Right now, right this second, Seth Rollins is the best in-ring performer in The Shield. He is fast, he is athletic, and he sells like a young Billy Mays. Here’s a spoiler about Seth Rollins: we haven’t even seen his best moves yet. I don’t know if he has been avoiding the Phoenix Splash because it’s more of a babyface spot, or if the WWE is telling him not to use it, but the guy can flat-out go in the ring. His Monday Night Raw match with Daniel Bryan last month is probably the best singles performance that any Shield member has put up since joining the main roster. He also has a good look. He’s not a mountain of muscle mass, but he possesses what forum user BrianFNPillman refers to as “that ‘alternative’ look.” The same post later refers explicitly to Jeff Hardy, and in fact, Rollins is almost exactly the same height and weight as the Charismatic Enigma. The two also share a proclivity for long hair with streaks dyed into it.
Hardy’s run as a WWE main event talent and merchandise selling-machine is a bit underappreciated now due to the circumstances that ended it. That would constitute Rollins’ peak potential in the organization, but I’m not sure he’ll make it to those heights. Rollins has thus far failed to separate himself from his teammates – I recently watched him at a house show with friends who are casual fans, and none of them could remember his name afterward. He also seems a bit bland on the mic – granted, Dean Ambrose is so good and so intense that almost anyone in the industry would pale in comparison. But I’ve been surprised to find that I look forward to Roman Reigns speaking more than Rollins.
I’ll grant you that I’m nitpicking a bit here. Rollins is solid, and I can’t wait to see him as a face, as I think that role best suits his move set and look. I think Seth Rollins is going to have an exciting, long-lasting career in the WWE. But I don’t think he’s the breakout star of this group.
