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There were several surprise returns at the 2021 Royal Rumble, but the biggest one may have belonged to Seth Rollins, who entered the men's match at No. 29 and made an immediate impact. The Messiah had been off WWE TV for a couple of months to be with his fiancee Becky Lynch, as they welcomed their first child.
But now, Rollins is back. He looks as good as ever and seems ready to become a big part of Friday Night SmackDown. With the Blue brand firing on all cylinders, one has to wonder what Seth Rollins might get up to.
Chances are that it will be pretty exciting. This return provides the four-time WWE World champion with a chance to paint a new picture or perhaps, go back to an old one. There are several possibilities for what might be in store for Rollins upon his return to weekly WWE programming.
Here are five possible directions for Seth Rollins, following his return at Royal Rumble.
#5 Seth Rollins turns babyface and apologizes to the Mysterio family
It is widely said that becoming a parent changes a person. That statement could be put to practice on SmackDown, with Seth Rollins becoming a father nearly two months ago. His last story in WWE saw him torment the Mysterio family, before getting double-crossed by his disciple, Murphy.
Rollins was at his villainous worst multiple times throughout this rivalry. He 'extracted' Rey Mysterio's eye, destroyed Dominik Mysterio's body with a kendo stick, and tried to drive a wedge between Aalyah Mysterio and her family by using Murphy. Of course, it backfired in the end, but there will still be bad blood.
Seth Rollins could squash that bad blood on SmackDown and promise that he has become a changed man after experiencing a couple of months of parenthood. A babyface turn simply through the sincerity of his apology to Rey and Dominik Mysterio is possible.
The two parties do not need to be friends at all but if Rollins apologizes to the Mysterios, it would be an effective means of turning him back into a good guy if that is what WWE wants him to be. This is an unlikely option because it seems like Seth Rollins will remain as a heel, based on his Royal Rumble appearance.
#4 Seth Rollins begins a feud with Shinsuke Nakamura
If he remains a heel, Seth Rollins could start a feud against quite a few Superstars on SmackDown. One of the more interesting options is Shinsuke Nakamura. It would be a fresh match, even though it happened at Survivor Series 2018 in a Champion vs. Champion bout.
However, there are still many things that make a current day rivalry between Rollins and Nakamura fresh. The roles would be reversed, with The Messiah excelling as a heel and The King of Strong Style doing much better as a babyface.
Also, Seth Rollins wouldn't be distracted by another feud happening simultaneously, like he was with Dean Ambrose at the time. If a match with Shinsuke Nakamura is his sole focus, you better believe it will be great. The two could have a series of great matches on TV and possibly, pay-per-view.
Seth Rollins and Shinsuke Nakamura's styles mesh so well together that it would be a shame if they didn't get to showcase it with no outside distractions. Now is a perfect time, with Nakamura heating up once again as a face and Rollins seemingly remaining a heel upon his return to WWE.
#3 Seth Rollins and Daniel Bryan go on a classic in-ring rivalry
Based on what happened during the Royal Rumble Match, Seth Rollins may have already confirmed his return feud. He eliminated multiple Superstars from the match, with the most notable one being heavy favorite, Daniel Bryan. This could be the basis for the program between the two.
With possible suggestions that Royal Rumble winner Edge might challenge Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 37, Daniel Bryan would need a good spot and a high-profile opponent. Aside from Reigns, there is no heel on SmackDown that is as high-profile as Seth Rollins.
The two have had matches in the past, but not a full-blown singles feud. Bryan and Rollins are certainly capable of magic together. They could put on a couple of wrestling clinics on the Road to WrestleMania, with a blowoff match coming at The Show of Shows.
This would be great for WrestleMania, with a compelling story that could be told along with the guarantee in match quality. Seth Rollins vs. Daniel Bryan is worthy of stealing the show on a one-night 'Mania so with the event being split across two nights, it could be even better than imagined.
#2 Seth Rollins challenges Big E for the Intercontinental Championship
One of the best runs Seth Rollins ever had in WWE was when he held the Intercontinental Championship. He might want to revisit those days and hold the workhorse belt once again. The Messiah would further elevate the stock of the IC title if he wins it, continuing the belt's revival since last summer.
Big E is the current Intercontinental Champion and is in a feud with both, Sami Zayn and Apollo Crews. He is likely to emerge victoriously over both Superstars, possibly in a triple threat match on SmackDown. But after that, Big E could receive a challenge from Seth Rollins.
The two have some history together, as Big E actually won the NXT Championship from Rollins around the time they both debuted on the WWE main roster. The former member of The Shield might want to return the favor and grab some gold of his own. Rollins last held a singles title in the fall of 2019.
Anyway, the IC title division is pretty hot right now. It is stacked with talent and if Seth Rollins chooses to enter the fray, it would make things even better. SmackDown is currently doing so many things right.
#1 Seth Rollins joins forces with Roman Reigns; Begins a slow-burning angle with him
This could be a new spin on an old friendship of Seth Rollins'. Roman Reigns is currently on top of the world and in the best run of his career as the heel Universal Champion, with Paul Heyman and Jey Uso by his side. The Tribal Chief has teased a full-blown faction, with Apollo Crews being present in his locker room a few weeks ago.
If Reigns does get a faction built around him with Heyman, Crews, and The Usos, it wouldn't be the worst idea in the world if Seth Rollins joined forces with them. He and Roman Reigns go way back, as part of The Shield. They were essentially brothers for years on end and that bond could return to our screens soon.
Rollins could even pursue the Intercontinental Championship as a part of this group if Apollo Crews fails to defeat Big E. This could lead to one of the most dominant stables in WWE history, before everything eventually falls apart. The aftermath of a potential Roman Reigns-Seth Rollins partnership would be a Universal title match between the two.
Maybe, that is when The Messiah turns babyface again. A feud between a face Rollins and a heel Reigns could be magical. It could even main event WrestleMania 38 if The Rock isn't available then. This is the kind of long-term storytelling that SmackDown is capable of. But will they do it?
What direction do you want Seth Rollins to go in following his return at the Royal Rumble? Sound off in the comments below.
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
