Is Randy Orton 10 Years Too Late?

[Mr. Pierre]

Whenever I see Orton nowadays, I think of how awesome he could have been utilized back in the Attitude Era. Yes I know, everyone could have benefitted by being involved with great writing and good television, but I'm commenting on how perfectly his character would have fit into the company at the time.

I think Orton's "IED"/anger management character back in January of 2009 was such an great character that was pissed away because of the childish product that WWE is putting out. I just think that Orton's character when he was sadistically taking out the McMahon's last winter would have been a really interesting character and could have worked well with many other wrestlers at that time.

Instead, WWE seems to be stuck in the one dimensional good guy/bad guy scenario where the heel must be a complete coward running away from the fearless babyface. Orton as a badass heel would have been amazing (well, it was cool for a month), and unfortunately I think the ship has sailed.

And yes, I am aware that Orton is a millionaire and making a shitload of money anyway and I'm sure he doesn't care..but it would have been awesome! :-\

Thoughts...?

[The Franchise]

I agree but Orton would have been like European Champion maybe Intercontinental Champion. He would have suffered from much better talent back then and less big titles. Honestly I think he would have been best off in like 96 or 97.

[The One]

Randy Orton during the Attitude Era would have come off as a poor man's Triple H. In this time period he comes across as one of the most interesting characters in the business. I'd say he's landed right were it benefits him the most.

TOVO Fact: Tovo typically would look forward to the IC Title match over the World Title match in the late 90's.

[screech]

His badass persona would have been good in the Attitude Era, but I think it would have been lost in the shuffle among some of the other badass heels at the time (Triple H comes to mind first, as The One pointed out already).

Changing times (and product) make it "odd" to have a badass. I still think he could be a good badass now in the current landscape. It would be fresh at least.

[The Gold Standard]

His badass persona would have been good in the Attitude Era, but I think it would have been lost in the shuffle among some of the other badass heels at the time (Triple H comes to mind first, as The One pointed out already).

Changing times (and product) make it "odd" to have a badass. I still think he could be a good badass now in the current landscape. It would be fresh at least.

This is pretty much what I thought.

[screech]

This is pretty much what I thought.

We've been hanging out for too long lol

[KIRA]

Not to sound like a know-it all or anything but I think Ortons character would have fit in well in the attitude era,forgive me for saying so if you disagree but Orton's IED and his general persona all give him somewhat of a sociopathic gimmick and he played it to the hilt much better than hunters sadistic heel.I always felt that Triple H was a good heel but Randy has/had just nailed it his slow speaking pattern his facial expressions his unpredictable temper and manipulative nature its all gold I can't understand why so many people didn't get it and therefore didn't like it.If anything he really didnt have anyone to play off of (anyone good) ie rock/austin.

Just an opinion

[The Franchise]

I dunno he would have been good but I think he would have been raped in promo battles with guys like Rock, Austin, Jericho back then

Plus HHH and Angle were ridiculously good as heels in 2000 and 2001 (Rocky in 99) that to be one of the main-event heels over these guys would have been near impossible for ANYONE, not just Randy. He'd have been a good upper mid card heel though possibly popping into the main event.

You have to remember, the Randy Orton of 2009 and onwards is good and all but this guy has been pushed as the future of the WWE since 2004. He's fucked up so many times and has had his lips wrapped around Hunters cock for years now... realistically if 2004 was like 1998 and Orton had the same couple of rough bumps in the early part of his career (being an idiot, being buried, not being over as a face), he'd probably have been jobbing on Jakked by 2000.

[Damian Rey]

I think Orton fits better in the current landscape for said reasons.

His heel character around this time last year was by and far the best thing going in all of WWE. The problem was they didn't bother to run with it, had him job in an underwhelming match at Mania despite a good build, and decided not to have him win cleanly ever.

For the record, I love Orton, and find him to be one of the more interesting parts of Raw. On that note, I like what they're currently doing with him, atm. He's being allowed to just be, and the fans get to chose whether or not he's heel or face. Orton should be THE tweener in the company. And they should push his limits in the ring. He can be extremely boring to watch.

[Droford]

Id say he's 10 years too early for the next "attitude era-like" cycle that will inevitably happen.
By then he'll be 40 which will be considered "old".

[KIRA]

I think in order to test his limits This PG era has to end hed be allowed to do and say more

Speaking of when is this hell gonna end

[Damian Rey]

I think in order to test his limits This PG era has to end hed be allowed to do and say more

Speaking of when is this hell gonna end

Pg is just an excuse for the E to suck. You can write PG television and make it interesting. You don't need blood, cussing, and scantily clad women to make a show entertaining.

Orton can be edgy without having to cross into mature content-like material. It's about what he says and how he says it, and most importantly, the message of what he's saying. If the WWE actually hired real drama writers, and told them "This is Randy Orton. He's going to be THE heel/tweener for our company for the next 5 to 10 years. We need you to develop him as a psychotic sociopath who has random fits of intense, remorseless violence, and stretches where, for no reason whatsoever, he singles out and attempt to destroy one sole member of the roster. He's an absolute badass, and can beat anyone at anytime when his mental issues overcome him and the 'voices' take over. Please develop this trait and turn him into the heel of the decade".

