WWE Hot Take: Stars Aligning for Seth Rollins to Have Major SummerSlam Moment

It's impossible not to feel like a can't-miss turning point is about to unfold at WWE SummerSlam on Saturday night.

With Vince McMahon gone and WWE transitioning to the Triple H era (better name TBD by company and/or fans), never mind the supposed shift to a TV-14 rating, SummerSlam sits positioned as the jumping-off point. Especially so given the show's obvious weak point—yet another main event featuring Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar.

It was easy to feel this way even before McMahon's departure from the company. Reigns is clearly sliding into a reduced role and yet still clutches both top men's titles. Lesnar feels like an emergency route after injuries to the likes of Cody Rhodes and a dwindling talent pool of part-time Superstars.

But things took another interesting twist recently with a supposed "injury" to Riddle, the man originally slated to be Seth Rollins' opponent on the show.

Then...this:

There's also this report from WrestleVotes to raise a Rock-styled eyebrow at:

Feels like something is amiss, right? And maybe it should be. WWE has strangely skirted around the history between Rollins and Reigns for a long time now, perhaps because he's the only guy legitimately capable of taking down his former ally in The Shield.

And Rollins is, after all, the guy who pulled off the heist of the century at WrestleMania 31 during yet another Reigns vs. Lesnar, making for one of the biggest 'Mania moments ever.

There is no bigger wow-worthy moment than Rollins coming out of literally nowhere to steal titles again. We know Reigns isn't losing to Brock otherwise, not with sights on the next 'Mania and perhaps The Rock. We could chat about Austin Theory and his Money in the Bank briefcase, but that feels far too obvious, far too premature and far too...Vinceish.

The biggest perceived hurdle to this, of course, is actually getting Rollins in the match. But this is WWE, and the company has long done whatever it wants, whenever, and explain it away.

It could be as simple as Triple H aligning with him again and putting him in the match. Or perhaps he describes it as the dawn of a new era. Maybe WWE could finally acknowledge that Rollins has inexplicably been overlooked time and again when he's really the No. 1 contender in the company.

Through shenanigans only possible in pro wrestling, Rollins could steal Theory's briefcase. Who cares? Get him in the match, or playing some sort of role and have him steal at least one of Roman's titles.

This isn't just about a shock moment, either. Booking for moments instead of long-term storytelling is part of why WWE has had so many problems over the years. But getting a title on Rollins could let him carry the company while Reigns falls into more of a part-timer role. He could feud with the likes of Theory and inevitably have that Shield showdown at something like 'Mania down the road.

With Reigns seemingly already on a lesser workload, there's a timer on how many chances WWE will have left to do a good feud between him and Rollins anyway. The long-term story is right there, and those two headlining a 'Mania would show the company direction is now about homegrown guys, not part-time legends or outsiders.

Reigns' double title reign is stale and has fizzled out. This is the perfect excuse to throw a major wrench in its trajectory and create compelling storytelling opportunities. With Rollins, there's no lack of a credible opponent like there is with Reigns right now (who can actually beat him if he goes on to best Rock, too?).

Given WWE's past, it's easy to feel pessimistic that Rollins just gets another surprise opponent at SummerSlam and Reigns, Theory shenanigans or not, emerges on top yet again.

But WWE is far from the same company it was even a month ago, so some of those what if doors fans usually open sure seem a little wider than usual. If there's a guy deserving of being the catalyst of major change—and he's proven he can do it in the past—it's Rollins.