I've done some thinking, and this is one of the ways I can see the match getting developed.
At New Year's Revolution, Randy Orton faces Edge while Triple H faces Chris Benoit. Triple H defeats Benoit, and Orton pins Edge. Then we have Triple H beat Orton after Batista helps The Game.
*The next night on RAW, The Rock shows up to kick off RAW*
The Rock: Finally..........The R....
*Randy Orton interupts*
Randy Orton: Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, woah, WOAH! Who in the blue Hell are you?
The Rock: What y...
Randy Orton: IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU ARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Randy Orton then goes on to cut a promo with his cockiness and arrogance showing through. He compares himself to The Rock by saying hsi IC Title reign was longer than Rock's, Randy Orton won the World Title at a younger age than Rock. Randy Orton gets the girls in the crowd wanting some strudel. Randy Orton can even go as far as saying, he's the real People's Champion.
Orton then enters himself in the Royal Rumble, and says that he will win the match, and get into the WrestleMania main event and draw more ratings than The Rock. The Rock has a talk with Orton about how he's no longer a Legend Killer. Ric Flair lifted that off Orton. Now Rock's confirming it. The Rock sees it, everyone else sees it, Randy Orton is a legend. The Legend of the Homosexual, suit-wearing, mother-caring, anus-tearing, little timosuine riding piss-stealing son of a cowboy. OK, that sucked, but I'm sure The Rock can do something that makes sense. The Rock then asks Orton is he liked his little joke? The Rock proceeds to congradulate Orton for being a success. The Rock also puts himself in the Royal Rumble.
In the Rumble, Batista dumps out both Orton and Cena half-way though the match, and he goes on to actually win the match. The Rock actually wins the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H (I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but it would sort of parallell their title swaps in 2000). The next night on RAW we see the rematch, where Triple H wins the title back with help from Batista (or you can delay it for a week or so). This sets up a potential feud with both Triple H and Batista down the line for The Rock.
That same night however (before Rocky loses the title), Orton cuts a respect promo. King speculates that Orton is sincere while JR is a little reluctant, by finally agrees with this. Orton asks for a title match with The Rock down the line before Triple H, so he can win the title and can shove it in Triple H's face. The Rock said Triple H has honoured his rematch clause, and The Rock is happy to allow Triple H to have his rematch tonight, even though The Rock has an overriding clause which says he can face whoever he wants after he wins the title. Orton looks a bit angry, but The Rock says Orton will get his shot next week.
This sets up a "I respect you, but I can't win the title anymore because of your mistake Rock." attitude for Orton. Randy then goes paranoid and convinces himself that The Rock did it on purpose, because he's afraid of Orton. We see a tag team match on the RAW one week after The Rock lost the World Heavyweight Title to Triple H (who is estatic because he believes Batista will lie-down for him at WrestleMania). The Rock & Randy Orton vs. Triple H & Batista. Orton gets the pin on Triple H, which really makes Orton remember that if this was a singles match, he still couldn't win the title. We see a tense moment in Orton's face as he looks at Rock, but nothing too serious. JR keeps telling us that The Rock shouldn't turn his back on Orton.
Eventually Eric Bischoff signs The Rock vs. Randy Orton for Mania. Randy Orton all of a sudden seems happier again, and tells Rock he holds nothing against him. Orton goes as far as saying that at Mania, The Rock will figure out while he is the Legend Killer. Randy even resurrects the "Die Rocky, Die" chants. JR doesn't trust Orton, saying that he thinks Orton will do anything to win. Orton becomes an unofficial heel if you will. At Mania we see Orton respecting The Rock with a handshake, etc. The Rock and Orton have a clean match, which Orton wins.
I don't know how Orton will look coming out of Mania. Maybe have him surprised at his win. Have Ric Flair beat Mick Foley as well at Mania, and Batista wins the World Heavyweight Title in a squash match. This sets up some good programs for Backlash.
I don't know if Orton would be a face or a heel out of WrestleMania, but it allows him to regain his momentum as the cocky character I think we all loved. I can even see a new incarnation of Evolution popping up, with Triple H the only member not to win a match at WrestleMania. Orton, Batista & Flair could work really well together as sort of those heels that still get popped anyway sort of stable. This would allow Orton to go back to the Evolution music.
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