'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Seth Rollins has been on an absolute tear this year.
He has consistently had the best match of the night, be it a tag-team match, singles wrestling clinic, gauntlet match, or a fast-paced triple-threat match.
Crowds have chanted "Burn. It. Down", and he has done so; every single time.
It is fair to say that Monday Night Raw is Seth Rollins' show. It is fair to say that whilst Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman have been in the most high profile angles, Seth Rollins has absolutely been Raw's most valuable player. Monday Night Raw is indeed Monday Night Rollins.
With the Universal Championship somewhere on Brock Lesnar's ranch up until SummerSlam, the Intercontinental Championship was considered by many to be the top championship on Monday Night Raw.
Since winning it at Wrestlemania, Seth Rollins' performances absolutely made sure that it was the most exciting, and entertaining part of Monday Night Raw.
After briefly losing it to Dolph Ziggler, Rollins regained his gold at SummerSlam earlier this year.
Since SummerSlam, the Shield have reunited, and have been embroiled in a bitter war against Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, and Dolph Ziggler.
However, it must be questioned whether Seth Rollins can continue to hold on to his championship for much longer.
As part of this, Seth Rollins seems to be currently fighting every single heel on the RAW roster alongside his Shield brothers, Roman Reigns and Dolph Ziggler. Admirably and valiantly though they have fought, something needs to give. In order for the story to progress, the heroes must lose something.
It's not going to be Roman Reigns' Universal Championship; not yet anyway. It must be Seth Rollins' Intercontinental Championship.
I believe that these five men are fine candidates to defeat him for it. These selections have been made upon the basis of storyline trajectories, character motivations, and in a manner that effectively utilizes as many people as possible on the RAW Roster.
Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin does not like the Shield.
He has constantly conspired against them, and will only continue to do so.
The audience must expect nothing less from a sniveling, cowardly, vindictive, selfish character such as Corbin.
Last week on RAW, he abused his power as General Manager to book himself into a Universal Championship match on RAW. He was unsuccessful, despite the interference of Braun Strowman, Drew McIntyre, and Dolph Ziggler.
But if at first you fail, try, try, and try again until you succeed.
He couldn't wrest the Universal Championship away from the Shield, but he can do the next best thing; take away the Intercontinental Championship.
All Corbin has to do is book himself in an Intercontinental Championship match, remember to ban Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose from ringside, implore Strowman, Ziggler, and McIntyre to interfere, and use every dirty trick in the book to cheat his way to victory.
Dolph Ziggler
These two have already proven that they have excellent chemistry.
The Shield's issues with Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre stemmed from Seth Rollins' Intercontinental Championship loss to the latter.
As such, it only makes sense that as their rivalry continues, Seth Rollins lose the Intercontinental Championship to Drew McIntyre.
Elias
Elias is a WWE Superstar who has all the tools to achieve super-stardom.
He has a unique gimmick, impressive physique, and charisma for days.
However, he has meandered off late.
He needs a proper story, and the first step to achieving that is the Intercontinental Championship.
Seth Rollins almost lost to Elias earlier this year because he was pushing himself too hard.
It is an easy enough story to revisit and allows Elias to become a latter-day Honky Tonk Man as Intercontinental Champion.
Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens said that he only returned to RAW because he had permission to do what he wanted, to who he wanted, when he wanted.
Given that he quit after an Intercontinental Championship loss to Seth Rollins, it makes all the sense in the world for Kevin Owens to decide that what he wants to do is to take the Intercontinental Championship away from Seth Rollins.
Nobody who saw their last match on RAW would complain if he got more of these two mixing it up.
Finn Balor
Finn Balor defeated Seth Rollins to become the first ever WWE Universal Champion, but ever since, Rollins has enjoyed far more success.
Seth Rollins doesn't really need the Intercontinental Championship, and losing it to Balor will allow more focus to be placed upon the erstwhile Demon King.
This one is easy to book.
Have Seth Rollins hold an Intercontinental Championship open challenge on RAW, after a grueling pay-per-view match.
Have Finn Balor beat a depleted Rollins, clean in the middle of the ring, and have Rollins shake his hand after.
This allows Rollins to lose in a protected manner.
Have Rollins be attacked by Braun Strowman and pals after the match.
The next week on RAW, have Balor come out and offer Rollins a rematch whenever he wants, as soon as he is one-hundred percent. Have Rollins come out and say that he will accept Balor's rematch, but only after he is done dealing with Braun Strowman and company.
This allows Balor to stay a babyface, and prevents either man from taking a loss in a rematch.
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