The explosive conclusion to WWE SummerSlam Night One saw Seth Rollins pull off one of the most shocking moments in recent history, cashing in his Money in the Bank contract on CM Punk to capture the World Heavyweight Championship, but according to a new report, almost nobody saw it coming.
Per Fightful Select, WWE went to extraordinary lengths to protect the surprise. The plan for Rollins’ return and cash-in had reportedly been floated internally for weeks, dating back to his injury angle at Saturday Night’s Main Event. However, it was intentionally kept “very close to the vest”, with only a select few individuals aware of the twist.
The report notes that even people close to Rollins were legitimately concerned about his status, unable to reach him and believing the injury was legitimate. WWE made no effort to dispel those assumptions, using Rollins’ radio silence to further blur the lines between fiction and reality.
The level of secrecy extended backstage. Multiple producers, agents, and on-screen talent were reportedly not informed about the plan, and the internal rundowns distributed on Saturday did not list a cash-in. It wasn’t until Rollins appeared near the conclusion of the GUNTHER vs. CM Punk main event that many in the back realized the swerve was real.
Rollins, who had never lost his Money in the Bank cash-in opportunity before, made good on the contract yet again, capitalizing on a battered Punk to score the shocking win.
With CM Punk’s reign over in minutes and GUNTHER written off with a nose injury angle, Rollins now enters Monday Night Raw as the new World Heavyweight Champion and the mastermind behind the “Ruse of the Century.”
This bold creative call, executed flawlessly by WWE, has left fans and insiders alike buzzing and is expected to dominate storylines in the coming weeks.
Night 2 of WWE SummerSlam 2025 airs tonight — click here for everything you need to know about WWE SummerSlam Night 2.
Stay tuned to PWMania.com for full SummerSlam fallout, backstage insights, and updates on Seth Rollins’ new championship reign.
