Seth Rollins vs. Sting: Feud Is Further Proof of WWE's Commitment to Rollins

Seth Rollins vs. Sting is a feud that either could not happen or was meant to happen. Losing to Triple H at WrestleMania 31 seemed to be the end of Sting's mission to destroy The Authority and could have been the last time fans would see him opposite Hunter's forces.

But Rollins' assertion that he is the greatest champion of all time was bound to draw some heat, and that could be why Sting came back. Either way, this feud is further proof of just how committed WWE is to the current champ.

Sting's appearance on the August 24 edition of Monday Night Raw was unexpected. The moment was to have been the unveiling of Rollins' statue, a symbol of his excellence in the ring and a token of The Authority's appreciation. Rollins felt he was no longer the future but the man, and he felt one step closer to immortality. But instead he was attacked by The Icon himself.

Sting's return left the former Shield architect demolished. He was dazed, confused and furious. The spot led Triple H to almost immediately book the main event for Night of Champions: Rollins vs. Sting for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.

For anyone who doubted the company's faith in Rollins before, this must surely be changing their minds.

This was one of Rollins' biggest moments to date. The champ has faced his fair share of challengers to the title since winning it at WrestleMania 31, but it's the top guys who make all the difference. Rollins has faced Randy Orton, Brock Lesnar and John Cena, and now Sting is on deck.

That's pretty good for a guy many felt would not be The Shield's breakout star.

That title was supposedly held by either Dean Ambrose or Roman Reigns. While both men have done very well, neither can match the success Rollins has had thus far. Rollins went from being a rather quiet technician to being the Alpha Male of WWE.

He's boastful, he's confident and he's highly skilled. He's had the full support of Triple H, and he's used that support to reach the absolute heights of the business. He has done more in a short amount of time than perhaps anyone fans have seen in quite a while.

The best part is he's just getting started.

Sting is a big deal, and using him against Rollins is very big as well. With one brief encounter, Sting set his sights on the champ and received a title match almost as soon as he did. The Vigilante now has an opportunity to gain a measure of redemption for losing to The Game at Mania and take the industry's top prize in the process.

This is not a typical title defense; this is the kind of match that could be historic for both guys.

If Sting is able to get the belt, he would upset the balance of power like no one before him. Other than Daniel Bryan, no one has been in direct defiance of The Authority more than Sting. In both cases, Triple H's rule was undermined and his faction embarrassed. But unlike Bryan, Sting cannot be held down.

Bryan was at the mercy of The Authority because he is just a man. But Sting's character has always been portrayed as something more; he was WCW's answer to The Undertaker in many ways, and that means he is able to tap into something many Superstars cannot.

He has that otherworldly ability, that mystique, and that makes him very unpredictable.

If Rollins beats Sting at Night of Champions, he would not only keep The Authority's reign intact, he would have one of the most important wins of his career. Sting is a legend in the business, a guy who has been an inspiration for so many workers and a guy who has done it all in his career.

But he's never been a WWE champion. If Rollins can prevent that from happening, then he would have bragging rights for life.

Win or lose, just being in the ring with Sting is great for Rollins.  

It's yet another indication the company believes in him, that he is indeed the future, as his gimmick has always declared. Booking Rollins against Sting is not a guaranteed win just because Rollins is the champion. WWE must believe in Rollins' ability to carry his part of the match, to be fully capable of getting it done in the ring and to tell a top-notch story.

Their belief in him began the night of WrestleMania 31, and now it will be fully realized at Night of Champions.  

Some fans may have believed Rollins was just a temporary titleholder, a guy meant to keep the belt warm while someone else was being prepped to take his spot. But when Night of Champions rolls around on September 26, it will mark nearly five months of Rollins' title reign.  

A win over Sting that night will mark yet another truly epic moment in his career.

WWE has put a lot of faith in Rollins to this point, and that faith is paying off. He has become arguably the best hand in the company, as well as its top heel, and that is all thanks to not only his effort but also WWE's commitment to him.

Perhaps Rollins is indeed the man after all.

Tom's work can be regularly found on Bleacher Report and his podcast, Tom Clarks' Main Event, is available on iTunes, Google Play, Windows Phone, Amazon Android and online here.