Book Randy Orton

[Emeye]

I, unlike most people, still have not given up and conceded to the fact that Randy Orton has peaked. But, I will admit that the clock is ticking on him finally being able to live up to his potential.
I won't go into much depth here. As you can see, I've been a member of the forum since the beginning, but I don't post much, just read. Well, I was reading the Book Big Show thread, and really wanted to see how you guys would put Orton into an interesting (preferably main event) angle.
For me, it would basically be:
Have his feud with Sheamus lead to Orton winning the MiTB Briefcase from Sheamus. Turn Orton heel, and make him ... A Paul Heyman guy. I always thought Viper/punting heel Orton, with Heyman as his mouthpiece, and the briefcase would be great. Anyway, have Orton and Lesnar separated for the most part in the beginning, Heyman is just both of their managers. Eventually, once Rollins' amazing title reign sadly ends, put the strap on The Beast Incarnate, only for Orton to IMMEDIATELY cash in and take the belt. Heel champ Orton feuding with furious mega-over Lesnar, with Heyman caught in between (we know Brock is Heyman's favorite, but Orton having the strap and being in full killer mode is believable enough that Heyman wouldn't just abandon Orton right away and side with Brock). Honestly, in terms of believability, and something fresh, Orton is really the only person I can even see being Lesnar's next feud.

Discuss.

[Simple Fan]

Orton/Leaner needs to happen yes. Randy is already on of the best to ever step on the ring and he is easy to book. RKOs after RKO and every thing will be golden.

[Nicky Fives]

Rollins retains at Night of Champions, a few weeks later Orton gets a "last chance" match versus him with the stipulation of that if he fails to win, he gets no more shots at Rollins. Shenanigans ensue and he loses, he disappears for a few weeks and comes back and cuts a promo saying that he has been lost for the past few years and he needs to get back to basics. He vows to defeat everyone on the roster and once he's done, he's coming for Rollins/WWE Title. Starts off with jobbers like Zack Ryder, Curtis Axel, Truth etc. and RKO's his way through the entire roster, a few matches a week, never facing the same person twice or competing in Tag Matches all the way until Royal Rumble.

He's booked as the favourite to win, but gets screwed over by Rollins (or someone else like Sheamus/Lesnar/heel Reigns), Wrestlemania feud, wins at Mania, title feud after Mania.

[Rammsteinmad]

Kinda clutching at straws here for ideas, but what if they did something similar to DDP/Kanyon in WCW. Have some guy feud with Orton and jump on the "RKO Outta Nowhere" fad by delivering RKO's to random people everywhere. Maybe even doing the Orton pose etc.

It's only one feud. That's all I got.

[The CyNick]

I like Orton as a babyface better.

At this point in his career, he probably should be slowly phased out as a weekly character. I would use him in a sort of HBK role. Keep him babyface, keep him strong, but dont use him every week. Have him work every other PPV in a high profile feud. But over 1 heel every year, but still keep him strong enough that he doesnt come off like a jobber.

[Emeye]

I'm like this. Nicky Fives, I could get into that. Simple Fan, glad I'm not the only one dying to see a Lesnar/Orton feud for the belt. And the DDP/Kanyon route is a great idea that never even crossed my mind. That's why I posted this, I love reading you guys ideas.
(Now prays for a long, well thought out storyline idea by Noid and Cool King, my two favorite wrestling forum posters. Call me corny, but whatever, I love when those two post booking ideas.)

[Simple Fan]

Return of the Legend Killer

Randy takes some time off starting now. At NoC Rollins loses to Sting and Cena and looses both titles. That pisses HHH off and he doesn't give Seth his rematch and they feud. Sting faces Cena at the MSG Event to a draw and they shake hands and go on with their respected titles. Sting is on Raw and talking about his career and Sheamus comes out and annoces that he is cashing in at Hell in a Cell because him beating Sting in the Cell is easy. Calls Sting old and washed up and all that jazz. At Hell in a Cell Sting beats Sheamus and Michael Cole: "This only adds to the Legend of Sting."

