After more than a decade at the top of WWE and several major injuries along the way, Seth Rollins says retirement isn't something he's seriously considering.
In a recent interview with Complex, Rollins pushed back on the idea that injuries or years in the ring have him thinking about stepping away anytime soon.
"Not really," Rollins said when asked whether retirement has crossed his mind. "I think retirement, I look at it only as like, do I need to get out of the way. If I'm still helping and be useful and can continue to provide space for growth in the company, then great."
For Rollins, the decision to retire falls under whether he can still contribute to the future of the business.
"If I'm just taking up space and I'm that old guy that's just kind of hanging around not really doing anything for these young cats or moving the business forward, then what's the point?" he said. "I don't think retirement is on the cards. I'm certainly not looking at it in the next few years. I'm in my prime right now, man. I'm not even 40 yet, so there's plenty of work to do."
Rollins' comments come after a career that has included several significant injuries. In 2015, he tore his ACL, MCL, and medial meniscus during a match with Kane at a live event, sidelining him for months. More recently, Rollins suffered a severe rotator cuff tear during a bout with Cody Rhodes at WWE Crown Jewel in last October. The injury required surgery and forced him to vacate the World Heavyweight Championship.
Despite those setbacks, Rollins said his injuries have largely been isolated incidents rather than signs of long-term physical decline.
"The injuries are acute, really," he explained. "I've only really had two surgeries from injuries, my knee and my shoulder, ten years apart."
He also noted that a knee procedure following WrestleMania 40 was more preventative than serious. The scope addressed an old meniscus issue dating back to his younger years, allowing him to take a brief break after a long stretch of matches.
Even so, Rollins acknowledged that physical wear is simply part of the job, especially given how many matches he's participated in.
"Hey man, I'm a pro wrestler that's wrestled over 2,000 matches," said Rollins. "Your back hurts, and your neck hurts; that's just part of it."
Rollins recently reminded fans he's still firmly part of WWE's present when he returned at the WWE Elimination Chamber last month, appearing as a masked man to ambush Logan Paul.
Even as he explores interests outside wrestling and spends more time with his family, Rollins says his focus remains on continuing to perform at the highest level and pushing the business forward.
