There are nine NBA games today for anyone making NBA prop picks on sites like Underdog Fantasy. The Nuggets will host the Timberwolves in a Western Conference semifinals rematch from last season, which the Timberwolves won in seven games, and Minnesota has won the first two meetings at home this year. Anthony Edwards is averaging 31.5 points per game over those two contests, but his higher/lower scoring total is just 26.5 points on Wednesday. Nikola Jokic, who is listed as probable (elbow, ankle), is averaging 26.4 points, 16.2 rebounds and 10.8 assists for a P+R+A average of 53.4 over five games this month, but his P+R+A higher/lower total is only 51.5.
SportsLine’s proven model, which has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons, has simulated every Wednesday NBA game 10,000 times and revealed a projected over/under for each player in each matchup.
Below are the model’s five best NBA prop picks for Wednesday to include in NBA Underdog Fantasy prop picks.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Lower than 44.5 P+R+A The Thunder point guard leads the NBA in scoring at 32.7 points per game, but he averages 44 points+rebounds+assists this season and is coming off 25 points, three rebounds and seven assists for a 35 total against the Nuggets on Monday. The Thunder play the Celtics, who have the No. 3 scoring defense in the league (108.2 ppg) while allowing the third-fewest assists (24.1 per game).
Alperen Sengun Lower than 37.5 P+R+A The Rockets center has finished below this total in three straight games. Although the 6-foot-11 big man is averaging 10.4 rebounds per game, he’s failed to record a double-double in three of his last four contests. Houston plays the Suns, who rank 10th in total rebounding, and Phoenix hasn’t allowed at least 10 rebounds to a player besides Jokic over its last three games.
James Harden Lower than 26.5 points The 35-year-old Clippers guard is averaging 22.2 ppg this season, and although he’s Los Angeles’ leading scorer among healthy players, his assist totals have been especially dominant lately. Harden has two games with at least 15 assists over his last five contests, including having 25 points and 17 assists against the Pelicans on Tuesday. Wednesday is the second-half of a back-to-back for the veteran has gone lower than this point total in eight of his last 10 second legs of a back-to-back.
Bam Adebayo Lower than 10.5 rebounds The Heat center has finished below his total rebounds in six of his last 10 games while averaging 9.5 rebounds per contest over that span. Miami plays the Clippers, who rank third in rebounds allowed behind the physical Ivica Zubac at center.
Karl-Anthony Towns Higher than 2.5 assists The New York big man had three assists on Monday as the Knicks played their second game without Jalen Brunson (ankle) and Towns will have the ball in his hands to create for both himself and others more without Brunson. Towns has averaged at least three assists in each of his last seven seasons, including 3.1 per game this year, as a skilled passer for his size.
Want more NBA picks for tonight? You’ve seen the top Underdog Fantasy NBA prop picks for Wednesday. Now, get NBA picks for every game from SportsLine’s proven model, which has returned more than $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus season.
The Boston Celtics host the Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night in what has the potential to be an NBA Finals preview. Boston is the defending champion, and OKC has — far and away — been the best team in the Western Conference this season. On paper, Wednesday’s game should be one of the best games of the regular season, and while it very well could reach that level, it also has the potential of being somewhat of a watered down matchup given the guys who could be missing on both sides.
The Celtics could be without Kristaps Porzingis for the sixth consecutive game due to what he revealed is a viral illness. Porzingis is listed as questionable for the game, and was seen at shootaround, but it sounds as though he may be a game-time decision.
Porzingis’ status is up in the air, but the Thunder will for sure be without All-Star guard Jalen Williams, who picked up a hip strain in OKC’s loss to the Denver Nuggets on March 10. Thunder coach Mark Daigneault said at shootaround Wednesday morning that Williams didn’t make the trip with the team to Boston, and that there is no current timeline for a return.
The “no timeline” aspect of Daigneault’s response does raise some eyebrows, as it makes it sound as though Williams could be sidelined longer than just a game or two. If that’s the case, it could be a big blow for the Thunder.
