Analyzing How Randy Orton Will Prepare Seth Rollins for Greater Stardom

Randy Orton is a 12-time world champion and a future WWE Hall of Famer. He has done it all, been everywhere and entertained every time he's stepped into the ring. His lasting legacy in the company is not in doubt.

Now, he's getting the opportunity to give back and help another talent as he was once helped himself. Orton's current program with Seth Rollins will prepare the current champ for greater stardom.

The key for any Superstar's success in WWE is the level of help he gets along the way. If a guy works with opponents lower on the food chain or less talented in the ring, then there can be no forward progress.

The only way to get better is to work with guys better than you are; it's as simple as that.

But being good is not enough, especially not if main event glory is at stake. Rollins is the man at the top of the company, but that does not mean he's the best. He will only wear that distinction if he gets the right kind of help in building his own legacy.

Right now, Orton is that help.

There's nothing like a veteran's influence to get a younger wrestler over, which is exactly what Orton is providing for Rollins. They complement each other very well, their matches are entertaining and every time Rollins gets the best of Orton in the ring, he's besting a virtual legend.

The rub Orton is giving Rollins is priceless. That kind of spotlight does not just happen. It requires cooperation from Orton, who's willing to buy into the notion that Rollins is indeed the future of WWE.

Anything less would actually be just filler for Orton and somewhat of a waste of time.

That cannot be said of this rivalry. Nothing about this has felt like filler; nothing has been just a pit stop for Orton. This is all about The Apex Predator getting revenge on the man who practically ousted him from The Authority—the man who took his spot at the top.

Rollins is the villain of this story and also the man who's still constructing his legacy brick by brick. He looks good against Orton because Orton is doing his part to ensure that happens.

He's also getting over in terms of respect, because any Superstar who can take a beating from The Viper and come back for more must be made of strong stuff.

Rollins has been elevated in the eyes of the fans merely by sharing the same air as Orton. It's not enough to claim you're the future—you have to prove it. That is Rollins' mission right now.

But it's also not enough to just succeed today. Tomorrow is very important as well, and WWE has shown its desire to book Rollins as a big-time player. Big-time players need to stay on top to achieve longevity.  

Orton has done that. He has an entire career's worth of great matches and Hall of Fame opponents to his credit. From John Cena to Undertaker, Triple H to Hulk Hogan, Orton has faced the best and looked very good doing it.

One by one, top-tier talents stepped up to face Orton, and one by one, each man helped build The Viper.

The same will be said of Rollins. One day, Rollins will be able to look back at his storied career and point to Orton as being a very critical part of his success. The Viper is the catalyst for Rollins' being accepted as a main event star, which will continue long after this feud is over.

Of course, the end is not necessarily the end.

Longtime WWE Superstars tend to come back to each other eventually. Orton vs. Cena, Kane vs. Undertaker and The Rock vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin are just three rivalries that were revisited several times over the years. Each one is considered to be legendary in its own right, and every participant involved needed his opponent to get the feud over and tell a great story.

That's what fans are seeing with Orton and Rollins, and it likely won't be the last time it takes place.

These two are building a foundation for a feud that could go off and on for the rest of Orton's career. As long as there's money to be made and the fans want it, it's a rivalry that will happen again.

Orton is doing much more than just helping Rollins today; he's helping him for tomorrow as well.

His role in the champ's career is crucial and, most importantly, will be successful. Win or lose, Orton will do what he can to help make Rollins look as flawless as possible while also helping to cement his own legacy. Everyone wins in that scenario.