A Battle of Former Brothers
The Universal Championship Match at Royal Rumble 2022 was more than just a title bout—it was deeply personal. Roman Reigns, the dominant Universal Champion and self-proclaimed “Head of the Table,” faced his old Shield brother, Seth “Freakin” Rollins, in a match fueled by betrayal, history, and personal animosity.
In the weeks leading up to this showdown, Rollins had mind games on his side. He reminded Reigns that he was the one who destroyed The Shield years ago and claimed he still lived in Roman’s head rent-free. Rollins vowed to be the one to take away what mattered most to Reigns: his Universal Championship.
A Psychological Entrance
As the Barclays Center in St. Louis erupted with anticipation, Rollins made a stunning entrance, dressed in the classic Shield gear, complete with the original Sierra-Hotel-India-Echo-Lima-Delta theme music. This was the ultimate mind game—forcing Reigns to relive the past.
The champion’s face said it all—pure anger and frustration. But as the bell rang, Reigns channeled his emotions into a fiery offense.
Early Dominance by Rollins
Seth Rollins, the faster and more agile of the two, used his high-paced offense to keep Reigns on the defensive. He landed a flurry of strikes, including a springboard knee and a suicide dive that sent Reigns crashing into the barricade.
The challenger was relentless, countering a Superman Punch attempt with a buckle bomb, followed by a stunning Stomp that had the crowd gasping. Rollins went for an early pin, but Reigns barely kicked out at two.
Reigns Takes Control
After surviving the early onslaught, Reigns slowed the pace, using his power to wear down Rollins. A thunderous powerbomb shifted the momentum, followed by a Drive-By Kick on the apron.
Reigns methodically punished Rollins with brutal strikes and a Guillotine Choke, but Rollins refused to stay down. He laughed in Reigns’ face, mocking him just as he did in their Shield days. This infuriated the champion, who delivered a Superman Punch, yet Rollins kicked out again.
Rollins Refuses to Stay Down
As the match reached its climax, Reigns went for the Spear, but Rollins miraculously countered into a Pedigree, nearly stealing the win! The crowd erupted as both men lay on the mat, exhausted from the battle.
Rollins, still in Roman’s head, extended his fist in the Shield fist bump, a callback to their past. The moment rattled Reigns, but instead of rekindling their brotherhood, he snapped.
A Controversial Finish
Roman locked in the Guillotine submission once more, squeezing the life out of Rollins. Seth struggled but managed to grab the ropes—only for the referee to be ignored by Reigns, who refused to release the hold.
With Rollins unconscious, the referee had no choice but to call for the disqualification, awarding the victory to Rollins—but not the Universal Championship.
Aftermath: A Vicious Assault
Following the DQ, an enraged Reigns grabbed a steel chair and unleashed a merciless attack, brutally beating Rollins—just like Rollins had done to him years ago when he betrayed The Shield.
Though Reigns remained champion, Rollins had proven he was still a thorn in the Tribal Chief’s side. The war between these two was far from over.