Williams is averaging career highs across the board, and earned his first All-Star appearance. He’s proven to be the ideal secondary creator behind Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and is instrumental in keeping the Thunder afloat when SGA goes to the bench. With Williams sidelined, the Thunder not only lose their second-leading scorer, but also one of their best perimeter defenders. If Luguentz Dort is tasked with the toughest defensive assignment, Williams gets the second toughest, and while SGA is no slouch on the defensive side of the ball either with his long wingspan, OKC’s defense greatly benefits from having all three of those guys out there at the same time.
player headshot team logo Jalen Williams OKC • SF • #8 PPG 21.3 RPG 5.5 APG 5.3 View Profile In a matchup like the one against the Celtics Wednesday night, Williams would’ve been tasked with guarding either one of Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown, whichever one Dort doesn’t defend. And now with him out for the game, Daigneault will have to look to someone else to pick up one of those two scoring giants. Cason Wallace could be the answer, though he gives up size to both Tatum and Brown, but is a pesky perimeter defender. And as good as Wallace is as a defender, it still leaves you without another 20+ scorer on the other end of the floor.
Williams just does so much on both ends of the floor for OKC, that if he misses extended time, it’s going to require some other guys to step up because there isn’t much more SGA can do to lead this team. He’s already leading the league in scoring at 32.7 a night, is locked in on the defensive end and gets his teammates great looks. Williams is a pressure reliever for Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder as they know he can go get a bucket himself whenever SGA is being hounded by defenders. Without his presence there, it’s going to make things a bit more difficult for the Thunder. Which is what happened on Monday against the Nuggets who were able to come away with a 140-127 win after Williams played just 14 minutes.
In the short term, there shouldn’t be too much concern about Williams missing some time as the Thunder have all but officially locked up the top seed in the West. But if he is going to be out several weeks, which could bleed into the start of the playoffs, there should be some level of concern for OKC. Even with all the depth the Thunder possess, they don’t have anyone who can easily replace Williams’ production on both sides of the ball.
We’ll have to wait and see for a more official update on Williams’ status, because if we’re talking a couple weeks of missed time, it will be pushing it real close to the postseason. That’s certainly not an ideal place to be when a fully healthy Thunder team is equipped to win a championship this season.
A potential NBA Finals preview will take place on Wednesday when the defending champion Boston Celtics (47-18) host the West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder (53-12). The home team has prevailed in the last five meetings between these two, which plays a role in Boston being 2.5-point home favorites in the latest NBA odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, with the total at 229.5. The Thunder prevailed 105-92, in OKC when they met on Jan. 5. Jalen Williams (hip) is out and Jayson Tatum (knee) is questionable, but these teams’ other All-Stars, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Brown, are good to go. They could be focal points for anyone filling out NBA props and NBA parlay picks. Before making any Thunder vs. Celtics bets or NBA same-game parlay picks, make sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The model has simulated Celtics vs. Thunder 10,000 times and just revealed its coveted NBA same-game parlay picks and betting predictions. Here are the three best bets for a Celtics vs. Thunder SGP, that results in over a 5-1 payout, per the model:
Under 229.5 (-110 at FanDuel) The last matchup between these squads saw just 197 combined points scored, easily going under the total of 225. The 92 points put up by Boston is their fewest all season as it fell victim to OKC’s stifling defense. The Thunder lead the NBA in defensive rating, field goal percentage allowed, 3-point percentage allowed, and they give up the second-fewest points per game. The Under has hit in three of the last four OKC games, and the Under has gone 8-4 over Boston’s last dozen contests. The model projects the Under to hit in Wednesday’s game in well over 50% of simulations. If you’re looking to bet this line individually, DraftKings Sportsbook has a better price at -108.
draftkings logo rectangle Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets instantly! Claim bonus 21+ (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, and WV. Void in ONT/OR/NH and where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 3/16/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Data & text rates may apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD).21+ (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, and WV. Void in ONT/OR/NH and where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 3/16/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Data & text rates may apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD).21+ (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WY, and WV. Void in ONT/OR/NH and where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. Min. $5 deposit. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $150 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 3/16/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Data & text rates may apply. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Under 33.5 points (-108 at FanDuel) Gilgeous-Alexander leads the NBA with 32.7 points per game but hasn’t been quite as prolific on the road as at the Paycom Center. He’s averaging 33.6 points at home but that drops to 31.8 points on the road as the Thunder head to the TD Garden. SGA is coming off a down outing in his last game (25 points) versus another of the league’s elite teams in the Denver Nuggets, and now he’ll have to take on the league’s No. 3 scoring defense without his sidekick in Williams. With no other healthy Thunder player besides SGA averaging more than 14.6 points, Boston can focus its defensive efforts on him. Thus, the model forecasts his points total to hit the Under as he’s projected to finish with 32.4 points.
