In recent commentary, Thunder Rosa, a prominent figure in AEW’s women’s division, expressed her dissatisfaction with WWE’s creative direction regarding Seth Rollins, the reigning World Heavyweight Champion, leading up to Wrestlemania 40.
During a press conference for the event, Rollins faced dismissive treatment from his former Shield compatriot, Roman Reigns, the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
In response, Rollins came to the aid of Cody Rhodes, winner of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, against Reigns and The Rock after an altercation involving The American Nightmare and The Great One.
Many fans speculate that Rollins and Rhodes might join forces against Reigns and The Rock on the first night of Wrestlemania.
Rollins, however, has been grappling with an injury sustained in January 2024, sidelining him temporarily. His anticipated return is expected to coincide with the winner of the men’s Elimination Chamber match in Philadelphia scheduled for April.
Rosa, speaking on Busted Open Radio, criticized the treatment of Rollins in the lead-up to Wrestlemania, citing disrespect toward the accomplished wrestler. She empathized with Rollins, noting the challenges of portraying a secondary champion and the backlash that often accompanies such creative choices:
“They’ve been insulting him this whole entire time,” Rosa remarked. “I just hope, I really do hope, that there’s a good payoff for both of them. As a performer, when you have to do certain things to make other people look good that will make your character diminish, it’s rough because you’re going to suffer a lot of criticism from the fans.”
Additionally, Rosa commended CM Punk, who transitioned from AEW to WWE in a surprising move, for his poignant promo on the January 29, 2024, episode of RAW.
Despite Punk’s injury disrupting his Wrestlemania plans, Rosa admired his ability to evoke empathy from the audience:
“If that was his plan, to make people feel empathetic for what he’s going through, I think he did an amazing job. Even if you hate CM Punk, there was at one point, you feel some sort of empathy. You had to. If not, you are a psychopath.”
The unfolding of Wrestlemania’s main events remains uncertain as WWE navigates the challenges of its creative landscape.
