WWE Superstar Seth Rollins appeared on the Pivot podcast this week to discuss his WWE career, how starting a family with Becky Lynch has changed him, and dealing with the up-and-coming generation of wrestlers who are gunning for his spot as one of the top stars in the industry.

Rollins began his wrestling journey in a small town in Iowa, fueled by his relentless passion and the unwavering support of his mother. He recalls exhibit grit and a strong work ethic from a young age, never considering a backup plan if the whole ‘wrestling thing’ didn’t pan out. His refusal to be outworked helped him overcome numerous challenges, including injuries and financial difficulties.

Rollins has portrayed a heel (villain) for the majority of his time in WWE. He finds this role more fun and easier to connect with audiences, especially in today’s social media-driven world where fans exercise their right to be outspoken. He emphasizes the importance of crafting a memorable character in WWE and discusses the current characters in the modern league.

Rollins and fellow WWE Superstar Becky Lynch were friends for years before they started dating. He candidly shares how he realized she was the one and how he got her to fall in love with him. They married and have a daughter, born during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Becoming a father has been pivotal for Rollins, significantly changing his perspective on wrestling and life in general. It gave him a new sense of purpose and shifted his priorities, taking the pressure off wrestling and placing it on being the best dad he can be. There isn’t just pone ‘right way’ to raise a child – but Rollins says he tries to give his daughter enough space to explore their own path, similar to the supportive (but not smothering) upbringing he received from his mother.

Despite being closer to the end of his career than the beginning, Rollins remains passionate and continues to dominate the sport. He takes pride in mentoring the younger generations and encourages them to outwork him, if they can. However, he’s still hungry to be the best in the world and will hold on to his spot for as long as he can.

“When you got young guys and girls coming up underneath you, they want to take your spot, and they should. I want you to come in here and outwork me… I want you to fight for it. But I’m gonna fight back.”

These days, many of WWE’s top stars are eyeing Hollywood and signing with major talent agencies as they near the end of their active careers. While Seth Rollins has tried acting, he admits:

“When I start to faze out in the ring, I’ll probably do something behind the scenes. I see myself more like a Triple H… I see myself continuing to help the business grow as I start to age out of the in-ring process… that’s my blueprint.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Rollins shares some interesting stories about sharing the ring with icons like The Rock, Roman Reigns, and John Cena, and expresses admiration for athletes like Brock Lesnar. He said he still gets excited to perform at major events lie WrestleMania, no matter how many times he’s been on the big stage.

For Rollins, wrestling is a marathon, not a sprint, and that’s what keeps him coming back year after year. Despite the challenges of aging and staying relevant in a competitive industry, he continues toc adapt and evolve, relying on his experience and intelligence to stay ahead.