Jrue Holiday Over 3.5 assists (+130 at FanDuel) Holiday’s past performance indicates one should jump on Over 3.5 assists as he’s posted at least four assists in an astounding 16 straight games versus Oklahoma City. You have to go back to 2017 when he was with the Pelicans to find the last time the two-time All-Star had under 3.5 assists against OKC. Despite Boston scoring a season-low of 92 points versus the Thunder in their January meeting, Holiday produced six assists, and he has just four games all year with more dimes. OKC allowed four different Denver Nuggets to have at least four assists in their last game on Monday, as the model projects Holiday to finish with 4.0 assists in this plus-money NBA prop.
Same-game parlay odds at FanDuel: +579
fanduel logo rectangle Bet $5 Get $200 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins Claim bonus 21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL IN, KS (in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino), KY, LA (excluding certain perishes), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Data & text rates may apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL IN, KS (in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino), KY, LA (excluding certain perishes), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Data & text rates may apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY).21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL IN, KS (in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino), KY, LA (excluding certain perishes), MA, MD, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, or WY. Void where prohibited. First online real money wager only. $5 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Data & text rates may apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit RG-help.com. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). How to make NBA SGP picks You’ve seen the NBA parlay picks for Celtics vs. Thunder from the model. Now, see which side covers, including the score prediction. Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Thunder vs. Celtics spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
WWE is bringing a pay-per-view to England for the first time since 2003 when Money in the Bank lands in London on Saturday. One of the staple events on the WWE calendar, Money in the Bank also sets up storylines that become central to the next several months of the promotion’s programming.
The winners of the men’s and women’s Money in the Bank ladder matches receive contracts that allow them to challenge once for any title of their choosing at any time. This has led to some of the most iconic moments in WWE history as winners have cashed in to win world titles in dramatic fashion.
The card will also feature three title matches. Newly crowned heavyweight champ Seth Rollins will battle it out with Finn Balor in a rematch seven years in the making. Intercontinental champ Gunther will take on Matt Riddle. And women’s tag team champions Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler will face off against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
Let’s take a look at who the CBS Sports experts are picking to win each match on the Money in the Bank card, which streams live on Peacock at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday.
2023 WWE Money in the Bank predictions Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio
Mysterio has been handled masterfully, leading to him being a truly top-tier heel in terms of generating heat. It is starting to feel a little inorganic at this point, with the boos being more of a “crowd doing a bit” situation than genuine reactions but it’s still been fun and has placed Mysterio into a spot where he feels like he matters on the roster. That said, this needs to be a Rhodes win. He went from a surefire choice to end Roman Reigns’ run to losing their WrestleMania showdown and falling down the card a bit. While a feud with Brock Lesnar was used to rehab him, Rhodes still won the first match with a quick pin and was demolished ahead of and during the rematch. Losing to Mysterio doesn’t keep him strong for the rubber match with Lesnar and another eventual run at a belt. Pick: Cody Rhodes wins — Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)
Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa vs. The Usos
Expect a lot of shenanigans in this match. The Usos are arguably the greatest tag team in WWE history and should have a leg-up over singles superstars Sokoa and Reigns. The problem is that Reigns and Sikoa are coming off a rare loss to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at Night of Champions. Reigns is also heavily protected by the company, I can’t see him falling short in consecutive pay-per-views even if he’s not taking the fall. Stories like this are built on the chase. It’s too soon into The Bloodline breakup for The Usos to beat Reigns. Pick: Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa win — Shakiel Mahjouri (also Brent Brookhouse)
Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match — Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar vs. Butch vs. Damian Priest vs. Logan Paul
