They say a week is a long time in football (soccer to
American readers) and that can be applied to life in the WWE. Never better
expressed than the resurgence of Randy Orton. To such a degree even BBC Sport reported
Dundee players celebrating a recent goal by imitating Orton’s famous finisher,
the RKO ("Randy Orton: Dundee celebrate goal with WWE move"). It comes off the back of videos and Vines that went viral online, each
depicting real-life slips but with The Viper superimposed applying the killer
move. It put Orton over in a whole new way. Suddenly the third-generation superstar
transcends sports entertainment.
Before the 20th October Monday Night Raw, not
many people had the stomach for another Orton/Cena clash. The match had no
relevance. Orton had drifted – through no fault of his own – during his reign
as the first WWE World Heavyweight Champion. It was doomed after poor
scripting, the idea he was ‘first’ to hold both belts when we all remember
Chris Jericho unifying the titles, and being overshadowed by Daniel Bryan’s emergence.
Since then he has been part of The Authority. Out of the main title mix, seemingly
far away from a shot at the MIA Brock Lesnar.
Then it all changed. Those Vines must have helped. Exposure
is always a good thing. Initially the idea of presenting Cena or Orton with a
shot at gold, when many saw their match behind Ambrose and Rollins, was absurd.
What nobody foresaw was the fire that had been lit beneath Randy. Getting
attention gives anyone a boost, combined with the spotlight being thrust back
on him, a fresh version of the Apex Predator emerged. This is usually unheard of for established stars. Once a main character is formed it goes stale (can you ever see Cena changing now or The Rock altering his act?).
Delivering multiple RKOs was a must after the recent internet
sensation. Giving one to sirs Cena and Heyman ensured the fight at Hell in a
Cell had extra spice, and the one he gets afterward (hopefully Lesnar) suddenly
got personal. Combining this with tensions surrounding Seth Rollins reaching a crescendo,
should ensure he’s about to break out on his own once again.
WWE needs to build on the new public awareness surrounding
the RKO. Down the line I’d like to see him counter Brock Lesnar’s F5 for the
title win. Before this he needs to shown popping unexpected RKOs off
everywhere. Not just in-ring, or backstage, but vignettes filmed from real-life
set-ups. Let’s see him drop people in shopping malls and banks; movie theatres or
as a spectator at sports games. When something is hot, use it. Make videos and
clips the way WWE managed in the attitude era. Orton is now over with the fans,
and this is before a face turn. They shouldn’t drop the ball like they have
done, and keep doing, with so many other stars.
This week he described himself as ‘Third generation royalty,’
it’s time to make Randy Orton a powerful King. Most fans have had their fill of
Cena, Bryan is injured and Reigns isn’t ready yet for main event status. As for
Ambrose and Rollins – they’d be good to offer a challenge to a newly crowned
Viper.
