Comparing John Cena vs. Seth Rollins to Ultimate Warrior vs. Hulk Hogan

The ideal ending to the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at SummerSlam 2015 is to have Seth Rollins lift his arms in the air in celebration, one title in each hand with a fallen John Cena on the mat next to him.

Fans saw a similar image some 25 years ago when Ultimate Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan in Toronto's SkyDome in 1990. Rollins wouldn't have the peeling face paint or colored tassels that Warrior had of course, but he would be benefiting from a similar opportunity.

Cena, like Hogan before him, is the gatekeeper to WWE's top tier. He's the obstacle one must overcome to truly take over the company throne.

And now WWE has a chance to have Cena hold that gate open for Rollins.

Credit: WWE.com

Deciding to repeat history, to have Rollins play Ultimate Warrior's role and make Cena today's Hogan, would elevate the world champ. It would erase memories of a title reign that has been underwhelming to be kind and help one of the roster's most talented wrestlers vault toward megastar status.

On April 1, 1990, it was Ultimate Warrior who took that upward journey.

Hulkamania had been the heart of WWE since 1984. He had held the WWE title for over 1,800 days over two reigns. His face was on all the marquees. The Hulkster was the undisputed king of the company, and it was time for a change with the crown.

WWE chose to anoint Warrior—an energized, steamrolling powerhouse.

The two forces collided at WrestleMania VI with both Warrior's Intercontinental Championship and Hogan's WWE title on the line. The heir to Hogan's throne defeated WWE's golden boy and soon clutched both championships as fireworks shot through the air.

Defeating Hogan served as a catapult for him. He would temporarily take The Hulkster's spot as the company centerpiece, the clear top star.

While Warrior never became the second coming of Hogan, he made one hell of an impact, eventually earning a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame.

Fast-forward 25 years, and another title-versus-title, established-versus-emerging match is now official.

In a way, Rollins vs. Cena is the inverse of Warrior vs. Hogan. Rollins is the top champion as Hogan was in 1990. It's Cena who is the midcard titleholder. Regardless of who holds which belts, though, Cena is the bigger star.

He's been the modern Hogan in terms of a sustained stay atop WWE.

In the same way that fans began to tire of Hulkamania's constant presence at some point, the audience is hungry to see someone replace Cena. That's a role many folks believe is destined for Roman Reigns, but to have Rollins ascend wouldn't prevent Reigns from taking a similar path down the road.

SummerSlam creates an opening for Rollins. To treat him as WWE did Ultimate Warrior at WrestleMania VI would be the smart move. An emphatic, decisive win over Cena would be nearly as powerful a tool for Rollins as pinning Hogan was for Warrior.

Coming out of WrestleMania having taken down a titan and holding WWE's two top championships put Warrior in a rare class.

He was a double champion, a winner in the main event of a marquee PPV and on the short list of men who have defeated Hogan. A similar feat awaits Rollins if WWE so chooses. He wouldn't be claiming his first WWE title as Warrior did, but he would be looked at far differently than he is now.

To give Rollins a moment like that would represent the ultimate sign of confidence. It'd be a signal to the audience that this guy is for real.

WWE has too often half-heartedly pushed Rollins as champ. He's attained most of his wins by sheer luck or interference. To cleanly beat Cena would erase some of that.

Credit: WWE.com

It would instead paint him as a true formidable force.

King Kong Bundy, Big Boss Man, even Andre the Giant couldn't keep Hogan down. Ultimate Warrior did, though. Cena has that same air of invulnerability despite his title reigns ending in the past.

And now Rollins heads into SummerSlam, hoping for it to be a reprise of WrestleMania VI.

Hopefully, WWE remembers what that night in Toronto accomplished and tries to do it once more. You can only lean on the same guy for so long. You have to eventually see if a new warrior can take over.