Looking at any Money in the Bank match to identify a winner first involves a process of elimination. Who would WWE not have carrying around one of the biggest storyline tools in the company? Ricochet, Nakamura, Escobar and Butch are all out on those grounds. They are there to provide texture to the match, not to win the match and spend weeks or months teasing cashing in for a world title. That leaves Knight, Priest and Paul. Priest only makes sense in terms of the Judgment Day story and seems an unlikely choice to win. Paul is not a regular staple on television, which doesn’t set him up as a good choice to hold the briefcase, plus he has only had a small handful of matches, one of which was already for a world title. That leaves Knight, a fountain of charisma and someone in whom WWE higher-ups seem to have a lot of faith. Knight has to be the favorite here if for no other reason than being the only valid option to hold the briefcase. Pick: LA Knight wins — Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)
Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match — Zelina Vega vs. Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark vs. Bayley vs. Iyo Sky vs. Trish Stratus
The women’s side of things is far more difficult to figure out than the men’s. There are multiple valid winners in this match. In fact, everyone in the match would be a fine winner and an intriguing option to challenge for a world title. Iyo Sky is the favorite heading into the match because the storyline playing out with Bayley’s controlling nature and jealousy would make things interesting. Only one woman has held the contract for more than two days before cashing in, so the more interesting question will be: can the briefcase be used for long-term storytelling on the women’s side for once? I’d like to think yes, and it makes the most sense to do so with Sky. Pick: Iyo Sky wins — Brookhouse
This year’s Money in the Bank feels like a rare event where many outcomes are in question. I can see a lot of interesting ways the women’s ladder match shakes out. Sky is the fan-favorite pick, but increasing tension with teammate Bayley could spill over on Saturday. Bayley stealing the briefcase from Sky could be an interesting angle. Lynch is typically a safe bet in these scenarios. Starks could win with her egotistical mentor Stratus moonlighting as contract holder. Ultimately, I’m siding with the underdog. Vega shined in her women’s title match against Rhea Ripley, has been reliable in the ring and on the microphone and has crossover appeal. A Vega also brings much-needed legitimacy to the LWO stable. WWE is pining for a new Latin star and she appears to have been under the company’s nose all along. Pick: Zelina Vega wins — Mahjouri
World Heavyweight Championship — Seth Rollins (c) vs. Finn Balor
It’s too soon to take the world heavyweight championship off Rollins. The newly-minted world title was Rollins reward for being a workhorse who put over just about every other major superstar for the past few years. Rollins’ work ethic has also translated to countless media appearances in the lead-up to the PPV. WWE has done good work to build Balor into a believable threat and The Judgement Day are stronger than ever. There is an interesting story to tell with Damian Priest as the briefcase holder and an increasingly paranoid Balor as champion, but WWE can tell that tale after Rollins establishes himself as champion. Pick: Seth Rollins retains the title — Mahjouri (also Brookhouse)
Intercontinental Championship — Gunther (c) vs. Matt Riddle
While Riddle is a valid option to end Gunther’s lengthy run as intercontinental champion, this simply doesn’t feel like the right time. There are plenty of ways to have Gunther get the win without harming Riddle, including underhanded tactics from Imperium. Riddle just doesn’t quite feel like he’s at the level where he feels like he “needs” a title and WWE is committed to Gunther being a record-setting intercontinental champion. Pick: Gunther retains the title — Brookhouse (also Mahjouri)
Women’s Tag Team Championship — Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez
What’s strangest about Rousey and Baszler’s reign is how long it took to get here. Strapping the tag title around the waists of the real-life friends and UFC veterans made perfect sense after moving Rousey out of the main event title scene. Yet it took Rodriguez and Morgan vacating the belt after the latter suffered an injury for WWE to finally pull the trigger. It’s too soon for Rousey and Baszler to lose the belts, plain and simple. Rousey remains one of WWE’s biggest crossover stars. Having her lose in London isn’t worth the juice. Pick: Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler retain the titles — Mahjouri (also Brookhouse)
WWE returns to England on Saturday for the first pay-per-view held in the country in more than two decades when Money in the Bank comes to London’s O2 Arena. In one of the year’s biggest events, seven men and six women will take part in ladder matches to win the Money in the Bank contract that will award the winner with an opportunity to challenge for a title of their choosing at any point.
In addition, The Bloodline “Civil War” begins when Roman Reigns teams with Solo Sikoa to take on The Usos. Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso finally had enough of Reigns’ abuse, with Jimmy Uso turning on Reigns at Night of Champions and Jey Uso joining his twin shortly after, leaving Reigns spiraling as his family tore apart in front of his eyes.
