Seth Rollins has been a focal point of WWE programming since defeating CM Punk and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 41, but he doesn’t want to face either at next year’s show.
Rollins has been feuding with Reigns and Punk since, and cleverly cashed in his Money in the Bank on the Best in the World at SummerSlam.
The Architect is still locking horns with Punk heading into Wrestlepalooza, and the feud has been given more fuel thanks to AJ Lee’s incredible WWE return.
Despite it looking likely that Rollins will face one of his great rivals at next year’s WrestleMania, The Architect has already revealed his perfect opponent for the show.
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Seth Rollins wants WrestleMania match with Cody Rhodes
Rollins has already expressed an interest in facing another storied rival at WWE’s biggest show of the year in 2026.
“My dream opponent is Cody Rhodes for that title,” said Rollins in an interview with The Rich Eisen Show in February 2025.
Rhodes and Rollins had three epic matches in 2022 after the American Nightmare rejoined WWE from AEW.
The feud culminated in a brutal Hell in a Cell match, which famously saw Rhodes wrestle with a torn pectoral muscle.
Rollins believes their shared history would make one more WrestleMania match between the pair incredible.
“I lost all of them to Cody Rhodes,” explained The Architect. “I helped Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania last year win the WWE Championship.”
“I think it would be very poetic if I was able to take the WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes this year at WrestleMania. So that’s my perfect plan.”
Rollins was Rhodes’ tag team partner against Roman Reigns and The Rock on night one of WrestleMania 40.
Cody Rhodes could already be preoccupied at WrestleMania 42
Rhodes is once again the WWE Champion after defeating John Cena for the title in the main event of SummerSlam.
The American Nightmare will likely hold the belt heading into WrestleMania for the second successive year, which means the Royal Rumble winner will likely challenge Rhodes.
At this present time, Punk looks the most likely candidate to win the Royal Rumble, particularly as he was discussed as the victor for the 2025 edition.
Punk and Rhodes are yet to wrestle since the Best in the World’s shocking return at Survivor Series in 2023.