Seth Rollins is back. The former WWE World Heavyweight champion finally made his return at Extreme Rules, and he did so to a huge ovation from the crowd. Actually the response was so good, that many are already predicting a face turn for the top star sooner rather than later.
But this may be yet another instance of fans completely losing perspective on a situation. Seth does deserve all the praise that fans can give him. He’s an accomplished talent; he’s very good in the ring and he’s also very good on the mic. His ability to draw heat is second to none, and that’s what made him the top heel during his most recent run.
However, the keyword here is heel. Seth is a heel. When he left with an injury, he did so as a heel and now that he’s back, there is virtually no evidence to support the theory that he is face. Rollins snuck up behind Roman Reigns, he hit the Pedigree, and then held up the championship. That’s it.
First off, a babyface doesn’t feel the need to sneak up on anyone. Protagonists confront their enemies eye to eye, taking the high road even when sometimes perhaps they shouldn’t. The fact that Seth appeared with no entrance music is also very telling; WWE knows he would have blown the roof off had the crowd heard his theme.
The company obviously doesn’t want him to be heel. His use of the Pedigree should have tipped off anyone watching that he is indeed still in the corner of Triple H, the man that gave him power to begin with. This is not Seth Rollins, the returning hero. This is Seth Rollins, the villain seeking vindication. Attacking Roman did not baby Rollins out because WWE likely has no intention of heeling out Roman. The two men have history, and that’s why their feud makes sense. Rollins as a heel, and that’s how it is.
But everyone seems to be in full out maniac mode right now, and the truth is there’s nothing wrong with that. Seth has earned his place, and fans are indeed glad to see him back. They should be. He is that good and he will only get better.
For anyone that loves Roman however, there is reason to be nervous. Yes, their guy has finally beaten the odds and has overcome critics in terms of his place in WWE. He doesn’t have the crowd, and likely won’t any time soon but that doesn’t really matter. The company is committed to him, and he’s doing okay.
But Seth is the one guy that can beat Reigns. This situation is very similar to that of John Cena and Randy Orton, and that fact will likely manifest itself in coming weeks. Cena has always been the top guy, as hated as Roman is, and he always wins big matches, just like Roman now does himself. Fans hate it, they debate it, but they can’t stop it.
One by one new challengers step up, and one by one they fall. AJ Styles did an amazing job at Payback, and doubled his efforts at Extreme Rules. He put Roman over while also putting himself over and the match on May 22 is an early match of the year candidate.
But at the end of the day, he was just a contender. AJ will hopefully continue to get over and have a nice career in WWE, one that will surely include another run at the championship one day. But for right now, he’s not the man. Roman beat him the same way John beat any challenger that ever stepped up to him, and now he’s moving on to Seth.
However, Seth is Roman’s Randy Orton. They are opposite sides of the same coin. Rollins is not just any contender, he’s a former champ. He had the belt before Roman, and he could very well win it back in the very near future. A title defense against Seth is not a guaranteed win for Roman, and it shouldn’t be.
WWE needs variety at the top. Roman is their guy, but to constantly keep the belt on him when Seth is knocking on his door is unnecessary. Seth can win the championship from Roman at Money in the Bank on June 23, or perhaps even at SummerSlam on August 21.
If he does, WWE’s grand plan will not fall apart. Roman’s career will not die, he will not lose a step, and he could win the belt back at some point. This is not an indictment on Roman’s inability to get over; it’s more of a statement that WWE needs solid world title competitors. Seth is definitely that competitor. Reigns and Rollins trading the championship back and forth over the summer would not damage either guy; it would only elevate both of them.
The notion that a talent must consistently win in order to be taken seriously is logical, and holds a lot of value among fans. But if that talent has no one to challenge him, no one to make him step up his game, then that talent will never progress.
Roman and Seth both need that challenge, and they now have it in each other.
Tom Clark can regularly be found on Sportskeeda. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Android, Windows Phone and online here