Randy Orton sitting at home hears Cole say that and the voices start going off inside his head. Monday night on Raw, Sting has an interview in the ring with Cole and they are talking about what he did at HIAC and other achievements and Cole drops the L word again and Randy Orton's music hits. He walks casually to the ring and gets in but doesn't say any thing, just stares at Sting and Cole. Cole just goes on with the interview confused and gets hit with a RKO (outta nowhere) and Randy bounces back up and gives Sting a RKO as well and leaves. Randy starts Raw the next week and explains that its been a long time since he heard any voices but that came to an end when Cole said one word and the voices exploded. He says that he is the Legend Killer and he will put and end to the "Legend of Sting" and claim what is his the WWE World Heavyweight title. Sting and Orton play mind games with one another leading up to a last man standing match at Survivor Series. Orton RKOs the shit out Sting in the match but Sting keeps getting up at the last second. Randy starts to hear the voices and RKOs Sting again but stops the ref from counting. He starts one of his fits and finally punts Sting in the head to win and puts Sting on the shelf til Mania season. Then Orton as a loner champion hearing voices can go anywhere after that.

[#1-norm-fan]

Mind-boggling how Orton hasn't been the "other" face of the company over the past 10 years. I think he may have been the first real victim of this "all hype, no booking" era that's stunted the progress of making megastars.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I like Randy Orton as a babyface, but it's just a shame that they don't really ever seem to have him do anything. There are some great fresh programs for Orton in the wings however:

* Kevin Owens would have an interesting dynamic with Orton. It'd be similar to the Cena/Orton dynamic of a WWE-polish guy fighting a dude with an edgy image, except Orton's got that sharpness to his character too. A nasty feud where Owens is trying to powerbomb Orton on the ring apron and Orton is trying to punt Owens' skull could be a lot of fun.

* Bray Wyatt vs. Randy Orton is also a fresh feud. Orton's not the sort to play nice with Wyatt and sell himself as being afraid. This stand up and fight attitude could ignite a hot program with Wyatt, Harper, Strowman and maybe Rowan. I've always liked the idea of Orton needing to find allies against The Wyatt Family, and finding pickings slim due to his standoffish nature. Cody Rhodes would step up because he'd have his own issues with The Wyatt Family, even though Cody and Orton acknowledge that they have a buried hatred for each other.

* Orton vs. Cody Rhodes itself is actually a program I've wanted to see since both men have grown their personalities out a bit more. Orton is now more of a bad-ass loner, and Cody has much more tenure behind him. I think it could be a legitimately interesting WrestleMania program one year.

* Orton vs. Lesnar is fresh. I don't know why it doesn't appeal to me as much as other Orton or Lesnar matches though. I think it's something to do with how their ring styles mesh in my mind, or the potential blandness of their interactions. But you have to mention it.

* This might be unpopular, but instead of seeing Lesnar vs. Undertaker at WrestleMania AGAIN, I've been thinking about the idea of "Team Undertaker vs. Team Lesnar." Yes, Taker has only wrestled singles matches at WrestleMania, but the streak is now over. Taker and Lesnar leading two forces into battle against each other could be fairly epic and get more people in such a high-profile match. It'd just be providing them all focus so that it all matters. Orton would be an interesting choice for Team Lesnar. Paul Heyman could very easily label Orton the prototype of what a wrestler should be (and Heyman has legitimately praised Orton along those lines in the past), and there's also the history of Taker and Orton's past to exploit.

I'll give real booking a shot later, but I think the hottest they could make him is if they highlighted his issues with The Authority, and had them declare that until Orton joins them, he will never get another shot at the WWE World Heavyweight Title. It'd sell Orton as a commodity strong enough that Triple H and Stephanie desperately want him, and it also explains why he is not always in the World Title match, which also keeps Orton challenging a fresh concept.

Plus, when it comes time for things like the Royal Rumble or Money in the Bank, eyes will be on Orton to see if he can override The Authority's decree by landing himself an undeniable shot.

[Damian Rey]

He's the primary example. He looks like a million bucks, has more than enough appeal yet he's clearly just an upper mid card guy who as recently as two years ago was booked like complete shit.

Shame because I personally love Orton.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Mind-boggling how Orton hasn't been the "other" face of the company over the past 10 years. I think he may have been the first real victim of this "all hype, no booking" era that's stunted the progress of making megastars.

