After making his “NXT” debut in June 2012, Seth Rollins entered the Gold Rush Tournament to fight for the first-ever NXT Champion title, and he found himself in the finals against Jinder Mahal. The highly competitive match ended with Rollins hitting the Blackout on Mahal to become the inaugural NXT Champion.

NXT stars Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns, and Seth Rollins arrived at the main event of Survivor Series 2012 and powerbombed Ryback through an announce table. From this moment, the team, later named The Shield, became one of the most prominent factions of modern WWE, with Rollins being a key player.

The night after the match between the newly-resurrected Evolution and The Shield at Payback 2014, Rollins turned on his Shield brothers, hitting Dean Ambrose with a steel chair. In one night, The Shield’s two-year-long dominant run was over, and Rollins had become the top heel in the company.

After his heel turn, Rollins was featured in his first Money in the Bank Ladder Match — which also included Dean Ambrose and Kane — and acted as “The Enforcer” for the newly-formed Authority stable. Towards the end, Kane cleared the field and held the ladder as Rollins climbed up to grab the briefcase and become Mr. MITB.

At WrestleMania 31, WWE Champion Brock Lesnar was up against Roman Reigns when Rollins ran into the ring with his MITB contract. Lesnar fought back against Rollins, but as Reigns speared The Beast, Rollins immediately curb-stomped Reigns to pick up his first WWE Championship.