Can Seth Rollins Lead WWE Raw as Top Face?

With the betrayal of Triple H towards Seth Rollins as he was attempting to win the WWE Universal Title, it marks the beginning of a Rollins face turn. Can he lead the brand as their top face?

On Monday, August 29th, what the unthinkable appeared to happen. The brash, confident and egotistical former WWE World Heavyweight, United States and Tag Team Champion, Seth Rollins was swerved by one of his most loyal supporters, Triple H. Wrestling fans came unglued on either social media, at the show, or watching at home since the seeming face turn by Rollins wasn’t seen coming. When Rollins returned, coming to the ring after Roman Reigns defeated AJ Styles to retain the WWE World Heavyweight championship, sounds of elation filled the arena as he jumped the former champion and proclaimed that he was now back.

Fans cheered, knowing full well what he had been through and how an injury of the magnitude he suffered could influence his career. In fact, the WWE Network created a special titled ‘Rebuild. Redesign. Reclaim,’ which showed everything that Rollins has been through in order to return. After watching that documentary, it was hard to ‘hate’ or ‘jeer’ him.

However, the company went through with their plans and made him play up to those accolades, only to have him cast them aside. They stuck to their guns of having Rollins remain a heel because of his body of work and how convincing he has been in that role. Many have asked whether or not that was the right decision at the time. Well, it appears that question can now be asked once again since Rollins is poised to not only be a top face, but a top face on the flagship show. Can Seth Rollins lead WWE Raw as the top face?

Yes, without a doubt he has a reason now

Unlike when he initially returned, Rollins turn is driven by logical motivation. When Triple H appeared to change his mind almost instinctively and aided Kevin Owens, it meant he hand-picked the successor to Finn Balor. During his time working with Triple H, Rollins appeared to be a leech in need of the administration’s support. And now, Rollins has been betrayed by the man he betrayed his friends (The Shield) to align himself with.

This time, however, Rollins was doing it alone. There was no aid from the Authority and there was no J&J Security. Rollins was coming back and having intense matches that showed he wasn’t slowing down, he was prepared to recapture a status that was lost not n by his own choice. He has the motivation of getting back at Triple H for doing to him what he has been guilty of doing before. In fact, we could witness a different side to Rollins, a side where he regrets that his greed cost him his friends, and becomes aware that his choice of alliances essentially what cost him championships.

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No, he was too convincing a heel to be a top face

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While Rollins may be motivated to get back at Triple H, much like how Dean Ambrose was motivated to get back at him that doesn’t necessarily mean he will be a convincing face. If there was one thing Rollins was effective at during his time as a heel WWE World Heavyweight champion, it was his smarmy, slimy attitude that made fans jeer him. He would constantly run away from a fight, and often feared those that appeared to be angrier than him or more motivated from him.

For all we know, Triple H’s actions towards Rollins were based out of jealousy. At one point prior to the fatal four-way match, Rollins and Stephanie shared a hug. It may have been innocent enough, but it could have easily be the tipping point for Triple H, seeing another man share an embrace, regardless of how innocent or brief it may have been. If that was the case, it would make it difficult to ‘like’ Rollins, knowing he could have been trying to manipulate Stephanie all along so that she would continue to show her support.  That doesn’t necessarily make him the most likeable of faces, especially if the intent is that he was going to lead the brand as the top face.

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There are two sides to whether or not Rollins will be able to lead as a top face, the question is will he be able to convince us that he can? Only time will tell if that can happen.