The card will also feature three title matches. Newly crowned heavyweight champ Seth Rollins will battle it out with Finn Balor in a rematch seven years in the making. Intercontinental champ Gunther will take on Matt Riddle. And women’s tag team champions Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler will face off against Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
Below is how you can catch all the action on Saturday night in London.
Watch 2023 WWE Money in the Bank Date: July 1 Location: O2 Arena — London Start time: 3 p.m. ET Watch live: Peacock
2023 WWE Money in the Bank match card Cody Rhodes vs. Dominik Mysterio Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa vs. The Usos Men’s Money in the Bank ladder match — Ricochet vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. LA Knight vs. Santos Escobar vs. Butch vs. Damian Priest vs. Logan Paul Women’s Money in the Bank ladder match — Zelina Vega vs. Becky Lynch vs. Zoey Stark vs. Bayley vs. Iyo Sky vs. Trish Stratus World Heavyweight Championship — Seth Rollins (c) vs. Finn Balor Intercontinental Championship — Gunther (c) vs. Matt Riddle Women’s Tag Team Championship — Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler (c) vs. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez
Survivor Series has officially been added to the WWE calendar for 2023. The Allstate Arena in Chicago will host this year’s event on Saturday, Nov. 25.
WWE announced the date and location for Survivor Series on Friday morning. The event is one of WWE’s classic “big four” shows alongside SummerSlam, Royal Rumble and WrestleMania, more recently dubbed as the “big five” to include Money in the Bank.
Survivor Series traditionally incorporates titular elimination-style matches featuring two teams consisting of four or five superstars each. Last year’s show adopted the “WarGames” branding and incorporated a team-based, time-interval match that took place inside a cage constructed around two adjacent rings. Friday’s announcement was absent any mention of WarGames, but that could change as storylines develop closer to the event.
Last year’s event was headlined by a WarGames match pitting The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos, Solo Sikoa and Sami Zayn) against the joint forces of Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland and Butch), Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens.
Seth Rollins’ cackling can border into absurdity, but when you’re a superstar of a certain caliber you can afford to push boundaries. Rollins spent the last several years teetering in and out of a main event scene he once dominated. A newfound dramatic flare was the necessary change to stave off stagnation.
Reinvention is the name of the game in sports entertainment. Some of the industry’s most enduring forces have done so through evolution. “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan hit professional wrestling like an earthquake. The “Hollywood” version of The Rock remains the refined fan’s favorite. Chris Jericho has tweaked his character more times in the last two decades than there have been U.S. presidents in the last two centuries. “Redesign. Rebuild. Reclaim.” That was the foundation of Rollins’ recalibration from cocky, black-clad killer to ludicrous Met Gala model.
“I think I learned a lot about how to take chances and have a little bit more confidence in myself,” Rollins told CBS Sports while promoting WWE’s new product collaboration with C4 Ultimate Energy, the official sponsor for WWE SummerSlam. “I think it’s one of those things where I lived in my comfort zone for such a long time that I thought I knew better. I thought I knew what I was. I was comfortable with my identity. And it was hard to look in the mirror and go, ‘OK, this is working but what can we do to go to the next level?’
“Revamping your whole presentation is a difficult choice to make. You think it won’t work. You think it’ll fail, people won’t like it or you won’t be able to do it. All of these types of things. Sometimes you just have to dive in and see what happens and have confidence in your ability to make anything work. If you are experienced and talented and committed and passionate, no matter what is given to you or no matter what you choose to do, you can find a way to make the absolute best of it.”
Check out the full interview with Seth Rollins below.
The outlandish version of Rollins currently presented in WWE is a reimagining of other flamboyant gimmicks used by Gorgeous George, Ric Flair, Rick Martel and Shawn Michaels. It’s more a personification of the cartoonish Joker from “Batman: The Animated Series” than the psychologically complex variants portrayed by Heath Ledge and Joaquin Phoneix. A little much? Perhaps. But it’s become tremendously endearing to the fans who sing along to Rollins’ theme song every week.
Rollins’ swanky threads took their “baby steps” during the global pandemic. WWE built an audience-less arena dubbed the ThunderDome in response to government restrictions. The lack of a crowd necessitated a different approach and permitted superstars to push the creative envelope, but it’s hard to gauge the ceiling of a gimmick without an ear for the crowd.
