Ahead of the Clash of Champions between Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel, a conversation between Rollins and legendary manager Paul Heyman on RAW is causing quite a stir.
Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes are facing a clash of champions at WWE and the next chapter in their bitter rivalry—and this TV moment has once again charged the showdown with meaning.
A few days before the big event, the league has added extra excitement to the fight between World Champion Rollins and WWE Champion Rhodes. The key player in this: Rollins’ manager, living legend Paul Heyman.
WWE RAW: Heyman threatens Rollins
In the latest edition of Monday Night RAW, Rollins sought out Paul Heyman for a conversation in a staged backstage segment.
“What happens if I lose?” asked the ‘Visionary’ Rollins of his “Oracle,” pointing out that he had lost all three major matches against the “American Nightmare” since Rhodes’ WWE comeback in 2022.
Heyman’s answer was clear:
“You’ll lose the locker room, you’ll become a second-rate champion,” replied the former companion of Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns: Rollins would also lose the trust of his protégés Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. Alarmed by Heyman’s words, Rollins pressed him on the state of his personal loyalty.
Heyman’s reply: “I’ll ask myself why I bet on you instead of Roman Reigns at WrestleMania.”
“If you lose…I have to ask myself why I picked you over Roman Reigns.” @HeymanHustle let @WWERollins know that EVERYTHING is on the line at Crown Jewel… pic.twitter.com/TjGTxnYrTC
— WWE (@WWE) October 7, 2025
New match for WWE Crown Jewel announced
WWE sent a clear message with this segment: if Rollins loses, Heyman and the group “The Vision” threaten to abandon him – which would significantly change the storylines in the league.
This adds a new level of excitement to the match that wasn’t there before: Rhodes and Rollins’ two title belts are not at stake; instead, the match is for the overarching “Crown Jewel Championship,” whose significance and potential for identification among fans is limited. Now the league’s supporters have a more compelling reason to cheer.
Meanwhile, a fifth match has been officially announced for Crown Jewel: Roman Reigns, who returned last week, will face local hero Reed in an “Australian Street Fight” in Perth.
Also on the program is another champion vs.
duel between Tiffany Startton and Stephanie Vaquer, a tag team match between the Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) and Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, and the final chapter in the match series between AJ Styles and John Cena, who is retiring from the WWE ring at the end of the year.