Seth Rollins as a Babyface Will Maximize WWE Fans' Emotion in Roman Reigns Feud

Seth Rollins returned at WWE Extreme Rules, and the passionate response both for and against Roman Reigns is about to take a quantum leap.

AJ Styles was a very convincing challenger, and his feud with Reigns was an overall success in terms of social media popularity and fan interaction.

But at 38, Styles is hardly the challenger who will be able to push Reigns to the limit for the next five to 10 years. Rollins is, and fans were ready for his return prior to Extreme Rules.

"We want Rollins" chants could be heard on Raw during an opening segment that featured Reigns and Styles, per James Caldwell of PWTorch.com. Reigns, who likely knew of Rollins' impending return, addressed these chants on camera.

Now that Rollins is back, the polarizing responses toward Reigns will reach a whole new level. And with The Authority currently dormant, WWE has an opportunity to make Rollins a good guy.

Reigns' current mantra, of not being a good guy or a bad guy would never be clearer than if he was pitted against a babyface Rollins, who wants to win the title he never lost.

Rollins is just as much a WWE guy as he is a product of the Internet Wrestling Community. Rollins' run with WWE dates back to Florida Championship Wrestling, and as a babyface, even casual fans will find it easy to rally behind the returning former face of the company.

WWE will better engage a broader fanbase with a feud that will be the staple of the New Era. The mixture of Rollins and Reigns' history as part of the Shield, Rollins robbing Styles of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 31, Reigns winning the title that Rollins had to forfeit and Rollins returning to get back on top will create a firestorm of emotion and fan interaction that will further entrench two young stars as bona fide main eventers.

As good as Styles was in the challenger role, he received his shot too quickly. He began chasing the world championship in his fourth month, and WWE felt the need to add The Club and The Bloodline in order to make this feud pop.

But with Rollins, WWE can tell a better story of a one-on-one feud that is layered in friendship, betrayal and competition. 

If Reigns and Styles helped to usher in the New Era, Rollins and Reigns will set it on fire.

Alfred Konuwa is a featured columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report and Forbes. Like him on Facebook.