5 Directions WWE World Heavyweight champion Seth Rollins can go on from here

WrestleMania 31’s ending was nothing short of fantastic. The decision to have Seth Rollins swoop into the main event and nab the WWE Championship was a masterstroke, successfully elevating everybody involved. Rollins himself obviously finds his stock higher than ever, while Brock looked like an absolute monster in the early stages of the match, and Reigns came across as the brave babyface the WWE are so desperate to push him as.Interestingly, it also opens various previously unconsidered paths for future storylines. A whole host of superstars how have legitimate gripes with the new champ; Lesnar lost his title without being pinned and is surely set for a rematch at some stage, while Reigns was in the midst of a huge comeback when Rollins dashed down the ramp. Seth’s potential future feuds aren’t limited to the two main-eventers however. His previous storylines allow for a variety of different match-ups sure to keep the fans on their toes for the foreseeable future.If anything is to be learned from this, its that WrestleMania 31 was a huge make-or-break event in terms of momentum at the top of the card. Had the show ended predictably with Reigns standing tall, fans would have resented his hand-picked push as the new face of the company even more, and the stagnation beginning to set in over the past year or so would have been set to continue. Now, however, the company can enter a new, refreshing period with Rollins at the helm.

#1 Vanquish Orton Once and for All

It’s unclear whether Orton and Rollin’s match at WrestleMania was the blow-off of their feud, but Randy’s vengeful streak would be the perfect excuse to see these two in action one more time. Although this may seem an unnecessary extension to an already played-out rivalry, the added incentive of the WWE Championship could make one final match a genuinely exciting encounter.

The finish of their contest on Sunday was arguably the most jaw-dropping moment of the night, one sure to be replayed on video packages and Twitter feeds for a good while, so the WWE could be forgiven for wanting to capitalise on the inevitable boost Orton’s stunning RKO must have provided. This is another feud which would be perfect for Extreme Rules, especially given Randy’s naturally intimidating character and Rollins’ reckless wrestling style.

#2 Unfinished business with Dean Ambrose

Dean Ambrose had his sights firmly set on Seth Rollins until their feud was cut short by the inexplicable intrusion of Bray Wyatt at Hell In A Cell. Now would be the perfect time for the storyline to pick up where it left off, with the former Shield stablemates bent on tearing one another apart. With both men enjoying many years as big names on the independent scene, and a history of working with one another throughout their developmental careers, a great match would surely be a given.

Their feud last year must go down as a disappointment, but this would be a great chance to set the record straight. Its certainly a high-level storyline Ambrose deserves, having had his momentum slightly derailed by poorly received storylines despite his undeniable popularity and charisma.

#3 Resist Romans revenge

Roman’s intended push to the top of the roster has clearly been shelved for now, a decision which – although unfortunate for Reigns personally – is probably a wise idea in the long run. He will surely benefit from the chance to retreat a little from the spotlight and grow his popularity with the crowd in a more organic fashion, something he is clearly capable of doing as proven by the 2014 Royal Rumble. The raucous reaction to his close second place shows that fans were more than willing to get behind the Samoan before he was shoved down their throats.

Despite this need for a slight regression, Reigns does need to go after Rollins at first – or risk looking incredibly weak. One more chance at the WWE Championship, potentially involving a screwy finish, would at least give closure to the storyline for now. It also seems one of the most natural and believable paths to take.

#4 A Shield Three-Way Feud

This one couldn’t fail to drum up interest. An eventual triple threat between the former Shield members has been rumoured as an eventual match-up somewhere down the line, with even Ambrose himself reportedly commenting that it would be an exciting encounter.

Make no mistake about it, the Shield break-up angle is far from over yet. Far too much was unresolved; Rollins got away with his treachery essentially unpunished, while neither Ambrose nor Reigns gained a true measure of revenge. A triple threat would throw up so many interesting possibilities, from the two babyfaces teaming up to take down their former partner, to the title’s lustre perhaps coming between both men. It is unclear exactly how far in the future this match is likely to take place, but failing to include this on a big card would be a major wasted opportunity for the WWE.

#5 Hunted By \'The Beast\'

Brock Lesnar is a terrifying man. Seth Rollins has just screwed him out of his title without even pinning him. Horrible vengeance is surely right around the corner.

One of the best things about Seth’s successful cash-in was the way he dashed out of the ring immediately after pinning Reigns. It continued to sell Lesnar as an incredibly intimidating force – even when incapacitated – and the prospect of him tearing up the WWE in pursuit of his title is simply mouthwatering.

A potential worry is that now the company have avoided the seemingly-inevitable ‘Mania backlash in the event of a Reigns victory, they’ll hotshot the title straight back onto Lesnar for Roman to continue to chase. A far more compelling storyline would be Brock’s thirst for revenge and destruction, either solo or as the spearhead of a pack of potential contenders.