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**Nowhere Man** · 02-03-2005, 06:18 PM

This time last year I was saying that Orton would be another one of WWE's countless failed attempts at a quick-fix main eventer. And lo and behold, it came to pass. His gimmick got stale, his face turn flopped, and he can't seem to save his own hide while Batista has eclipsed him and Jericho and Benoit are still the uncrowned top faces of Raw.

But, since I can try to see the good in workers, what can be done to save Orton from going down in flames?

First of all, don't try to thrust him back into the main event scene right away. The fans got really tired of having him shoved down their throats so much the first time around. Have him enter a long program for the Intercontinental Title against, say, Christian or Jericho (depending on whether he should stay face or turn heel), someone with whom he can pull off a series of really good matches, and slowly elevate him back up (not to mention elevate his opponent and the prestige of the I-C Title).

Second off, don't just revert him back to the 'Legend Killer,' because there's barely anything left to be done with it. Most of the big-name legends aren't going to come back to WWE any time soon, and certainly not in any capacity to wrestle. Hogan's too damn old, Austin's got a bad neck, Rocky's going to Hollywood for good, HBK and Flair have already been done, etc. The only feasible one is the Undertaker, and I seriously doubt you could get Taker to lay down for Orton. Not to mention the only heat it generates is cheap heat, and short-term heat at that. Hell, he and Mick Foley put on one of the most brutal hardcore matches in a long time, and the heat he got from it barely lasted through the Shelton Benjamin feud. If Orton is going to be back on top, he's got to be able to generate his own heat, not get it by beating up old guys.

But most of all, turn him heel again. I thought the heel Orton was the most bland and unremarkable gimmick I had ever seen, until I saw face Orton. Randy is the kind of guy people want to boo (or develop a cult following to) because he looks and acts like a pretentious dick, not because he acts like a poor man's Stone Cold/Rock. Jericho would be the perfect foil for Orton, not only because he is insanely over no matter how badly he's booked, but also because he can cover Orton's deficiencies in the ring and on the mic, and both guys can really get the crowd going. I doubt the feud would be for the World Title, but it would be a hot feud that would sell tickets, IMO.

02-03-2005, 06:18 PM	#44
Nowhere Man Now. Here. Man. Posts: 8,370	This time last year I was saying that Orton would be another one of WWE's countless failed attempts at a quick-fix main eventer. And lo and behold, it came to pass. His gimmick got stale, his face turn flopped, and he can't seem to save his own hide while Batista has eclipsed him and Jericho and Benoit are still the uncrowned top faces of Raw. But, since I can try to see the good in workers, what can be done to save Orton from going down in flames? First of all, don't try to thrust him back into the main event scene right away. The fans got really tired of having him shoved down their throats so much the first time around. Have him enter a long program for the Intercontinental Title against, say, Christian or Jericho (depending on whether he should stay face or turn heel), someone with whom he can pull off a series of really good matches, and slowly elevate him back up (not to mention elevate his opponent and the prestige of the I-C Title). Second off, don't just revert him back to the 'Legend Killer,' because there's barely anything left to be done with it. Most of the big-name legends aren't going to come back to WWE any time soon, and certainly not in any capacity to wrestle. Hogan's too damn old, Austin's got a bad neck, Rocky's going to Hollywood for good, HBK and Flair have already been done, etc. The only feasible one is the Undertaker, and I seriously doubt you could get Taker to lay down for Orton. Not to mention the only heat it generates is cheap heat, and short-term heat at that. Hell, he and Mick Foley put on one of the most brutal hardcore matches in a long time, and the heat he got from it barely lasted through the Shelton Benjamin feud. If Orton is going to be back on top, he's got to be able to generate his own heat, not get it by beating up old guys. But most of all, turn him heel again. I thought the heel Orton was the most bland and unremarkable gimmick I had ever seen, until I saw face Orton. Randy is the kind of guy people want to boo (or develop a cult following to) because he looks and acts like a pretentious dick, not because he acts like a poor man's Stone Cold/Rock. Jericho would be the perfect foil for Orton, not only because he is insanely over no matter how badly he's booked, but also because he can cover Orton's deficiencies in the ring and on the mic, and both guys can really get the crowd going. I doubt the feud would be for the World Title, but it would be a hot feud that would sell tickets, IMO.