They wouldn't need cuss words, or blood. Orton could come out and give a five minute promo filled with a resonating speech and his character could actually grow and progress. He could be sick and sadistic.

[Skippord]

WWE should hire the writers from X-Men The Animated Series

[LuigiD]

Would had been interesting to have Orton around during the whole McMahon-Helmsley era..

[Skippord]

According to Variety, Randy Orton will star in the WWE Films production of Big Red. There is no word on what role Orton will play yet. Here is the description of the film… “In 1965, as the world changes all around him, 12-year-old Andy Nichol comes of age when he’s asked by his favorite teacher, Mr. Simon, to partner with school outcast Big Red for an English assignment.”

just seemed appropriate to post in here, awesome

[Damian Rey]

WWE should hire the writers from X-Men The Animated Series

They should go after Paul Dini and the rest of the crew for Batman: The Animated Series. Best half hour stories for you buck during their period.:y:

[KIRA]

Pg is just an excuse for the E to suck. You can write PG television and make it interesting. You don't need blood, cussing, and scantily clad women to make a show entertaining.

Orton can be edgy without having to cross into mature content-like material. It's about what he says and how he says it, and most importantly, the message of what he's saying. If the WWE actually hired real drama writers, and told them "This is Randy Orton. He's going to be THE heel/tweener for our company for the next 5 to 10 years. We need you to develop him as a psychotic sociopath who has random fits of intense, remorseless violence, and stretches where, for no reason whatsoever, he singles out and attempt to destroy one sole member of the roster. He's an absolute badass, and can beat anyone at anytime when his mental issues overcome him and the 'voices' take over. Please develop this trait and turn him into the heel of the decade".

They wouldn't need cuss words, or blood. Orton could come out and give a five minute promo filled with a resonating speech and his character could actually grow and progress. He could be sick and sadistic
They really dropped the ball on ortons charcter development,Instead of letting him run with the whole IED thing hes now something of a generic asshole villain zero depth and no real motive as to why he does what he does.

[Fox]

Orton is only Orton because of Evolution. The idea of Orton being in the Attitude era when Triple H wasn't even a World Champion yet is mind boggling to me. I can't even place it.

[Droford]

This made me think aslo of how great Jake Roberts would have been if his peak had been in the Attitude Era..

Much better than Orton for sure..

[Emperor Smeat]

Orton probably wouldn't have been as successful or pushed as much with his current character type during the Attitude Era. Like a few posters above have said, either he'd be lost in the mix or would be in a lower division. Too many big names in the main event scene (or should have been like Taz) to really stand out.

As a heel, he would have been competing with people such as The Rock, Triple H, Undertaker, and Mr McMahon. As a tweener, he would have been competing with people such as Stone Cold, Tazz, and maybe Jericho. As a face, he would have been competing with people such as Angle, Foley, HBK/Bret Hart.

He really benefited from the Brand Split Era and lack of big names on Raw in the heel category.

[Rammsteinmad]

Anyone woulda been good in the Attitude Era. Hell, even Triple H was good back then.

[The Franchise]

Orton is only Orton because of Evolution. The idea of Orton being in the Attitude era when Triple H wasn't even a World Champion yet is mind boggling to me. I can't even place it.

yeah honestly. Rock and Austin were so ridiculously over and good back then that nobody in history would have been "the top guy" over them in those years. Except maybe HBK if he didn't retire but even then he'd be #3 I think

[Kane Knight]

Orton is only Orton because of Evolution. The idea of Orton being in the Attitude era when Triple H wasn't even a World Champion yet is mind boggling to me. I can't even place it.

Especially in an era where he would be closer to a dime a dozen.

[Wolfpack423]

I agree but Orton would have been like European Champion maybe Intercontinental Champion. He would have suffered from much better talent back then and less big titles. Honestly I think he would have been best off in like 96 or 97.

I think he would have gottens shots at the WWE Championship to be honest. Put it this way if Orton was in the Attitude Era, we would probably have seen one on one matches against The Rock which is something I always wanted to see.

[CenaFan]

I feel the WWE would just be better if they dropped the whole PG think... I miss good Hell in a Cell matches and such. I know I am not saying anything new, but I agree with most of you Orton would be amazing in a non kid friendly WWE

[The Franchise]

Present day Orton probably would have but Orton prior late-2007 would have been a mid-carder for the entire attitude era.

[Damian Rey]

I feel the WWE would just be better if they dropped the whole PG think... I miss good Hell in a Cell matches and such. I know I am not saying anything new, but I agree with most of you Orton would be amazing in a non kid friendly WWE

It wouldn't make much of a difference. The writers would still not have a clue as to how to write a wrestling show. Perfect example that the PG rating is not a handicap; SmackDown!. Hayes has been putting on shows that have direction and meaning. There's real character development, real feus that are billed to mean something ( Morrison/McIntyre, Rey/Batista, Ziggler/Kane), CM Punk is in the middle of gaining massive heat with his growing "society". Hell, even Eric Escobar was given a legit opportunity to showcase himself. Not to mention, we actually are being given a reason to care about the IC title in God knows how long.

Okay, the long rant sums up my point. PG is not a disadvantage, it's alame excuse for poor writing.

[thedamndest]

He probably would have ended up with Meat's gimmick. Too green in a time when there were too many top guys.