As the WWE Universe prepares for its final pay-per-view at Tables, Ladder and Chairs (TLC) this weekend, one man will bring the curtain down on a remarkable year in which he hopes will catapult him to the top of the franchise in 2015.
From The Shield's dominant start to the year and their engorssing fueds with the Authority and the Wyatt Family, through their eventual separation and Rollins' Money in the Bank victory, it has been a year in which the 28-year-old has truly become a headline act in his own right.
"It’s been an incredible year for me, travelling the world and making an impact in the ring," Rollins told Sport360.
"To have had my first Hell in a Cell match, a memorable match at SummerSlam and some awesome moments on Raw and then coming up to TLC where I’ll be in a tables match against John Cena. Those matches are the kind that can cap off the year and I really hope 2015 will be an even better year.
"Big things are coming from me," warned Rollins.
Rollins has been the standout star of the WWE in 2014. This week's Slammy Awards highlighted that with the Iowa native taking home no less than five trophies including match of the year (for his part in Team Cena vs Team Authority) and the anti-gravity dong for his high-flying efforts at Payback.
Not content with his efforts in 2014, Rollins has targeted the Wrestlemania main event as his primary goal next year but first of all there is the task of tackling Cena at TLC on Sunday and his Money in the Bank briefcase which allows him a title shot at any time he so desires.
It is this that is not only exciting fans, but Rollins himself who is already plotting cashing in his title entitlement.
"There are a few major goals [for 2015]. One of them is to main event Wrestlemania, and a more immediate goal is to cash in this money in the bank and become the World Heavyweight champion and represent this entire company," said Rollins.
"I could use the Money in the Bank at any point, which is the beauty of it. Every time I’m in the same building as the champion he has to be on his toes.
"I’m watching him all the time. It’ll be very interesting to see when I use it."
Rollins comes across an astute man and the disrespectful, brash performer you saw in the ring as a heel is not the man that takes time to compliment his next opponent, labelling Cena 'possibly the greatest WWE champion' in the company's history.
"John is a living legend, he’s sure to be a hall of famer," Rollins added. "He’s possibly the greatest WWE champion that’s ever lived. If you look how many times he’s won the title and how many big matches he’s been involved in and the main events at PPVs it makes this match very exciting for me.
Don't expect Rollins to be underwhelmed, however.
"John has had a chokehold on that top spot for a long time and that’s exactly where I want to be."
VILLAIN OF THE WEEK
Kevin Owens
At WWE NXT's R Evolution PPV, Owens turned on the champion Sami Zayn to powerbomb him into the side of the ring and leave Zayn in need of a stretcher.
TWEETS OF THE WEEK
