'%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)
Last week on RAW, former WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins embraced his dark side to teach Kevin Owens a lesson. This time, The Architect is not alone and has got former RAW Tag Team Champions AOP by his side. If the newly-found faction's recent actions are to be taken into consideration, the trio seems to have only one aim: take over the Red brand.
Rollins has already blamed the fans for the vicious assault on Owens and it appears that he is on the verge of taking out every Superstar the WWE Universe adores. Akam and Rezar will surely help him in this regard but there a few members in the RAW locker room who can fight off this dangerous trio.
In this article, we take a look at those performers who can pose a serious threat to Rollins on his way to the top of WWE's food chain.
But before we head on to that part, don't forget to check out the latest edition of our Dropkick DiSkussion where Tom Colohue and Korey Gunz discuss the aftermath of TLC, recent WWE releases, potential contenders for Brock Lesnar, and several other topics.
#5 Rey Mysterio
Seth Rollins squaring off against Rey Mysterio is a dream matchup for any WWE fan and if they get entangled in a feud, we can expect several classic encounters between the two.
But will the feud get intriguing? Well, it has a high possibility to win over the WWE Universe. Being one of the most fan-favorite Superstars of all time, Mysterio possesses the credibility to easily turn the crowd against The Architect. The presence of Akam and Rezar in Rollins' corner will only add to the negative reception for the former WWE Universal Champion.
Although Mysterio is known mostly for his high-flying abilities, the reigning United States Champion can also activate his aggressive side if needed. We got a glimpse of that during his feud with WWE Champion Brock Lesnar, wherein The Beast Incarnate himself had to retreat from The Biggest Little Man.
Rollins and AOP should also maintain their distance from Dominic Mysterio or the scenario will turn really ugly.
#4 Rusev
Without a shadow of a doubt, the presence of Akam and Rezar is enough to turn the tables in favor of Seth Rollins against anyone facing off against him. However, there are certain Superstars on the Red brand who can give it back to AOP when needed. According to me, one such wrestler is the Bulgarian 'super athlete' Rusev.
For the past few months, Rusev has been involved in a controversial storyline that also features Bobby Lashley and Lana. It looks like his real-life wife, The Ravishing Russian herself, is interested in settling down with the former Intercontinental Champion.
Although the newly-formed couple was after The Bulgarian Brute since September, the scenario is taking a different turn now. Rusev no longer seems interested in reconciling with his ex-wife and now, Lana and Lashley are engaged to be married.
Fresh off of this story, he needs a credible opponent to bounce back to the top-tier of the RAW roster. And who better other than The Architect to facilitate that?
One thing that The Bulgarian Brute earned from the feud with Lana-Lashley is his strong connection with the WWE Universe and if given a chance, Rollins and AOP would love to decimate another crowd-favorite.
#3 Samoa Joe
Just like The Bulgarian Brute, Samoa Joe is someone who possesses the ability to take out Seth Rollins (and AOP) all on his own. However, the scenario was entirely different when they last met.
Rollins was then trying to take down Triple H, while the Samoan Submission Machine stood in front of him as the barrier. Joe's brutal attack on The Architect even forced him to be out of action, leading to the renowned 'Non-Sanctioned' match between Rollins and Triple H at WrestleMania 33.
Although he's fought the Submission Specialist on numerous occasions, it's tough to completely forget about the one who had injured you and based on this ground, Rollins can rekindle his rivalry with the former United States Champion. If we go by their previous battles, The Architect engaging in a feud with Samoa Joe will be nothing short of a must-see encounter.
The Samoan Submission Machine is sidelined with an injury for the time being and serving as a guest commentator on Monday Night RAW. However, he will be making his in-ring return sooner or later and this will be the perfect feud for him to start again.
#2 Randy Orton
Randy Orton and Seth Rollins share a storied past owing to their involvement in The Authority. After initial success, Triple H's blessing helped The Architect win the Money in the Bank contract and enter the main-event scenario while Orton got pushed back to pave the way for Rollins. Eventually, The Viper had his outburst and it led to his ouster from the faction.
The two then fought each other at WrestleMania 31, and at Extreme Rules in a Steel Cage match for the WWE Championship. Regardless of the winner, both the matches were appreciated by the fans and it left the WWE Universe longing for more battles between the two of them.
Since 2015, we have never seen them collide with one another and if Rollins is looking for a fight, I will, as a fan, prefer to see him take on the 13-time World Champion. Orton is someone who can get away from the clutches of Akam and Rezar and take the fight to Rollins directly, as is evident from his ongoing feud with AJ Styles and The O.C.
Having a feud with The Viper will help Rollins project himself as one of the top heels of the company.
#1 Brock Lesnar
The numerous encounters with Brock Lesnar have helped Seth Rollins evolve into the Superstar he is today. Be it WrestleMania 31 when he defeated Roman Reigns and Lesnar to win the WWE Championship, or en route to Battleground 2015, when he was trying his best to get away from the clutches of The Beast Incarnate.
Lesnar and Rollins reignited their feud earlier this year for the WWE Universal Championship but this time, The Architect showcased that he was no longer afraid to square up to The Beast. He not only defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 35 to win the title but also at SummerSlam in a much-anticipated rematch for the belt.
While Rollins lost the championship to The Fiend, Lesnar went on to win the WWE Championship from Kofi Kingston and the two are now back on the same brand once again. Some may argue that The Beast Incarnate is already a heel but if the situation demands, he can switch to work as a babyface in no time.
If Rollins aims to reclaim his position as the top Superstar in the company, The Beast will surely be on his radar and we may get to see the two square off for the WWE Championship real soon.