“When I really started to notice what I was doing was hitting was during my rivalry with Edge because people really started to take notice of the colorful outfits,” Rollins said. “They started to make fun of them. They started to have fun with them. I wore an all-silver, bright aluminum foil-looking suit on television one time and I got ‘Baked potato’ chants. If you can get baked potato chants based on what you’re wearing, I think you’re onto something. It took a while to grasp that moment, hone it and figure it out, but it started to catch on. People started to wonder what kind of outlandish crap I was going to wear the next week and it caught fire.”
This month, WWE and C4 expanded their multi-year partnership with co-branded pre-workout powders and energy drinks. Available exclusively at GNC, the collaboration features unique product designs and five special edition flavors, including Ruthless Rasperry and Berry Powerbomb energy drinks along with Pomegranate PileDriver, Bare Knuckle Blood Orange and Nectarine Guava Knockout powders.
Rollins’ quality as an in-ring performer has never been in doubt. He was trusted over the last few years to welcome Cody Rhodes into the main event scene, provide a suitable challenge for Roman Reigns, elevate United States champion Austin Theory and even lead Logan Paul through a WrestleMania match. The former WWE champion was relegated to bridesmaid status, but his reputation as a workhorse and fan-favorite character was finally rewarded with gold.
Triple H unveiled a new world heavyweight championship exclusive to Raw in response to Roman Reigns’ inactivity as undisputed WWE universal champion on SmackDown. The introduction immediately framed the world heavyweight title as a secondary prize in the eyes of some viewers. For Rollins — an athlete driven by a desire for more — that doubt was exactly the motivation he needed as he prepares for a second title defense against Finn Balor at SummerSlam on Saturday.
Seth Rollins Logan Paul WWE Raw pro wrestling news Aug 1 2023 Seth Rollins and Logan Paul on WWE Raw WWE “Oh, there’s always a chip on my shoulder. It never goes away. I’m never just coasting. I’m never just being OK with being OK,” Rollins said. “If it’s not wanting to win a world championship or establish a world championship. Now I’ve got people calling my world championship a secondary world championship. So now I’m out here trying to prove everybody wrong on that. I’m not going to be naive and think that we ain’t got a lot of work to do. Establishing a new title is difficult work. It is a hard job. Somebody’s got to do it. And I am very honored to have the responsibility to be the guy to do that.”
Rollins channels motivation in the same way as sports legend Michael Jordan. By finding something, anything to tick him off.
“Anytime we go to any arena in the country and anybody else gets credit for filling a house or being on top or popping a rating or anything like that, I’m always going to feel slighted by it,” Rollins said. “Not in a way that I’m jealous. I’m thrilled. Business is huge. We are the hottest ticket in town anywhere we go. We are sold out left and right. Houses are up. Ratings are up. It’s crazy to be a part of WWE right now.
“But I’m always, always wanting to be the guy. Always wanting to be the marquee. Whatever it is. That’s where I want to be. And if I feel like I’m not there, I’m going to be hustling. I’m like Michael Jordan, man. I’m going to find something. Even if there’s nothing. Even if everything’s cooking and cruising and perfect, I’m gonna go out and I’m going to find something to piss me off. I’m going to find something that I can sink my teeth into. I’m going to make an enemy out of somebody so that I got something to work for because that’s just how I operate. That’s how I flow. I don’t know how to do it any other way.”
Seth Rollins’ cackling can border into absurdity, but when you’re a superstar of a certain caliber you can afford to push boundaries. Rollins spent the last several years teetering in and out of a main event scene he once dominated. A newfound dramatic flare was the necessary change to stave off stagnation.
Reinvention is the name of the game in sports entertainment. Some of the industry’s most enduring forces have done so through evolution. “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan hit professional wrestling like an earthquake. The “Hollywood” version of The Rock remains the refined fan’s favorite. Chris Jericho has tweaked his character more times in the last two decades than there have been U.S. presidents in the last two centuries. “Redesign. Rebuild. Reclaim.” That was the foundation of Rollins’ recalibration from cocky, black-clad killer to ludicrous Met Gala model.
