Seth Rollins made his anticipated return to WWE this week and fans have rightfully wondered just how long it will take him to link up with CM Punk for a feud.

And if WWE is smart, it won’t happen for a long time.

Rollins-Punk, courtesy of the apparent real-life drama between the two (based on Rollins interviews, etc.) and the obvious future-planning reactions from The Visionary upon The Best in the World’s return to WWE, is one of the most-anticipated feuds in modern times.

Why, then, would WWE waste it on a ho-hum upcoming slate of premium live events and not save it for WrestleMania season, right?

Fun as getting right to the feud might be and as unfortunate as they were, the injuries to both men might prove to have been a blessing in disguise.

Right now, both walk different paths and require different things, anyway. Punk is only recently back from injury and still smack in the middle of a feud with Drew McIntyre that, frankly, has been the hottest rivalry in pro wrestling for a long time.

Once that ends, likely at Bad Blood on Saturday, it might be a little overdoing it to have him immediately jump into another blood feud with a hated rival.

Instead, it might make more sense to see a little more in-ring action from Punk on weekly broadcasts, perhaps like he did in All Elite Wrestling while putting over the next generation of stars. That gives WWE time to properly tell the simmering story with Rollins in measured, perhaps almost Bloodline-style beats.

Fans might argue against this path because of his recent injury history and how it might put a possible ‘Mania match in harm’s way. But safe, quick-hitting matches that keep him in ring shape and keep fans tuning in to weekly broadcasts feel important, too.

On the Rollins front, he’s only just back off injury this week and needs to get after Bronson Reed for at least a little while. And while he’s at it, he desperately needs a subtle character tweak, perhaps to something a little more serious and sinister.

With how things have developed for both guys since The Best in the World’s return to WWE, the on-paper matchup of Punk vs. the cackling, almost-goofy Rollins just wouldn’t create all that compelling of a dynamic.

Part of why fans ended up with Rollins oversaturation and fatigue over the years is that spiraling character arc that has felt a little rudderless. If he’s going to be in a big personal feud, there needs to be some movement before it gets going.

A Rollins who is sick and tired of having a broken-down body and needs to go to some dark places to conquer a monster like Reed? That’s super-compelling before he heads into a feud with a man he appears to legitimately dislike.

It also might be worth wondering if the inevitable feud doesn’t deserve a top title at stake, too. That appeared to be a possible plan before last year’s ‘Mania when Punk got hurt. He’s certainly suggested as much.

With Cody Rhodes’ belt wrapped up in the Bloodline-Roman Reigns-The Rock drama until at least WrestleMania 41, that leaves Gunther’s world heavyweight title as the target. Actually getting the belt off him in a reasonable way would take time, though.

Even if WWE doesn’t go that route—and a feud this big doesn’t need a title—the clash deserves the ‘Mania main event treatment. The fact that both guys have yet to technically close the show at the biggest pro wrestling event in history is straight-up part of the angle the company should do.

Like it or not, WWE heads for what sort of feels like an “offseason” in the coming months, anyway. Getting the feud started with a match at Crown Jewel or Survivor Series: WarGames in November just wouldn’t feel right. The Royal Rumble might make more sense, but by then, it’s February, and that match itself could be the catalyst that sparks the ‘Mania feud in some way.

The overarching landscape of WWE drives this a bit. Rollins-Punk getting delayed by a year keeps them out of the massive storylines such as the Bloodline and provides something meaningful to do in one swoop.

That might not gratify some segments of fans in these days of instant gratification, but it’s worth remembering that some of the best possible things in the Triple H golden era have taken their time and avoided instant payouts.

Punk and Rollins will lock up in an unforgettable feud, but there’s no sense rushing it.