Seth Rollins Will Elevate Elias at WWE Money in the Bank
By Tom Clark
Seth Rollins is taking his red hot run straight to WWE Money in the Bank on Sunday, June 17. He will defend his Intercontinental Championship on that night against Elias, who some consider to be one of the best heels in Vince McMahon’s company.
It’s an interesting pairing due to Seth’s recent streak of explosive matches. From The Miz to Finn Balor to Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins has done nothing but impress every time he stepped into the ring. It’s not as though fans didn’t know how good Rollins is. But he’s arguably never looked this good.
Seth is automatic and though each man he’s worked lately also ranks among the top in WWE, Rollins is the common denominator. He makes his opponents look good. It’s what he does. He may not be a world champion right now and he may not be the top guy. But Seth Rollins may be the best wrestler in the business today.
So does that mean that Elias is in for the best match of his WWE career thus far at Money in the Bank? All signs point to yes. But not even the Magic 8-Ball knows what the outcome of the match will be. While it may seem unlikely, there is a possibility that Rollins could lose the Intercontinental Championship on June 17.
If that happens, Elias’s stock immediately skyrockets. He will go from having potential to fully realizing it. The IC title would put him as the top champion on Raw, next only to Universal champion Brock Lesnar. Elias would undoubtedly be the hottest topic of conversation for WWE fans all over the world.
But is that actually going to happen? Seth has so much momentum right now and it’s hard to imagine WWE doing anything to slow him down. Losing the belt to Elias at Money in the Bank surely would not hurt Seth in the long term. But the short term is another story altogether.
Then there’s the question of whether or not Elias is truly ready for such a move. Yes he is doing well and yes he seems to have a tremendous upside. But putting a title on him now after little to no buildup may not be the best thing for him.
Fans already pop for him even though he constantly insults them. They would probably continue to cheer for him if he becomes the Intercontinental champion. If WWE has no intention of turning him babyface, then why put him in a position to get over as one? It’s not WWE’s fault that fans like Elias of course. However that does not mean the company should encourage the support if indeed Elias is to remain an antagonist.
Of course that’s not to suggest that WWE should hold Elias back. If it’s indeed the right time for him to win his first ever title in WWE, then he should go over on June 17. Working Seth will elevate Elias despite how the match ends. But a win over Rollins would be a milestone for Elias and he can use that victory to build a main event career.
The onus is on WWE to decide whether Elias’s advancement is more important than Seth’s run. But as fans debate the pros and cons of the situation, there is no denying that some good work can be done at Money in the Bank regardless of the outcome.
Elias will be entering the ring with a guy that’s on top of his game. Rollins has 13 years experience to draw from and he’s been on top of the world as WWE champion. He has done it all in the business. Now he’s working instant classics and making it all look extremely easy.
If anyone in WWE can help Elias right now, it’s Seth Rollins. But as good as Rollins is, he needs strong heels to challenge his place in the company. Otherwise, Seth will become very stale very quickly. Elias is just the latest heel to step up and try The Kingslayer.
But unlike the others that have challenged Rollins, Elias is the least accomplished. He may not be able to deliver the kind of match that Seth is used to. But that is where experience comes in. Rollins can shine where Elias cannot. He can make Elias look better than he surely ever has before and it would do nothing but help Elias in the future.
So that means this match doesn’t have to be their only match. This may be just the first chapter for Seth and Elias. If that’s the case, then Rollins will have more time to help Elias along the way. Seth may be the best in WWE right now, but he knows that giving the assist to others around him makes his life even better.
The bottom line for Elias is that he needs a boost. He may be popular among fans, but his routine is beginning to wear thin. Every week he comes to the ring, plays guitar, asks if anyone wants to walk with him, then turns on the crowd when they pop for him. It was fun at one time. But now it’s becoming painfully repetitive.
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One match may not change his fortune in WWE but it could get him moving in the right direction. Working Seth Rollins may in fact be the most important thing Elias will do to this point. A win for Elias would be epic. But the match itself should definitely be a hit.