WWE News: Seth Rollins breaks character and praises Brock Lesnar

What's the story?

Speaking in an interview with The Independent, Seth Rollins has praised the in-ring abilities of on-screen WWE rival Brock Lesnar ahead of their Universal Championship rematch at SummerSlam 2019.

In case you didn't know…

Seth Rollins and Brock Lesnar have been feuding over the Universal Championship for the majority of 2019 so far.

The rivalry began when Rollins outlasted 29 other Superstars in the Royal Rumble in January to set up a one-on-one match between the two men at WrestleMania 35, which the former Shield member won.

Lesnar then emerged as the surprise winner of the Money In The Bank briefcase in May and he went on to cash in his contract on Rollins at Extreme Rules last week, reclaiming the Universal Championship in the process.

The following night, “The Beastslayer” won a 10-man Battle Royal on Raw to set up another singles encounter against “The Beast” at SummerSlam.

The heart of the matter

Although fans usually hear Seth Rollins saying derogatory things about Brock Lesnar on WWE television, the former Universal champion revealed in an out-of-character interview that he is impressed by his upcoming opponent’s competitiveness whenever they meet in a WWE ring.

"Say what you like about him as a human being and as a champion, and I've said all of those things in that way. But he is an ultra-competitor, and when the lights are the brightest, he turns it on. He goes, and he can go.

"For a guy who has been through what he's been through in his life; from his teenage years and collegiate wrestling, his WWE schedule and UFC schedule, he's a competitor."

After a 150-second match at WrestleMania 35 and a short altercation at Super ShowDown, Rollins added that he expects to have more of a “wrestling match” with Lesnar at SummerSlam.

What's next?

All eyes will be on the Raw Reunion episode of Monday Night Raw on July 22 as WWE brings back legends from the past and continues to build towards Brock Lesnar vs. Seth Rollins ahead of their SummerSlam match on August 11.