On the January 7, 2022, episode of Friday Night SmackDown, the WWE Universe was in for a major shock when Seth “Freakin” Rollins confronted Universal Champion Roman Reigns, setting the stage for a blockbuster match at Royal Rumble 2022.
Throughout Reigns’ historic reign as Universal Champion, he had faced and defeated a long list of challengers. However, when WWE officials were searching for a worthy opponent for Royal Rumble, they made a stunning decision—bringing in a familiar adversary from Reigns’ past.
At the end of SmackDown, Reigns was in his locker room when a knock on the door interrupted him. As he opened it, none other than Seth Rollins stood there with his signature cocky grin. Without saying a word, Rollins simply laughed, signaling his intent to challenge Reigns for the Universal Championship. The show faded to black, leaving fans buzzing with excitement.
This unexpected moment reignited one of WWE’s most storied rivalries. Rollins and Reigns share a deep history, dating back to their days in The Shield alongside Dean Ambrose (now Jon Moxley). After Rollins famously betrayed the faction in 2014, the two superstars had several battles over the years, with each proving their dominance at different times.
With their Royal Rumble showdown now set, anticipation skyrocketed. Rollins, a former Universal Champion himself, was one of the few competitors who had proven he could get inside Reigns’ head. Unlike previous challengers, Rollins knew Reigns better than anyone, making him a legitimate threat to The Tribal Chief’s reign.
As the weeks led up to Royal Rumble 2022, the rivalry intensified, with Rollins playing mind games and Reigns showing rare moments of frustration. The January 7, 2022, episode of SmackDown marked the beginning of an epic clash that would ultimately test the dominance of Roman Reigns and the cunning brilliance of Seth “Freakin” Rollins.
