The WWE and the Seth Rollins committment
The WWE has put all of its eggs in Seth Rollins’ basket, picking him to become the top heel of the franchise for the foreseeable future.
The idea of having “The Architect” face a living legend in Sting at Night of Champions gives credence to the idea that Rollins, the least likely of the three members of The Shield to claim the WWE World Title, will be in the main event picture until he is no longer a viable option for Triple H, Stephanie McMahon and the rest of the WWE Universe.
Rollins has a look, a mean streak and a way of conveying his message that not only grates on the fans, but it makes them love him even more. After his performance at SummerSlam, a night where he was better than John Cena on so many levels, I have come to the conclusion that Rollins represents the new age heel – the one who runs from his position rather than embraces it.
Rollins and his cowardly heel persona fits perfectly for this generation of wrestling fans – the ones who forget or have not seen the heels of the Attitude Era or the 1980s NWA.
I got into a discussion with a wrestling fan about Rollins and how he has changed the thinking of the wrestling fan, how his character is nothing like the WWE has trotted out before, wearing the gold and speaking the evil gospel.
“I swear he should be in the diva revolution! They want you to believe Hunter is his mentor, but I don't see that. Even when Flair would be on his knees begging for mercy he would low blow you or poke you in the eyes. I mean I have never known such a coward heel. And the sad thing is he is the top heel. He just needs some tweaking and he could be really special.”
Rollins wouldn’t last in the older WWE or the 1980s wrestling promotions. Fans were a bit hardened to the style of a heel who would cause heat on his own, retreat from their opponents, only to come back even tougher, stronger and more vicious. That isn’t Rollins’ style – more mini mouse than a mighty mouse. But in the ring, when the lights are on and the main event starts, he delivers that reminds me of Michaels, Chris Jericho and Randy Savage.
He isn’t there yet – everyone just has to relax.
Rollins will prove his mettle in the ring once again at Night of Champions, this time taking on the man who would rather let his baseball bat and aura do his talking. It the contrast the WWE needs. Rollins has had to deal with mouthpieces like Paul Heyman, Dean Ambrose and John Cena in recent feuds. Sting presents the calm before a storm that will undoubtedly be leaving the fans wanting more.
This, however, is a one-time only engagement. A program with Sting has little value for the WWE, especially since John Cena and Brock Lesnar are without dance partners with a pay-per-view event upcoming. Rollins, with his whining voice and slinking style, is what the fans have been given, what the fans have wanted. A wrestler who can talk it, walk it and perform like the greats of before, but is a new breed of a wrestler, who has created his own style.
Whether we continue to get behind that style remains to be seen, especially if wrestlers like Kevin Owens and eventually Samoa Joe become the heavyweight heels we are used to seeing crush opponents.
For now, Rollins will continue to blossom and more importantly, remain in the main event picture, at least until WrestleMania. It’s the best thing the WWE could do right now. Sting is just a tease at what could be. Or in this case, could help Rollins achieve even more greatness. I suspect Sting wins the title in Houston but drops it after a short title run (a swan song of sorts).
Rollins the contender is just as impressive as Rollins the title holder and Sting presents the biggest challenge of his career to date. For now, we have to accept the two sides of Rollins – the performer in the ring who continues to get better and more impressive and the heel who is nothing like we have seen before.
Both are a change in direction of sorts for the WWE. Both have a chance to be one of the best we have seen in the company in some time.
Rollins, for better or worse, has quickly become the best the company has to offer.