While Seth Rollins can play a pretty decent babyface (when he manages to stay off his Twitter account on his downtime), there really is nothing better than a full-blown Rollins heel. He’s had some pretty incredible moments over his past run and some highlights during this latest WWE turn, as well.
Before the WWE Universe officially rings in the first Monday Night RAW of 2020, time to take a stroll down memory lane and revisit Seth Rollins’ five best heel moments.
#5. Tease Of A Heel
This past year was a bit of a rollercoaster ride for our boy Seth Rollins. He started 2019 with a bang by becoming the Men’s Royal Rumble winner, moved on to Wrestlemania 35 where he slayed a beast to become RAW’s Universal Champion, and revealed a power couple relationship with other top company face “The Man” Becky Lynch (after weeks upon weeks of speculation from fans).
However, somewhere along the way, he lost incredible momentum with fans as a “good guy.” Maybe it was his Twitter rants, perhaps, it was how he was booked, then many could point to the fact that there was a new and unique persona connecting with the fans, better known as Bray Wyatt and his Fiend.
Regardless, Rollins desperately needed a change, and WWE Creative needed to address the idea of halting a babyface push for this Superstar.
It’s nice to see the powers that be recognized this and the night after he suffered a devastating loss at Survivor Series, the “leader of the locker room” opened RAW via a Town Hall-ish meeting by berating the entire red brand roster for their failure to secure wins the night before.
While he didn’t go bonafide heel at that point in time yet, the tease was one of the best promos from Seth in a long while and perfectly executed on a creative standpoint.
Fans wanted him to go back to his bad boy ways, and this opening RAW segment offered that hint we all needed to cling on to … without ripping off the proverbial bandage … just yet.
#4. Full Heel Steam Ahead
Speaking of, the Nov. 25 edition of RAW had the WWE Universe buzzing about the Architect. From Rollins’ opening promo post-Survivor Series to the AOP attacking Kevin Owens in the main event that night (but not Rollins) the WWE Universe was thirsting to see The Architect solidify that tease with a bonafide heel turn.
After two weeks of speculation, Rollins offered just that in a beautifully orchestrated backstage segment that saw Kevin Owens looking for the AOP. While Rollins had been prophetically denying an alliance with Akam and Rezar in the weeks leading up to Dec. 2, he essentially cemented his heel turn (and partnership with the AOP) when Kevin opened up the doors of a black van, catching a glimpse of someone in the back seat (dressed in all black, of course).
Before anyone knew what hit them next (literally), the AOP attacked KO, and the camera shifted (oh-so timely) to the man who was in fact in the back seat: Seth Rollins. A Curb Stomp on Owens (on the backstage cement floor) moments later, and a top heel was reborn.
The moment was beautiful, with the turn and Rollin’s next chapter perfectly crafted. Dare I say, Rollins heel turn was not only one of the best things about Monday Night RAW all year, but it once again proved that the WWE does listen to what the fans truly want.
Arrogant, manipulative, and sneaky Seth Rollins was back, and he decided to replace his old backup of Joey Mercury and Jamie Noble with some real henchmen in the AOP.
#3. Mr. Money In The Bank
While Seth Rollins’s recent heel turn has been phenomenal, will it be possible for him in 2020 to top moments from his last heel run? This is Seth “Freakin” Rollins, we are talking about! A heel Seth Rollins is what is best for business!
So, let’s not forget the incredible bad guy moments of his far past, with one little gem from 2014. Rewinding to a time where Triple H and Stephanie McMahon controlled the RAW brand under their Authority faction, they somehow convinced Seth Rollins to turn his back on his Shield brothers and join their alliance.
The Money in the Bank PPV would be slated some weeks later and of course, the couple’s newest prodigal son would enter the match. With the help of his fellow Authority member, Kane, Rollins would pull a fast one against former brother Dean Ambrose, thus snagging the MITB contract, and gaining an opportunity for a WWE Championship match himself: showcasing the benefits of pushing his friends aside to pursue other partnerships in the WWE.
The MITB moment hits this list as it not only provided leverage to continue to elevate Rollins as the top heel of the company, it also launched a fantastic feud between Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins, as well.
The program offered a personal layer, as the two had been former stable mates (with wounds still feeling so fresh), and Ambrose’s missed MITB opportunity was the icing on the rivalry cake; with the Lunatic Fringe’s nutty character shining through whenever he stopped Seth from trying to cash-in said briefcase, at every corner.
#2. The Champ Champ
Seth Rollins would move on from MITB, carving chapter upon heel chapter in 2014 with contract in hand. He’d have a phenomenal program with Dean Ambrose, which thrusted both men into the spotlight: Ambrose as a top face, and Rollins as a top bad guy.
The Architect would ring in the new year in 2015, jumping into a feud with Randy Orton, and while he held that MITB contract, he was far away from the title race picture.
That is, until Wrestlemania 31’s main event, where Seth (finally) cashed in his contract during the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match, turning it into a triple threat. He’d pin Reigns to become the champion.
While some may think this could have been an incredible heel moment for Rollins, considering the landscape of the WWE in 2015, and how fans did not (at the time) want to see Brock Lesnar versus Roman in the spotlight, the entire move was applauded by many, despite the fact that Rollins was still a bonafide heel.
Months would roll on and Seth would be embroiled in a feud with (then) United States Champion John Cena. Off the cusp of breaking Cena’s nose on the Jul. 28, 2015 edition of RAW, a champion versus champion match was set for that year’s SummerSlam.
Thanks to an interference fromThe Daily Show’s Jon Stewart, Rollins emerged as the winner, etching himself into WWE history as the first (and only) Superstar to hold both the WWE and U.S. Championship simultaneously.
Not only did this win place heel Rollins within the history books (again), it meant the face that ran the place (at that point in time) was not only defeated, Cena also lost an opportunity to (at that point in time) tie Ric Flair’s record book championship reigns. Devastating loss for Cenation fans, but incredible heel moment for Sethy.
#1 The Heel Turn That Started It All
With all that said, the very idea of Seth Rollins as a heel – one of the best of his time, at that – would not even be something I could write an article about without his infamous heel turn, the one that started it all, circa 2014.
Picture it: Jun. 2, 2014. Rollins, along with stablemates Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns, were riding a high wave of domination within the WWE. Their Shield faction was refreshing, wonderful, and had fans eating up merchandise on WWE.com and at live events.
Sure, there was a bit of a buzz on the Internet around a potential break up, but doesn’t that happen with a lot of alliances? Especially ones that were very popular? Most fans didn’t see it coming in the least when the Authority cornered the Shield that fateful night on Monday Night RAW, talking about a Plan B.
When Rollins hit Reigns with that chair from behind, it felt like a slap that could be heard from around the world, with Ambrose’s anguish a symbol of what the WWE Universe felt in their souls that very moment.
Simply put, it was the best heel moment that Rollins has had; shining and showcasing his opportunist ways.
At the drop of a hat, Seth Rollins chose money, fame, and fortune over friendship and brotherhood. It was the ultimate betrayal, and fans ate up what he was serving for months. In the end, we not only hated Seth Rollins, we loved to hate him.