10 HUGE Tests Wrestlers Failed

9. Triple H Might Have Wasted Three Years There

seth rollins failed
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It doesn't really get discussed alongside other total bombs of long-term storylines - probably because it wasn't allowed to wither and die, nor was it ruined with an iconically awful twist - but the Triple H Vs. Seth Rollins programme was, on reflection, a very mid waste of time.

This long-term saga all started in 2014, when Seth Rollins defected from the Shield to the Authority under Triple H's urging. Rollins was selected as the new, best-for-business face of WWE, and after capturing the WWE Championship in a grand heist reigned as top heel throughout 2015. But Trips and Stephanie McMahon weren't happy, and decided to test Rollins against various high-calibre opponents. This was dumb.

Rollins looked like a disciplined child masquerading as a chicken sh*t heel. If the intention was to deepen the investment of Seth's slow-burn babyface turn, it didn't work; when he finally cut his big promo ahead of WrestleMania 33, following two injuries, fans chanted "CM Punk!" through his melodramatic pauses.

The blowoff match itself was at the higher end of Triple H's mildly-received 'Mania epics. The work was good, but it was no triumphant breakthrough. It didn't trouble any Match of the Year lists.

Triple H failed in his remit of getting his chosen guy over as a drawing, main-event level babyface - which is a particular indictment, since many had fan-cast him in the breakout babyface role well before he first turned heel.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!