Backstage News On Botched Pin During Damian Priest Vs. Seth Rollins At WWE Money In The Bank

The World Heavyweight Championship match at Money in the Bank featured a major botch as the referee, Rod Zapata, did not finish the three-count even though Damian Priest didn't kick out of a Falcon Arrow from Seth Rollins. Zapata ultimately held up before counting the three, with Drew McIntyre then interrupting the match and cashing in his Money in the Bank contract.

Damian Priest would ultimately retain his World Heavyweight Championship in the impromptu Triple Threat due to interference from CM Punk, who attacked McIntyre. Punk's involvement also means Seth Rollins is unable to challenge for the World Heavyweight Title while Priest is champion and Rollins berated a smug Punk following the Triple Threat.

Why Priest didn't kick out is unknown but Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that the World Heavyweight Champion simply didn't kick out of the Falcon Arrow, which led to the botch.

"I had asked around, and basically the story I heard was that he didn't kick out. I think there's a possibility that there might have been a timing.... this is not what I was told when I watched it [but] maybe there was a timing thing where it was supposed to be like one or two, and then the music hits, and then because Drew's coming down right away. And then maybe like that's supposed to be the thing in the music, but when I did ask it was, 'He just didn't kick out," Meltzer said.

Fightful Select also reported that Priest was supposed to kick out and a backstage WWE source of theirs noted the botch was "an unfortunate situation, but those don't usually happen with Damian Priest, and he was probably more bothered about it than anyone. Considering how much he gives of himself, it would be silly for anyone to hold that against him. It's just a 'sh*t happens' situation."

It hasn't been confirmed or denied whether Drew McIntyre's music was supposed to interrupt the count but a WWE producer stated music shouldn't stop a pinfall count anyway. The same producer also noted they didn't believe the music was supposed to interrupt proceedings, based on Triple H's comments at the post-Money in the Bank press conference.

Referee Rod Zapata was ultimately given little choice but to halt his count. Had he continued, Seth Rollins would have won the contest and become World Heavyweight Champion, meaning Priest would have also been kicked out of Judgment Day, as per the stipulation of their match. McIntyre's cash-in would have then had to be a singles match against Rollins and Punk's attack would have led to a DQ finish.

H/T WrestlingNews.co