Any wrestling fan will tell you that the superstars we watch on a weekly basis are on a fairly precarious career path. How many have we seen come and go…then come back again? How many failed championship reigns? How many careers cut short because of injury or simply because the boss doesn’t like what you bring to the table? Yet there are a handful of superstars who have overcome the odds and are not only still in the business, they are also vying for the top spots in the company. John Cena, Kane and Big Show have been working full time with WWE for several years now but the one superstar that intrigues me the most is the superstar that I believe has evolved the most and has done so in the most subtle way. I am talking, of course, about Randy Orton.
I haven’t always been the biggest Orton fan. There have been moments where his character has been volatile and explosive…I like that Randy Orton, however, more times than not we have seen a watered down version of the apex predator. He doesn’t suit the pure babyface, introducing himself every time he holds the mic, aiming for the cheap pop and he equally doesn’t suit the wormy, Authority abiding heel. For me, Orton sits somewhere in between and Orton’s current run with WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Seth Rollins has confirmed that for me. Yes, he is going after the Authority’s number one guy but the Orton I like best is the one who doesn’t care who he goes through in order to get there. I like it when he displays an element of mystique, not knowing when he is going to strike, just like, well, a viper.
In terms of achievement, Orton has done it all. A twelve time world champion, Orton has also captured the Intercontinental and Tag Team Championships on one occasion each alongside winning both a Royal Rumble and a Money in the Bank match. There have, however, been several occasions that have potentially tainted Orton’s career. His history within the military is well documented and, let’s face it, the USA is quite possibly the most patriotic country in the world and therefore more unforgiving to those in the military who decide it’s not for them. There have also been a couple of suspensions due to violations of the Wellness Program which could have all been linked to the long term shoulder problems that Orton suffers, however, they serve as another black mark against his name. Luckily for Orton, WWE continuously have bigger plans for him and, even though the weekly audience can’t always understand why it is deserved, Randy Orton is continuously in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship picture.
My theory is a straightforward one. The evolution of Randy Orton has been seamless. He has ensured that he is constantly portraying a fresh character in order to stay in the title picture. I have likened it to witnessing my children growing up. I see them every day and therefore don’t notice how tall they are getting or how long their hair is whereas family members who see them less frequently will often comment on how big they are getting. I feel the same way about Randy Orton. He has been in WWE for so long, without any major interruptions and has managed to turn himself into a completely different person from who we saw in OVW years ago. Each transition has been creative and it’s not until I looked back at pictures that I realised how far his character has come. From the young upstart in Evolution to becoming the ‘Legend Killer’ moving to ‘The Viper’ and more recently, the ‘Apex Predator’, Orton has moved with the times in order to remain relevant in a company and business that is ever changing. This has given me a completely new found respect for Orton and I genuinely look forward to seeing what he has to offer every Monday night. His feud with Seth Rollins has been worth paying the WWE network fee alone for and I have no doubt that he will once again be crowned WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
I haven’t always been a huge Randy Orton fan but just like the apex predator himself, that opinion is quickly evolving.
The Whimsical Musings of a Wrestling Fan 