'%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)
2016: Seth Rollins' Return
Seth Rollins returned from his aforementioned knee injury at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view in May 2016. He instantly attacked Roman Reigns to stake his claim to the title he never lost. Fans were completely on Rollins' side, cheering for days when he ran out at the end of Extreme Rules. It looked like WWE's next big babyface star had arrived. However, 'The Architect' cut a heel promo on fans one night later, which was incredibly disappointing.
Immediately, WWE squandered a whole lot of Seth Rollins' goodwill and momentum following his return by establishing him as a heel. If there was ever a perfect time to turn him babyface, this was it. His WWE 24 documentary released a couple of days later painted Rollins and his return from in injury in a positive light, causing fans to root for him even more. Especially considering Rollins was set to face the ever-polarizing Roman Reigns, he should have been a good guy instantly.
This was certainly a more organic way to turn him face than when Triple H gave him a Pedigree on RAW. It really tinkered with his momentum, leaving 'The Architect' lost for a very long time. Had he turned face in May 2016, he would have been the most over man in WWE, but the turn four months later seemed extremely forced, especially considering that 'The Game' wouldn't be seen on WWE TV for five more months.
One way to kill your biggest star's momentum is just like that. Rollins would hardly ever be this over throughout his entire babyface run over the past couple of years
