You could make a list of wrestlers in the WWE who have been most affected by both the injury to Daniel Bryan and the recent news that Roman Reigns will be out for months following emergency hernia surgery. When you weed through the bushes and check and cross check the roster, no one is more affected by these changes than Randy Orton.
[adinserter block=”1″]For the first time, in a long time, I find myself defending the WWE’s most underrated and most problematic heel.
Orton is in no man’s land in terms of opponents, title contention and a future than remains uncertain. How the mighty fall quickly when the other walls holding up the structure begin to crumble.
The best way out of this is to create potential tension within the Authority, which could lead to a character change (again) and a feud with Brock Lesnar. There is no doubt Orton is a centerpiece to build around, not an addition or afterthought. The idea he is cleaning up for Seth Rollins (as is Kane) shows the company (Triple H, especially) is losing some marbles and are shortsighted in a long-range plan.
Also, could Orton turn on his current band mates and fill the role left by CM Punk as a fight the establishment type of wrestler.
Orton is much better on the mic in recent years and is not as robotic as he used to be and in his veteran years, he has learned to sell better and put his opponents over when the time is right.
He is a 12-time world champion, holding the WWE Championship eight times and the World Heavyweight Championship four times, and was the final holder of the World Heavyweight Championship before it was unified with the WWE Championship to create the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Orton is a third-generation professional wrestler; his grandfather Bob Orton, Sr., his father “Cowboy” Bob Orton, and his uncle Barry Orton all competed in the professional wrestling business. Before being promoted to the main World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) roster, Orton trained in and wrestled for Mid-Missouri Wrestling Association-Southern Illinois Conference Wrestling for a month. He was then sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), where he held the OVW Hardcore Championship twice.
He may actually, he may be the most talented wrestler to grace a WWE ring. A number of years ago Roddy Piper said Orton’s father, Bob Orton, Jr. was as close to a perfect wrestler as there was. In my opinion, Randy is a better version.
When Orton and Reigns began their personal feud, it was a scenario that would eventually make Reigns a world champion. Orton appeared to be the common link that would join the former member of The Shield and the best villain the WWE has had since Mark Henry.
While there are limitations to a feud with Lesnar because of the current champion’s schedule and potentially his health, it makes complete sense. Because if his main event talent and his status within the company, Orton, not Cena, appears to be the logical choice to face Lesnar. A Lesnar-Orton main event at the Royal Rumble or even WrestleMania is not out of the question.
John Cena, although still a main eventer, is losing steam and losing it fast. Reigns seems to want it more. Dean Ambrose wants it more and even Seth Rollins wants it more.
[adinserter block=”2″]Also, the lack of television and in ring appearances by Lesnar could create more issues. He must move on from John Cena and find an opponent who will work well with Paul Heyman.
The man, over and above everyone on the roster right now, is Orton.
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