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Randy Orton's feud with Alexa Bliss and Bray Wyatt has featured several bizarre elements so far. One of the strangest of all is the lack of a clear heel or babyface in this storyline.
Orton has committed a lot of despicable acts throughout his career. Bray Wyatt's most sinister alter-ego, The Fiend, isn't bound by morality either. Meanwhile, Alexa Bliss is a live-action witch who likes to play wicked games on Monday Night RAW.
Although Orton's onscreen character is conflicted to a great extent, he seems like the more stable personality when compared to Wyatt or Bliss. As a result, one can make a case for his potential babyface turn. Some arguments can also justify why he should remain a heel character on RAW.
Let's take a look at three reasons why Randy Orton should turn babyface and two reasons why he shouldn't.
#5 Why Randy Orton should turn babyface - His heel run as "The Legend Killer" peaked in 2020
Randy Orton's resurgence as a despicable heel started during the initial stages of his feud with Edge in 2020. Since then, The Viper has brought back his "Legend Killer" persona during the pandemic.
Orton showcased the strengths of his character during some excellent segments inside the Performance Center. In 2020 alone, he crossed boundaries several times for increasingly twisted reasons.
Orton's viciousness has been equaled and arguably surpassed since he started feuding with The Fiend/Bray Wyatt and Alexa Bliss. Whenever Orton has tried to cross boundaries during this storyline, Wyatt and Bliss have retaliated mercilessly.
The Legend Killer gimmick no longer holds the same importance it had in 2020. If Orton decides to revert to that gimmick after his current feud is over, it may become repetitive. Instead, he could start a new chapter of his career by turning babyface again.
Orton's current creative direction indicates that he will face the consequences for his dastardly deeds on the Road to WrestleMania 37. As a result, it would make sense in terms of character development for him to ultimately turn babyface.
#4 Why Randy Orton shouldn't turn babyface - He has historically proven to be a more effective heel
Randy Orton's WWE career would have been very different had he wrestled as a babyface for the majority of it. Orton's biggest career moments have occurred as a heel.
Before his resurgence in 2020, The Viper wasn't on the hottest run of his career. Part of it can be attributed to the fact that his character felt a bit watered down as a good guy. This is because even as a babyface, Orton often retains some of his heel characteristics to a small degree. So when he is a babyface character, he doesn't come across as a full-fledged hero like John Cena, but he doesn't have the freedom to express his heel traits either.
Based on his track record, it is always safer to bet on a heel version of Randy Orton.
Randy Orton doesn't need to keep bringing back The Legend Killer persona. In the past, he has portrayed several different versions of his antagonistic self to great effect. With this in mind, it's safe to say Orton can work efficiently as a heel in the future without relying on the same old gimmick.
#3 Why Randy Orton should turn babyface - As a heel, Orton doesn't hold any leverage over Alexa Bliss
After Randy Orton burned The Fiend at WWE TLC 2020, Alexa Bliss was presented as a more sympathetic figure. However, in the months since, Bliss has started to hold a great degree of superiority over The Viper.
It has been established that The Fiend/Bray Wyatt is coming back soon, likely in time for WrestleMania. As a result, Bliss has no reason to mourn his loss anymore. Moreover, Orton has become a frequent victim of her sadistic magical tricks, some of which have cost him major matches.
While Bliss has supernatural associations, Orton is the one simply stuck in a supernatural storyline. He doesn't have any magical abilities up his sleeve. So the equation has changed in such a way that Orton has become the more helpless figure in this angle.
WrestleMania is approximately a month away, and The Apex Predator hasn't figured out a way to evade these mind games. The tables have turned, and one can't help but root for Orton to find some kind of advantage before the return of The Fiend.
Due to Randy Orton's current situation, WWE could capitalize on his helplessness to build sympathy for him as a babyface character.
#2 Why Randy Orton shouldn't turn babyface - Bray Wyatt's redemption arc doesn't leave room for an immediate babyface turn for Orton
Before The Fiend's introduction, Randy Orton added more fuel to his 2017 rivalry with Bray Wyatt by setting fire to Wyatt's sacred compound ahead of their infamous clash at WrestleMania 33.
The past has been revisited several times during their more recent encounters. At TLC 2020, The Fiend was supposed to avenge Wyatt's misfortune by defeating Orton in the Firefly Inferno match. Surprisingly, Orton emerged victorious, delaying Wyatt's redemption arc.
It is rumored that Wyatt will get his revenge against Orton at this year's WrestleMania event. Undoubtedly, the fan support will be on Wyatt's side as they have been waiting for him to get payback since 2017.
In this context, does it make sense for WWE to turn Orton into a babyface character? Probably not.
Even though Randy Orton is currently at a disadvantage against Alexa Bliss, his actions are the main cause behind his own suffering. Actions have consequences, and Orton will get what he deserves after Bray Wyatt's inevitable return.
#1 Why Randy Orton should turn babyface - The Fiend "changes" the personalities of his rivals
While Randy Orton is a great heel, a change in character for the 14-time world champion could be imminent.
Since The Fiend's debut at SummerSlam 2019, there has been a recurring plot thread with Bray Wyatt's enigmatic persona. Most WWE Superstars who feud with The Fiend have had their personalities and creative direction changed drastically in the aftermath.
Examples include Finn Balor returning to NXT after facing Wyatt's alter-ego, Seth Rollins turning heel, and Braun Strowman undergoing a psychological transformation. There are some exceptions to this rule such as Goldberg. But most stars who had a lengthy feud with The Fiend have undergone "changes" in various ways, no matter how big or small they were.
Orton is one of Wyatt's longtime rivals in WWE. After their feud ends, Orton may be subjected to a personality transformation as well. The exact details behind the "change" itself seem a bit vague at this stage. But it's not unreasonable to assume that a babyface turn will be in store for The Viper.
Do you think Randy Orton should turn babyface soon? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below.