It's ridiculous that when they turn him face he's so over, yet he just hovers around. Besides Christian, Sheamus and Seth Rollins who has Orton actually feuded with as a face? He did face Mark Henry a few times, but was there really an angle there? I mean, the stuff with Sheamus isn't really a story either.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I've just decided that Randy Orton feuding with The New Day could be the best thing ever. I'm not sure who I want to see Orton team with for that. Maybe just The Dudleyz for six-man tags?

[Mr. Nerfect]

Going to be honest -- I like the Orton/Cesaro pairing they often have going on RAW and SmackDown these days. If there's nothing on the cards for either guy, why not have them chase the Tag Titles once The Dudleyz are done with The New Day?

[#1-norm-fan]

It's ridiculous that when they turn him face he's so over, yet he just hovers around. Besides Christian, Sheamus and Seth Rollins who has Orton actually feuded with as a face? He did face Mark Henry a few times, but was there really an angle there? I mean, the stuff with Sheamus isn't really a story either.

I think the angle was basically just getting Mark Henry over as a monster heel champ. And the matches were actually pretty fucking enjoyable.

His face run on Smackdown as champion was so fucking good. He's had this intangible about him that the crowd went fucking crazy for. Even when he was just hovering around not doing anything, he had that vibe that made him a highlight of the show. He was really good at subtly controlling the crowd. That "I'm a methodical, deadly viper but I'll also give a shit-eating grin to the crowd or eat a cookie during a match or randomly fuck around and do some air splits when I feel like it" vibe he had was perfect.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, Orton was great. I still don't think they should have taken the title off Christian as early as they did, because I think they could have really milked their stuff stronger and longer, but Orton was great.

[#1-norm-fan]

Oh, also he feuded with Cody Rhodes for a bit. It was meh.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm honestly trying to remember that.

[#1-norm-fan]

I think it was while Cody was IC champion. I remember it mostly for Rhodes getting legitimately busted open during a brawl with him.

[Damian Rey]

Face Orton could've been the hottest act back when he dumped Legacy. Instead they got shotted him into the title scene as a place holder, only to drop to the Miz and get put in a good if not random program with Punk.

His Smackdown run was by far his best. Goes to show how great a brand split could be if they just stuck with it.

As far as Orton is concerned now, where do you really go? A Lesnar feud right now makes no sense. He's done his time with Rollins. There's always a Bray feud, but that would need some reasoning and both could use a winning feud.

[#1-norm-fan]

During nearly all of Shawn Michaels' second run, he was used as an old guy ultimately meant to put the younger guys over. I remember thinking it made sense at first but after 8 years it was like "Wait, this guy has been the best performer in the company for almost a decade now. He could have actually had a serious run as "the man" alongside Cena instead of just being used to put others over."

That's how I feel about Orton at this point. They've spent so much time over the past decade using him like a 50 year old Ric Flair who has nothing to offer anymore but name value to put others over with. All while pissing away the prime of a legit A+ player. Makes no sense.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I sometimes think about whether or not they missed the boat on giving Shawn Michaels more runs with the belt while he was there. People say stuff like "He was over enough without it." Um, shouldn't your champion always be either the best wrestler you have or the most over one? If you have a guy who is both, then maybe it's the biggest no-brainer in the world?

I also think about how this might have helped John Cena, and maybe even guys like Batista and Randy Orton. They obviously wouldn't have been able to get more runs with the belt, which means that they wouldn't necessarily have been as "exposed." Instead of winning the World Title at WrestleMania 21, Cena might have had another big match, gotten another win, and won the title from Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 22, and had more "oomph" behind him. Maybe now he wouldn't be booed all the time, because people had to wait. And very soon it would be Cena, Orton and whoever else's time to be the locked down World Champions -- instead of guys that aren't 40 yet that we're already looking to finish up in certain ways.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The Undertaker got a few runs with the World Title belt on SmackDown, and it was about after he was done that people stopped caring about the World Heavyweight Championship. I don't think it headlined another PPV after Kane won it.

[#1-norm-fan]

I can't stand that "_____ was over enough and didn't need the title" thought process. It's silly. Putting the title on guys who ARE actually massively over is how you make the title a draw and not just a meaningless prop.

