The complete history of the WWE Championship - Part 19 

Seth Rollins (March 29, 2015 - November 4, 2015)

Seth Rollins: Became WWE's new "chosen one" in 2015

Seth Rollins was not supposed to be WWE's chosen one in 2015. When The Shield triumvirate of Rollins, Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose split during the summer of 2014, it was Reigns whom WWE expected to be the star of the group. Tall, muscular, with a familial legacy in the business, he was everything that WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon wanted in a company figurehead.

The problem was that the WWE Universe felt that WWE were forcing Reigns onto them instead of him organically becoming a superstar baby face. The fans rejected Reigns. So much so, that the Royal Rumble winner who was originally booked to dethrone Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 31 was so universally unpopular that the company had no choice but to change their plans.

Reigns's former Shield team-mate got the nod instead. It was Rollins who walked out of 'Mania with the WWE Championship courtesy of Money in the Bank cash-in and it was Rollins who was subsequently positioned as the number one star in the company.

He defended the belt versus Randy Orton, Dean Ambrose, Lesnar, John Cena, Sting and Kane before going down with a legitimate torn ACL, MCL and medial meniscus in his knee that required major surgery. Rollins was sidelined for six months, forcing him to vacate the WWE Championship which was put up for grabs in a tournament to declare a new champion.