'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAX/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACA//aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAmwAU/8QAHxAAAgIBBAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAUABxIiYZLC/9oACAEBAAE/ABt7mMnQq2Z70CQzdI4o5mVVkK9XI4eNPspky5Is433c/Gv/xAAVEQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAf/aAAgBAgEBPwCP/8QAFREBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH/2gAIAQMBAT8Ar//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
With no clear direction heading into SummerSlam 2024, fans were left wondering about Seth "Freakin" Rollins' status for The Biggest Party of The Summer. Fortunately, WWE delivered all the answers on the latest episode of RAW.
After CM Punk announced that he was medically cleared, Adam Pearce lifted Drew McIntyre's suspension and booked the two arch-rivals in a colossal match at SummerSlam. However, WWE threw a major curveball when Rollins announced that he would be serving as a Special Guest Referee for the bout.
Rollins will not be the typical referee. His mutual history with both McIntyre and Punk could factor into the eventual outcome. On that note, let's look at three ways in which Seth Rollins can misuse his power as the referee at SummerSlam.
#3. Adam Pearce and Seth Rollins collude to cost Drew McIntyre a major win at SummerSlam
Drew McIntyre's obsession with CM Punk has gotten him on the wrong side of RAW General Manager, Adam Pearce. After Punk cost McIntyre the World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank, a furious Scottish Warrior put his hands on Pearce.
The RAW GM didn't take McIntyre's unruly behavior lightly as he immediately suspended the former WWE Champion, only to lift it a couple of weeks later. The Scottish Warrior undermined Pearce's authority, and as his boss, this could have major long-term implications.
Pearce could collude with Rollins to cost McIntyre a major win against Punk in Cleaveland. This could be reminiscent of The Montreal Screwjob. The Visionary does have a history of conspiring with authority figures as he betrayed The Shield to side with Triple H.
The screwjob could further the tension between McIntyre and Pearce, leading to a potential Stone Cold-Vince McMahon or Daniel Bryan-Triple H dynamic that worked brilliantly in the past.
#2. Rollins turns heel and gets revenge on CM Punk
Although The Visionary has problems with both men, his rivalry with CM Punk has taken center stage recently. The Straight-Edge Superstar's involvement in Rollins' match against Damian Priest at Money in the Bank angered the inaugural World Heavyweight Champion.
The next night, Punk sarcastically apologized to Rollins, who later warned The Second-City Saint of some serious consequences. Considering that he will be the Special Guest Referee at SummerSlam, The Visionary could finally plot his revenge.
Rollins could cost Punk a victory over McIntyre. For example, hitting a low blow on The Straight-Edge Superstar and allowing The Scottish Warrior to go for the kill. This would set up Punk vs. Rollins, which WWE has been building towards for quite some time.
#1. Seth Rollins inserts himself into CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre and makes it a Triple Threat
Seth Rollins has no love lost with either man: Drew McIntyre dethroned Rollins at WrestleMania XL, and it was McIntyre's cash-in at Money in the Bank that turned The Visionary's match with Damian Priest on its head. Rollins' rivalry with Punk is well-known and well-established.
As Special Guest Referee, the inaugural World Heavyweight Champion has the opportunity to let both men settle their differences or to exact his revenge simultaneously. The devious Architect could choose the latter at SummerSlam.
A Triple Threat Match would instantly throw Punk and McIntyre off-guard, giving Rollins an added physical and mental advantage. This would instantly allow The Visionary to settle his differences with two of his top rivals.