[hb2k]

At this point I don't see there being anything you can do with Orton to put him at the top and for the audience at large to get into it. He's better as a guy on the fringes, to take some focus, but not all of it. His run as heel champ bombed in 2013, his feud with Seth didn't blow anybody away, and even with a better creative direction, I just don't see the audience at large biting if Randy Orton is the main course. That time has come and gone, and as put very well above, it's the Shawn Michaels spot.

Which means the only chance Orton has now is to be consistently great in that secondary position for so long that the crowd organically wants to see it because they a) haven't for a while, and b) think it's deserved.

Honestly, when Bryan went down and the plan for great IC title matches kinda fell apart along with it, Orton was the logical replacement for that spot. The guy that holds in, can have good long matches, crowd always into him, and gives him easy feud material that never has to feel like a forced investment for the crowd to get into. If the tag titles meant more I'd put him in a team and have a strong run, as I think he'd get to have not only good matches, but a different kind of good match to what people have seen before from Orton, who is certainly formulaic, and would probably be the best case scenario short term.

[Shisen Kopf]

I already told you how to book Orton

Randy Orton should take a couple of weeks off. While he is on his leave he should hang out with his dad who can teach him the ways of being a cowboy. When he returns he can be Ropin' Randy and give him a hat and have him ride a horse to the ring. This can be his entrance music bc Cowboys are American as Fuck:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/zNDcAWNscg8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

He'll be so over. Biggest star ever!

[NormanSmiley]

Put a cast on his forearm and have him take out hogan and snuka

[DAMN iNATOR]

LOL @ NormanSmiley's suggestion. He's already done a "Legend Killer Tour"...was like probably 10 or more years ago.

[Zeeboe]

It's long post-mania runnin' wild, brother!

[DAMN iNATOR]

Well all I know is Fan is gonna kick Smiley's ass in 17 DAYS!

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

He should wrestle Sheamus 25 more times in a best of 25 series.

[#1-norm-fan]

Well all I know is Fan is gonna kick Smiley's ass in 17 DAYS!

Tick fucking tock.

[NormanSmiley]

I thought this guy died of aids. I even poured out a 40 for fan already. Shit.

[NormanSmiley]

LOL @ NormanSmiley's suggestion. He's already done a "Legend Killer Tour"...was like probably 10 or more years ago.

Sorry the reference went over your head

[Mr. Nerfect]

I can't stand that "_____ was over enough and didn't need the title" thought process. It's silly. Putting the title on guys who ARE actually massively over is how you make the title a draw and not just a meaningless prop.

Bingo.

At this point I don't see there being anything you can do with Orton to put him at the top and for the audience at large to get into it. He's better as a guy on the fringes, to take some focus, but not all of it. His run as heel champ bombed in 2013, his feud with Seth didn't blow anybody away, and even with a better creative direction, I just don't see the audience at large biting if Randy Orton is the main course. That time has come and gone, and as put very well above, it's the Shawn Michaels spot.

Which means the only chance Orton has now is to be consistently great in that secondary position for so long that the crowd organically wants to see it because they a) haven't for a while, and b) think it's deserved.

Honestly, when Bryan went down and the plan for great IC title matches kinda fell apart along with it, Orton was the logical replacement for that spot. The guy that holds in, can have good long matches, crowd always into him, and gives him easy feud material that never has to feel like a forced investment for the crowd to get into. If the tag titles meant more I'd put him in a team and have a strong run, as I think he'd get to have not only good matches, but a different kind of good match to what people have seen before from Orton, who is certainly formulaic, and would probably be the best case scenario short term.

I'm not Orton's most rabid fan, but one could suggest reasons Orton's run as a heel failed critically in 2013, and why his feud with Rollins didn't have much steam. The latter is a lot more simple, in that Orton returned and pretended to be a heel for a few weeks. Come on -- if they wanted that shit hot, they should have had him trying to MURDER Rollins.

Bryan and Orton also had an extremely long stretch of PPV main event interactions against each other (seriously, it was statistically like one of the longest in history). After Orton stole the title from Bryan at SummerSlam '13, they probably shouldn't have had the two face-off until WrestleMania. Automatic rematch booking got in the way of that one. That's a seriously lazy, and often inconvenient crutch they've built up for themselves.

