{"id":38386,"date":"2019-03-12T19:30:17","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T23:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=38386"},"modified":"2019-03-12T19:30:17","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T23:30:17","slug":"iowas-own-seth-rollins-ready-to-steal-the-show-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2019\/03\/12\/iowas-own-seth-rollins-ready-to-steal-the-show-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Iowa’s Own Seth Rollins Ready to Steal the Show…Again"},"content":{"rendered":"

On April 7th<\/sup> the state of Iowa will be watching their favorite son Seth Rollins<\/strong> challenge \u201cThe Beast Incarnate\u201d Brock Lesnar<\/strong> at WrestleMania 35<\/em><\/strong> in the Big Apple, New York City. It\u2019s strange that a fight of this magnitude has lacked so much buzz when you consider these two have met in singles competition only once. He earned the shot at The Beast by winning the Royal Rumble<\/em><\/strong> in January, and looks to add more Gold to a career that may seem unexpected, but went exactly the way it was designed.<\/p>\n

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Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Seth \u201cFreakin\u201d Rollins was born Colby Lopez in Buffalo, Iowa on May 28th, 1986, a sleepy town outside of Davenport with no stoplights. He lived next door to his grandparents and played football, baseball, basketball and despite being good at all three he knew at an early age he wanted to be a WWE<\/strong> Superstar. Seth went to his first WWE Live Event at Wharton Field House in Moline, Illinois when he was 4 years old and was hooked. Rollins had a Hulk Hogan<\/strong> wrestling buddy who regularly faced off with his brothers\u2019 Ultimate Warrior edition.<\/p>\n

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Photo: WWE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Like many kids, including yours truly, Rollins performed moves in front of the television imitating his wrestling heroes, and it\u2019s in these innocent moments of youth where Champions are born (NOT yours truly). There was never a doubt in Rollins\u2019 mind that he was not only going to be a Professional Wrestler but that he was going to be great at it. Before going to basketball camp he tearfully told his family of his decision, and despite some pushback he worked hard during high school eating right, working out, and took public speaking\/acting classes to prepare for his wrestling career. He took Public Speaking classes and bought his own weight set.<\/p>\n

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The first “official” promotion Rollins competed in was called Extreme Hardcore Wrestling (EHW)<\/strong> which was the promotion he started with his brother and friends. They competed on a trampoline his parents bought, and everyone had their own entrance and character. After graduating Davenport West High School in 2004, his wrestling journey began in his Blue Chevy Corsica with his buddy going to a Ring of Honor tryout in Philadelphia held by CM Punk<\/strong>. The tryout went terrible, and then he floundered. His buddy had already gone home, but Rollins refused to give up. He was convinced that if he went back to Iowa his dream would be over. Seth lived in his car before an unlikely conversation with a complete stranger changed the course of his wrestling career. He felt like a failure and refused to call his Mom and return home. The stranger was a college kid who lived at the place Rollins was staying. Rollins opened up about his circumstances and the young man convinced him that he wasn\u2019t a failure if he went home and that things like this were a part of life. After the conversation, Rollins was ready to recalibrate where his career was at, and back home in Iowa was the place to do it.<\/p>\n

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Farmer Burns & Frank Gotch<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Iowa and wrestling are synonymous with each other. Wrestling became popular during the 1880s when wrestlers such as Martin “Farmer” Burns<\/strong> from Wheatland, Iowa, wrestled for money, travelling around, calling for challengers. Farmer Burns later began a school and taught his method of wrestling even publishing a mail order course “Lessons in Wrestling and Physical Culture.” The 12 lessons centered on exercise, wrestling techniques, and overall health tips. Frank Gotch<\/strong>, who grew up on a farm near Humboldt, and later became a world champion and one of the most famous wrestlers in history, Gotch was well liked in Iowa. Babies, farm equipment, buildings, and toys were named in his honor. He is still ranked among the greatest professional wrestlers in history. The International Wrestling Institute and Museum, a bucket list item for many, also resides in Waterloo. Grappling Pioneer Toots Mondt<\/strong>, the man who can be credited with Professional Wrestling the way it is today was born in Garden Grove, and Kansas City wrestling Icon and promoter Bob Geigel<\/strong> was born in Algona and attended the University of Iowa.<\/p>\n