When Will WWE Finally Book Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins Showdown?

After Roman Reigns defeated CM Punk for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, a matchup with one of his greatest rivals is inevitable.

During the latest episode of Raw, the second-generation star crossed paths with Seth Rollins as he headed to the ring. The former stablemates turned bitter rivals didn't say much to each other, but the implication was clear.

The Visionary currently has his sights set on Bron Breakker, who cost him the match against Gunther at WrestleMania 42. Nevertheless, Rollins is still stewing over everything he lost after he was forced to vacate the world heavyweight title last year.

Viewers could feel his frustrations when he confronted his former protege last week and again during his brief exchange with Reigns backstage. Similarly, everyone knew exactly who The Tribal Chief was needling when he declared that he made the title relevant.

There is no love lost between these two future Hall of Famers. It's only a matter of time before they face off in a highly anticipated one-on-one match.

A Culmination Four Years Overdue

Rollins and Reigns have been linked since their debut as The Shield and the chairshot that ended it. However, they've been circling each other since they reignited their longtime feud ahead of Royal Rumble in 2022.

At the event, The Visionary baited the reigning Universal champion into a win via disqualification. The outcome left many fans hoping for a rematch at The Showcase of the Immortals.

After all, the 39-year-old handed Reigns his first loss in a title match during his historic 1,316-day reign. Their unresolved animosity remained as compelling as ever two years later when Rollins sacrificed himself to help Cody Rhodes dethrone him at WrestleMania 40.

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So much so that many of us were clamoring to see them go head-to-head the following year, and we sort of got our wish as the two competed in a triple threat match with CM Punk. Still, Rollins' heel turn and short-lived alliance with Paul Heyman ensured there was an even bigger match on the horizon.

For years, Rollins has made it no secret that he wants a definitive one-on-one match with Reigns on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Finally, the plan was reportedly set for WWE's return to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, NV, until he injured his shoulder in a bittersweet victory over Rhodes.

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Starcrossed Opponents

At last, he defeated the only opponent he couldn't overcome and simultaneously proved himself as the superior world champion. Even more, he stopped Punk from claiming the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam and stood on top of the flagship brand as the most powerful wrestler.

Beating Reigns in the biggest match of their rivalry was the final piece he needed to prove he has always been the top star the company needed to lead it into the future. Instead, he was hoisted by his own petard when Breakker ousted him from The Vision and lost everything.

In his absence, the only man he possibly detests more than the OTC won the title he vacated and delivered a heavily acclaimed main event. Even more, the title he established in 2023 reached new heights in a match featuring two of his most hated rivals.

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Make no mistake about it. Reigns knew exactly what he was doing when he claimed the mantle was "created in spite of him," and that "the man makes the title." This was an emphatic and petty attempt to show Rollins that he did what he never could by elevating it to the most prominent championship in the company.

It was a subtle dig that diminished everything he had sought to accomplish over the past three years and put him firmly in his shadow again. Although Jacob Fatu stepped forward as Reigns' first challenger, that promo signaled to everyone that his vendetta against Rollins was still on his mind.

Concurrently, The Visionary seeks to exact revenge on Breakker because he is the reason he didn't get his "hand raised at WrestleMania this year." Yes, on the surface, that's a reference to his loss to Gunther, but he's also lamenting about the moment that keeps eluding him.

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SummerSlam Is The Perfect Destination

This isn't the first time WWE has teased this matchup, but an eventual clash for the world heavyweight title must happen this year. It's a feud that the company can always circle back to, but this feels like the best time to capitalize on it.

Anticipation around their one-on-one match has remained high, but timing is paramount in pro wrestling. Rollins' shoulder injury proved the creative team should strike while the iron is still hot because anything could happen in a year.

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Don't make the same mistake and stall, assuming the pieces will still be in place for an encounter at The Show of Shows. SummerSlam would be an opportune time to pay off four years of storytelling because the event is so important to both Superstars' careers.

Reigns famously returned to wreck everyone and leave at The Biggest Party of The Summer in 2020, leading to his transformation into The Tribal Chief. Rollins pulled off The Ruse of the Century last year to add to his illustrious list of accolades.

They've both enjoyed so many career highlights at the event, and this is their chance to make history together. It would be the ideal culmination of this story for many reasons, and WWE shouldn't prolong it any further.