Randy Orton Match Is Only Way to Pay off Seth Rollins' Road to WrestleMania

WrestleMania season is upon us, and all eyes are on the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture.

With Brock Lesnar holding the top prize in the industry, Roman Reigns as the current No. 1 contender and Daniel Bryan on the outside looking in, there is good reason to be excited about the potential title matches awaiting fans come the Showcase of the Immortals on March 29.

Notably absent in that discussion is Seth Rollins, who lost to Bryan on the February 2 episode of Raw, thus seemingly eliminating him from title contention. Worse yet, the defeat left his place at WrestleMania up in the air.

Considering the outstanding performances he has turned in throughout 2014 and this early in the new year, it would be a shame for him not to be involved in some sort of high-profile bout at the biggest show of the year.

Enter Randy Orton.

Credit: WWE.com

Last November, The Viper found himself at odds with his Authority teammates, openly questioning Triple H and Stephanie McMahon's seeming infatuation with Rollins.

When Mr. Money in the Bank got in his way of accomplishing his own goals, Orton lashed out. He dropped the former Shield member with an RKO, only to find himself pummeled, beaten and brutalized by the faction he called home.

Since that night, Orton has watched from the sidelines as Rollins has ascended to the top of the company as the top heel in the industry.

He viewed Rollins' breakout performance at the Royal Rumble, a Triple Threat match also involving John Cena and Brock Lesnar, and now finds himself biding time until WWE Creative opts to insert him back into the fold in time for WrestleMania.

When he does finally return, he will undoubtedly be programmed against Rollins, which is the best option for both stars.

Rollins has been far too valuable to WWE—and way too good—to fall into a meaningless program at WrestleMania.

Orton was largely overshadowed in last year's main event by both the immensely popular Bryan and the despised Batista. A return to a meaningful angle leading into this year's event would be suitable repayment for his hard work over the last few years.

Orton's revenge against Rollins and The Authority would give both performers a high-profile match and angle to partake in, ensuring that neither is left behind as the focus at the top of the card shifts elsewhere.

That the impending match would likely be a show-stealing candidate, given the quality of the workers themselves, would be the proverbial icing on the cake.

Few imagined that Rollins would enjoy the success that he has in the wake of the dissolution of the Hounds of Justice. So much attention was paid to Reigns and Dean Ambrose at the height of The Shield's popularity that Rollins excelled in their shadows.

When he stepped to the forefront as a member of The Authority, some questioned his ability to succeed in that role.

Now, nearly a year later, Rollins has established himself as an old-school wrestling villain, unafraid to get heat and be the most hated man on the show. Couple that with his excellent in-ring performances, and he has earned a featured spot on the WrestleMania card.

And there is no better opponent for him than the incredibly over Superstar he supplanted in The Authority, Randy Orton.