“I think I learned a lot about how to take chances and have a little bit more confidence in myself,” Rollins told CBS Sports while promoting WWE’s new product collaboration with C4 Ultimate Energy, the official sponsor for WWE SummerSlam. “I think it’s one of those things where I lived in my comfort zone for such a long time that I thought I knew better. I thought I knew what I was. I was comfortable with my identity. And it was hard to look in the mirror and go, ‘OK, this is working but what can we do to go to the next level?’
“Revamping your whole presentation is a difficult choice to make. You think it won’t work. You think it’ll fail, people won’t like it or you won’t be able to do it. All of these types of things. Sometimes you just have to dive in and see what happens and have confidence in your ability to make anything work. If you are experienced and talented and committed and passionate, no matter what is given to you or no matter what you choose to do, you can find a way to make the absolute best of it.”
Check out the full interview with Seth Rollins below.
The outlandish version of Rollins currently presented in WWE is a reimagining of other flamboyant gimmicks used by Gorgeous George, Ric Flair, Rick Martel and Shawn Michaels. It’s more a personification of the cartoonish Joker from “Batman: The Animated Series” than the psychologically complex variants portrayed by Heath Ledge and Joaquin Phoneix. A little much? Perhaps. But it’s become tremendously endearing to the fans who sing along to Rollins’ theme song every week.
Rollins’ swanky threads took their “baby steps” during the global pandemic. WWE built an audience-less arena dubbed the ThunderDome in response to government restrictions. The lack of a crowd necessitated a different approach and permitted superstars to push the creative envelope, but it’s hard to gauge the ceiling of a gimmick without an ear for the crowd.
“When I really started to notice what I was doing was hitting was during my rivalry with Edge because people really started to take notice of the colorful outfits,” Rollins said. “They started to make fun of them. They started to have fun with them. I wore an all-silver, bright aluminum foil-looking suit on television one time and I got ‘Baked potato’ chants. If you can get baked potato chants based on what you’re wearing, I think you’re onto something. It took a while to grasp that moment, hone it and figure it out, but it started to catch on. People started to wonder what kind of outlandish crap I was going to wear the next week and it caught fire.”
This month, WWE and C4 expanded their multi-year partnership with co-branded pre-workout powders and energy drinks. Available exclusively at GNC, the collaboration features unique product designs and five special edition flavors, including Ruthless Rasperry and Berry Powerbomb energy drinks along with Pomegranate PileDriver, Bare Knuckle Blood Orange and Nectarine Guava Knockout powders.
Rollins’ quality as an in-ring performer has never been in doubt. He was trusted over the last few years to welcome Cody Rhodes into the main event scene, provide a suitable challenge for Roman Reigns, elevate United States champion Austin Theory and even lead Logan Paul through a WrestleMania match. The former WWE champion was relegated to bridesmaid status, but his reputation as a workhorse and fan-favorite character was finally rewarded with gold.
Triple H unveiled a new world heavyweight championship exclusive to Raw in response to Roman Reigns’ inactivity as undisputed WWE universal champion on SmackDown. The introduction immediately framed the world heavyweight title as a secondary prize in the eyes of some viewers. For Rollins — an athlete driven by a desire for more — that doubt was exactly the motivation he needed as he prepares for a second title defense against Finn Balor at SummerSlam on Saturday.
Seth Rollins Logan Paul WWE Raw pro wrestling news Aug 1 2023 Seth Rollins and Logan Paul on WWE Raw WWE “Oh, there’s always a chip on my shoulder. It never goes away. I’m never just coasting. I’m never just being OK with being OK,” Rollins said. “If it’s not wanting to win a world championship or establish a world championship. Now I’ve got people calling my world championship a secondary world championship. So now I’m out here trying to prove everybody wrong on that. I’m not going to be naive and think that we ain’t got a lot of work to do. Establishing a new title is difficult work. It is a hard job. Somebody’s got to do it. And I am very honored to have the responsibility to be the guy to do that.”
Rollins channels motivation in the same way as sports legend Michael Jordan. By finding something, anything to tick him off.
“Anytime we go to any arena in the country and anybody else gets credit for filling a house or being on top or popping a rating or anything like that, I’m always going to feel slighted by it,” Rollins said. “Not in a way that I’m jealous. I’m thrilled. Business is huge. We are the hottest ticket in town anywhere we go. We are sold out left and right. Houses are up. Ratings are up. It’s crazy to be a part of WWE right now.