You did suggest that the creative direction could have been better, but I thought I'd point it all out anyway, haha.

The mid-card run scenario you suggested isn't a bad one at all. I actually wanted to see Orton and Cena get runs with the US and IC Titles respectively -- in that corresponding arrangement. Cena was never the IC Champion and Orton was never the US Champion. It'd have been a nice way to give both guys a recharge. That being said, after WrestleMania, the wise booking was to have Orton be Rollins' first test as champion out the gate.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Sorry the reference went over your head

It didn't go "over my head", dude. I'm well aware of Orton's father and the fake cast and how he used it illegally as a weapon during matches. I was just saying that back in c.2004, Orton beat a bunch of legends without having to ride the coattails of his father's gimmick. In fact, I believe that's the point where he first introduced the RKO as his finisher.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Yeah Orton in the ic title great match brijggg credibility to title role would definitely work. Simple yet effective.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

It didn't go "over my head", dude. I'm well aware of Orton's father and the fake cast and how he used it illegally as a weapon during matches. I was just saying that back in c.2004, Orton beat a bunch of legends without having to ride the coattails of his father's gimmick. In fact, I believe that's the point where he first introduced the RKO as his finisher.

Jeez damn you don't have to be so mean

[NormanSmiley]

Internet bully

[DAMN iNATOR]

Internet bully

LOL, OK :roll:

Last time I checked, my name isn't Juan.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Just read about what happened on RAW. It's pretty obvious that whenever Orton returns he needs to be going after The Wyatt Family.

Also, in a WWE.com poll, Braun Strowman is beating Sister Abigail, Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper as far as perceived scariness goes (and in that order).

[Simple Fan]

Orton's taking time off, my booking might come true.

[Mr. Nerfect]

There seems to be a conflicting report now. We'll see what happens, I guess.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The only feud that really seems ready for Hell in a Cell right now is The Wyatt Family vs. The Shield. It's possible that they will throw Orton in there to even the sides. That will be fair enough and probably be a decent main event. I'd rather they do something like Ambrose & Reigns vs. Harper & Rowan (who returns and helps The Family at Night of Champions) in the opening match, with the stipulation being that if Ambrose & Reigns win, Reigns gets Bray Wyatt inside the cell. But if they lose, the entire Family gets the chance to pick them apart in the Devil's Playground.

Ambrose & Reigns win the match against Harper & Rowan, so Reigns gets Wyatt in the main event. Bray cuts a promo on the tron about destiny and this being where Reigns and Wyatt are meant to end things. Reigns gets in there with Wyatt and the cell is locked. Reigns and Wyatt work a bit of a match, but then the ring canvas begins to tear, and poking its head up from the abyss is a black sheep's mask. The Wyatt Family emerge from the ring itself and beat the piss out of Reigns. Dean Ambrose runs out for the save, but even with bolt cutters, Ambrose can't get into the cell due to one of the hosses holding the door.

Reigns is put on the shelf and Ambrose opens RAW. He's got a kendo stick and plants a chair in the ring and says he's not going anywhere until he gets Bray Wyatt. The New Face of Fear appears on the tron. "I'm done with you" is the message sent, and Ambrose starts to trash ringside in a rage. Triple H comes out and tells Ambrose to calm it, and Ambrose responds by attacking Triple H and security with the kendo stick.

This moves us into Triple H vs. Dean Ambrose for the rest of the fall, with Wyatt sitting back -- victorious against The Shield and plotting his next move. Maybe we see a few tron promos here and there with Wyatt telling Reigns that Ambrose let everything that happened to him happen to him.

Sometime after Ambrose gets done with Triple H, Orton returns and wants Wyatt's blood, as well. Orton, Ambrose & Reigns join forces to battle The Wyatt Family. There, Reigns turns on Ambrose, and Wyatt's mission is complete. Ambrose goes on to battle Reigns and Orton goes on a suicide mission against The Family. This possibly happens at WrestleMania.

[Stickman]

Orton just seems to have no personality and is so boring because of it. I don't know if it is him or the writers therefore I dont know if it can be saved. The guy can go in the ring but even in the ring he sometimes looks bored.