5 then vs. now dream matches for Seth Rollins 

Even before he burst onto the scene as a member of The Shield, people who worked with Seth Rollins knew he was destined to be something special. Professional wrestling legends such as Jim Cornette -- who persuaded him to choose WWE over IMPACT Wrestling -- still talk about Rollins in glowing terms and believe in his potential.

His singles career hasn't been without its ups and downs. While there have been some incredible moments such as his cash-in at WrestleMania 31 and his match with Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam 2019, he's also experienced lows like his feud with The Fiend that have set him back. However, he's always been resourceful enough to reinvent himself and remain relevant.

Rollins has been one of the signature superstars of this era, and there's always a temptation to fantasize about booking him in matches with some of the big names from the past. How would he have fared in a feud with The Rock during the Attitude Era or as a youngster looking to end the Streak?

Here are five then vs. now dream matches for Seth Rollins:

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#5 Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk

Seth Rollins followed in CM Punk's footsteps and made his name on the independent circuit before joining WWE. The two briefly worked together when The Architect was part of The Shield but they never got to have a big singles program with each other.

Punk reached the zenith of his popularity after "The Pipebomb" promo and his five-star match with John Cena. He then embarked on a 434-day reign as WWE Champion after winning the title at Survivor Series 2011. The Straight Edge Superstar was the compelling act in professional wrestling at the time, carrying WWE on his back.

Seth Rollins would have been a fantastic challenger to wrestle CM Punk during this run. The story would have tied in elements of their past and obvious similarities to each other. And is there any doubt that Punk and Rollins wouldn't have had incredible matches?

#4 Seth Rollins vs. Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels retired too soon and robbed the audience of dream matches with the likes of Seth Rollins, AJ Styles, and Bryan Danielson. The Heartbreak Kid and Bret Hart revolutionized professional wrestling in the '90s and significantly raised the standards for in-ring work in North America.

Michaels was forced to step away from WWE in 1998 due to a back injury. He returned in 2002 and was even better, putting on a classic with Triple H at SummerSlam. He came back in a better frame of mind and truly cemented his place in the Hall of Fame during his second run.

If he had continued to wrestle for a few more years, we might have gotten that dream match with Seth Rollins. Michaels and Rollins would've delivered a masterclass, complementing each other perfectly in the ring.

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#3 The Shield vs. The nWo

Arguably the greatest faction in professional wrestling history, The nWo kicked off the late '90s boom period and led WCW to 83 consecutive victories in the Monday Night Wars. The debut of The Outsiders and Hulk Hogan's subsequent heel turn at Bash at the Beach 1996 remains one of the most iconic angles of all time.

When The Shield debuted in 2012, their presentation instantly drew comparisons to The nWo. They were also antiheroes who ran roughshod on the roster and were just cooler than everybody else.

The Hounds of Justice had an incredible series of six-man tag team matches from 2012 to 2014. They would have relished the opportunity to wrestle the trio of Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and Hollywood Hogan. The nWo were masters of manipulating the crowd and would have complimented The Shield, who relied on big spots from Seth Rollins to steal the show.

#2 Seth Rollins vs. The Undertaker

Seth Rollins would have been a great opponent for The Undertaker while the Streak was still intact, regardless of the match's outcome. Starting with WrestleMania 24, The Deadman had a string of incredible matches with Edge, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and CM Punk.

The Streak was one of the most special attractions in WWE due to its ability to generate incredible drama on an annual basis. The audience was invested in seeing The Undertaker remain undefeated at WrestleMania and popped for every near fall, even if they didn't always perceive the opponent as a credible challenger.

Given enough time, Rollins and The Phenom could've topped all the other Streak matches and had a five-star classic.

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#1 Seth Rollins vs. The Rock

The Rock might just be the greatest professional wrestler to have ever lived. He sold out every arena, always delivered on the microphone and was excellent in the ring. He also crossed over into the mainstream and became one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. It's not every day you find a performer with that kind of skill set.

The quality of in-ring work during the Attitude Era wasn't at the level it is now. The Rock would have relished the opportunity to work with an athlete like Rollins, would have presented him with an exciting challenge. The People's Champion has recently been linked with a return to the ring. Could he wrestle Seth Rollins in addition to Roman Reigns?