“But I’m always, always wanting to be the guy. Always wanting to be the marquee. Whatever it is. That’s where I want to be. And if I feel like I’m not there, I’m going to be hustling. I’m like Michael Jordan, man. I’m going to find something. Even if there’s nothing. Even if everything’s cooking and cruising and perfect, I’m gonna go out and I’m going to find something to piss me off. I’m going to find something that I can sink my teeth into. I’m going to make an enemy out of somebody so that I got something to work for because that’s just how I operate. That’s how I flow. I don’t know how to do it any other way.”
It’s time to head to the Motor City for the latest WWE PPV event. The promotion invades Detroit on Saturday night for the biggest event of the summer in SummerSlam. After a month of build up following Money in the Bank in London, there’s sure to be fireworks boiling over as stars continue to feud.
Eight matches have been confirmed for the summer spectacle, but none is bigger than the “Tribal Combat” match set between Roman Reigns and Jey Uso as the two battle for control of The Bloodline. Plus, Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar will complete their trilogy, Seth Rollins and Finn Balor run back their world title match from Money in the Bank.
The rest of the card is also sure to deliver high thrills. Look no further than the matchup between social media star Logan Paul and Ricochet. The two delivered an epic moment at WrestleMania when they collided midair and have continued to feud since. Now, Paul faces another freak athlete as he also hopes to finish his match in time to catch his brother, Jake Paul, box against Nate Diaz later in the night from Dallas.
Take a look below at the confirmed matches for SummerSlam and take a glance at the crystal ball of what may come.
2023 WWE SummerSlam matches Undisputed WWE Universal Championship — Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jey Uso (Tribal Combat): All signs were pointing to Reigns vs. Uso at SummerSlam even before Uso handed Reigns his first pinfall loss in three-plus years in a tag team match at Money in the Bank. Jimmy Uso was injured by Reigns and Solo Sikoa on SmackDown, forcing Jey Uso to seek vengeance on his own and now they will meet under “Tribal Combat” rules with both the championship and the title of “Tribal Chief” on the line.
Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar: Rhodes and Lesnar are one apiece in their series with Rhodes winning their first bout at Backlash and Lesnar finding retribution at Night of Champions. Lesnar returned to programming the night after Money in the Bank to continue his feud with Rhodes. The trilogy was officially set on the July 17 episode of Raw.
World Heavyweight Championship — Seth Rollins (c) vs. Finn Balor: Rollins has bested Balor at every turn and that has only escalated Balor’s desire for vengeance. Balor defeated Rollins to become the first universal champion in 2016 but immediately vacated the title due to an injury suffered during the match. Balor was determined to pay Rollins, the inaugural world heavyweight champion, a long overdue receipt. Rollins defeated Balor in their title match at Money in the Bank, but Balor continues to pursue Rollins and his title.
WWE Women’s Championship — Asuka (c) vs. Bianca Belair vs. Charlotte Flair: Belair and Flair can’t stop getting in each other’s way. Tensions between the challengers over who is most deserving of a title have repeatedly bled into Asuka’s title defenses. Now, all three women will face each other at SummerSlam with Money in the Bank winner Iyo Sky lurking in the shadows.
Intercontinental Championship — Gunther (c) vs. Drew McIntyre: McIntyre made his big return at Money in the Bank to face off with intercontinental champion Gunther, setting into motion a one-on-one showdown. Their triple threat at WrestleMania, which also featured Sheamus, was received as one of the best matches in WrestleMania history. Their one-on-one contest should be a treat.
Logan Paul vs. Ricochet: Ricochet has been demanding a chance to face Paul in one-on-one action after the two had highlight reel moments at both the Royal Rumble and Money in the Bank.
Ronda Rousey vs. Shayna Baszler (“MMA Rules” Match): Baszler turned on her longtime friend Rousey at Money in the Bank, allowing Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez to capture the women’s tag team championships. Baszler was tired of Rousey receiving unearned opportunities off name value. The former friends will collide at SummerSlam. The pair later revealed that their match would be under “MMA rules.”
SummerSlam Battle Royal: WWE announced a special SummerSlam battle royal. LA Knight and Sheamus were the first two superstars to demand and be granted spots in the 20-man competition.
