Why is Randy Orton a face?

[Disco Apocalypse]

Originally Posted by James Steele They put the belt on Triple H because Orton proved he wasn't ready to carry the ball, so they put it back on the man who could carry the ball between the shoulder blades of his massive and entertaining back.

Orton didn't even get to win a PPV as champ... that's rough.

It's not like Triple H was exactly short of title runs around that time. Didn't he win a vacated title that he had vacated? Was that the only competition he could find, himself?