Seth Rollins Will Be a True Main Event Player After Facing Brock Lesnar

Seth Rollins' time has run out. The current WWE world heavyweight champion has a date with destruction when he defends the title against The Beast Incarnate, Brock Lesnar, at Battleground.

For Rollins' fans, this will be a critical event as it marks his evolution into a true main event player.

This is not Rollins' first big match, of course, as he has been a fighting champion since WrestleMania 31. The Authority's golden boy has been heavily featured on TV and pay-per-view, where he has fought valiantly to defeat any and all challengers.

But he's not been on his own, as Triple H's group has been there to help him every step of the way.

That has not changed what Rollins accomplished in the ring, however. He is arguably the best hand in the company right now and his matches are usually the most intense and hardest-fought of the night. Rollins holds his own against any opponents he may face and does so with full confidence in his abilities.

There is no question that Rollins is a true star in the business.

But facing Lesnar one-on-one is a different test. This is not about feuds with former Shield teammates Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns. This is the big one, the one that will turn Rollins into a made man.

It's the perfect scenario for Rollins, one that makes the most sense for him and his character. After all, he cost Lesnar the championship at WrestleMania and refused to grant a rematch on the following episode of Raw.

Since then, Rollins has been the man in WWE. He is the one to beat, the one with the most prestigious title in the industry around his waist. He has ruled over a company once ruled by Lesnar, so in many ways, he had stolen the throne from The Beast.

The fact that Lesnar is back now and seeking revenge is the best way to wrap up the loose ends. Win or lose, Rollins will come out better for having worked Lesnar.

Rollins will gain a new level of respect from fans after Battleground is in the books. They see him as the smarmy and conniving heel, but there has always been a modicum of appreciation there for what he can do in the ring.

Battleground will improve his standing with the crowd that pays to see him perform.

Facing Lesnar in the ring is unlike facing any other Superstar on the roster because you're not necessarily working him in a match as much as you are just trying to survive.

Surviving is exactly what Rollins will likely do now that The Authority has joined forces with him once more. But no matter how much help he gets, it will not change the fact that Rollins will definitely earn his main event status on July 19.

Lesnar is not in the business of helping the younger stars. The last man he worked was Reigns, and that was the first time Lesnar laid hands on a rising talent.

CM Punk, Triple H, Undertaker and Big Show are all veterans of the game, established stars who did not need the rub from Lesnar.

Reigns has improved since WrestleMania, and his match with Lesnar has changed him for the better. He may still have his critics, but he's weathered the storm and grown stronger because of it. Much of that comes from the night he wrestled Lesnar and took everything The Beast could give him.

This is a unique opportunity for Rollins, one that benefits him in the long run. He has proven his worth in the ring against a variety of opponents but has yet to prove what he can do against a monster like Lesnar.

He needs this match, not only for himself but the perception fans have of his character. Rollins is perhaps still viewed by some as a belt-warmer, someone who is holding the title until a better option comes along. Trading blows and giving as good as he gets with a first-ballot Hall of Fame war machine like Lesnar should change that perception.

Rollins is here to stay, and competing in matches against high-profile performers is the only way to convince the fans of this.

Rollins needs longevity, a history of stepping up in the big matches and delivering when the company truly needs him to. It's the best way to build his reputation and legacy as a bankable top star in WWE. Lesnar will be part of that legacy and put Rollins' status in a whole new light.

The man who emerges after Battleground will likely not be the same Rollins. That man will be a little more experienced, a little tougher and a little more respected than before.

Lesnar is a household name for professional wrestling fans from every walk of life, and Rollins could be as well thanks to their match at Battleground.

Tom Clark's work can regularly be found on Bleacher Report and Tom Clark's Main Event podcast can be downloaded on iTunes here as well as online here.