going to destroy everybody. We will see if Dany and Jon Snow can link up and burn them to the ground, but that Night King has a big army. It is going to be a hot next two seasons."

WrestleMania 33 is available on the WWE Network and on OSN and starts at 3am UAE time on Monday morning, with the pre-show beginning at 1am.

gcaygill@thenational.ae

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport