The Evolution of Seth Rollins Is WWE's Best-Kept Secret

On the latest episode of WWE Raw, Seth Rollins showed humility as he vowed to be Cody Rhodes' "shield" in his quest to finish the story and overthrow Roman Reigns.

This wasn't a shocking development because the 37-year-old also defended his rival at the WrestleMania Kickoff press conference after The Rock slapped him. However, it did reveal a new layer of his character.

Sure, most viewers wouldn't have expected Rollins to stand up for The American Nightmare after their bitter feud in 2022.

After all, The Visionary cowardly attacked him from behind on the Raw after their acclaimed Hell in a Cell match, in which Rhodes wrestled with a torn pectoral muscle.

However, this selfless act held even more weight considering how far Rollins has come over the past five years.

The world heavyweight champion has put his pride aside and decided to help the 2024 men's Royal Rumble winner vanquish a monster he helped create.

Rollins' character growth shouldn't be underestimated.

The Downfall of The Beastslayer

Rollins has been a babyface again for some time, but he had to overcome his often-criticized universal title run in 2019.

His intercontinental reign was a rousing success, and his matches were often the highlight of the company's flagship series during the Monday Night Rollins era.

So, it seemed like a no-brainer for him to be the man to defeat Brock Lesnar and take the brand's world championship off a wrestler working a part-time schedule. Doesn't this sound familiar?

At WrestleMania 35, he did just that as he conquered The Beast Incarnate in the opening match. However, his abysmal feud with Dean Ambrose robbed him of some of his momentum from the following year. His on-screen relationship with Becky Lynch also didn't go over well with some fans, and he languished in a never-ending feud with Baron Corbin.

His second win over Lesnar at SummerSlam momentarily put him back on course. Meanwhile, Bray Wyatt had become the hottest character in the company as The Fiend, and the rest is history.

Their infamous Hell in a Cell match was the nail in the coffin for his time as the top guy. Rollins got booed out of the building that night and dropped the title to Wyatt 25 days later at Crown Jewel.

The King and His Unwelcome Throne

It's important to note that Rollins also started to flounder as a babyface because he became the face of the company when anti-WWE sentiments were at an all-time high.

His company-man shtick particularly rubbed many fans the wrong way on social media as All Elite Wrestling arose with a fresh product.

Conversely, his leadership position in the locker room and online painted an easy target on his back. Following the controversial flight from Saudi Arabia, Dave Meltzer reported that the Davenport, Iowa native delivered an awkward "rah-rah speech" to the roster.

Rollins later refuted this claim, and Meltzer issued a retraction. Regardless, his public perception was already tattered.

This timeline is significant because it led to his eventual heel turn and the birth of The Monday Night Messiah.

As the captain of Team Raw, the divisive Superstar failed to lead the red brand to victory at Survivor Series and called a town-hall meeting in the following episode.

This clever nod to the rumored locker room meeting and shift in persona started the transformation into the character we know today. In short, The Messiah became the unwanted leader he felt WWE needed because he was willing to sacrifice for the greater good.

In reality, Rollins took on a role that allowed him to avoid accountability, scold others and use violence to force them to step in line. Nevertheless, the persona could now generate the intended response from his most vocal critics.

Embrace the Vision

Rollins started to spiral out on May 11, 2020. Most savvy fans will remember that was the day Lynch announced she was pregnant and relinquished the Raw Women's Championship to Asuka.

Elsewhere, her fiance appeared lost and disheveled before he attacked Rey Mysterio, targeted his eye and pierced it on the corner of the ring steps. This was effectively the start of a midlife crisis of sorts.

The following October, Rollins burned all his bridges with his followers and left Raw in disgrace to join SmackDown for the first time in his career. One year after his loss at Survivor Series, he returned to the event as a member of the blue brand and quickly caused its first elimination when he dropped to his knees and allowed Sheamus to Brogue Kick him.

Still, he remained undeterred in his belief that he was the leader the locker room needed and that they should "embrace the vision." As SmackDown Savior, he gradually transitioned into The Visionary we know today.

With the same idea behind the Messiah persona, Rollins started to soften his approach. In his mind, he was right and his vision for the future of WWE was best for everyone. So, he couldn't understand why the fans still rejected him.

In search of a new identity, he buried himself in his leadership role and turned heel as many online fans demanded in 2019. The much-maligned Superstar believed he merely gave them what they wanted. So, why don't they accept him?

In response, The Visionary withdrew into a facade to mask his insecurities and appear unbothered in the face of the growing criticism that he peaked in 2016. If viewers wanted the old Rollins, he would give it to them in the form of aspects from his past like his trademark evil laugh and the blonde hair he sported as The Architect or the "Burn It Down" catchphrase from his time as Monday Night Rollins.

Now, he is also officially billed as Seth "Freakin" Rollins, a reference to one of his most popular T-shirts. Even more, he adjusted his look to something more trendy and ostentatious. The 37-year-old started wearing suits as The Messiah, but he updated his wardrobe in 2021.

The self-proclaimed Drip God was the logical next step for a man going through a midlife crisis. Now, it would be impossible to ignore him or his message. At WrestleMania 37, he debuted his current theme, which has become an integral part of his presentation.

The Journey Back

Rollins' short time on SmackDown in the ThunderDome molded him into a better character, and his heel work elevated Cesaro and Kevin Owens into contenders. By the time he returned to Raw in front of live crowds again, he had the full package.

His trilogy of matches with Edge was also well-received. Their Hell in the Cell contest at Crown Jewel helped to erase the stench of his showing there with Wyatt in 2019. When he returned to Survivor Series, he led Raw to victory in the five-on-five men's elimination match as the sole survivor.

Now, there was only one thing left to do: Reclaim the universal title from Reigns and bring it back to the flagship brand. The two hadn't faced each other in four years, but many consider the opening match of the 2022 Royal Rumble pay-per-view to be the best on the card.

At the event, The Visionary emerged through the crowd wearing his old Shield gear accompanied by the trio's theme song.

His mind games ultimately worked, forcing The Tribal Chief to lose control. In the end, his old friend hit The Architect in the back with a steel chair as a callback to his betrayal as he said, "You made me like this, you made me."

As a result, Rollins won via disqualification and became the first person to hold a win over Reigns as The Tribal Chief. This match was an essential crossroads for both men.

In the aftermath, The Head of the Table grew even more paranoid, and The Visionary's victory heartened his belief that he was the leader the company needed.

That arrogance made him initially reject Rhodes and his pursuit of the WWE title. To Rollins, that should've been his spot because he didn't lose his championship match, and he never received a rematch.

Nevertheless, the character work he lacked in 2019 started to turn the fans around. The reactions to him grew louder, and the chorus of fans singing his song became undeniable.

After four years, they were ready to accept his bid to lead them and Raw into the future. All he needed was championship gold to cement his claim.

The Redemption Arc

As world heavyweight champion, it has been gratifying to see Rollins receive the validation he has sought for so long. It took him four years to stand atop the brand with a world title around his waist again.

It's easy to see how much this means to him. His bow to the singing fans on the latest episode of Raw was the culmination of everything he went through to earn his spot again. With every word, it became clear he was speaking on behalf of the locker room.

More importantly, he finally realized to lead and do what's best for the company he loves, he needed to endorse Rhodes. All this time, Rollins touted himself as the only one who could save WWE, but he had to humble himself and endorse someone else because The Bloodline has become too powerful.

If he wants to dethrone Reigns, the vision is Rhodes. To see The Visionary embrace that is an incredibly rewarding full-circle moment. It's a sacrifice for the greater good.