Randy Orton said it himself. If he couldn’t beat the Wyatt Family, why not join the heel stable? It was a surprise move, by the 12-time WWE World Champion and should lead to a feud with Kane as we get closer to the end of 2016.
While Orton’s return to the ring, following shoulder surgery and a neck injury has been uneventful, this move – the one where he goes from fighting the enemy to becoming one – is the best thing for him.
I wrote in other pieces that I thought; there was a solid chance Orton would spend less time in the main event picture and more time trying to decipher, where he stands with the company that helped make him a star.
Orton has a resume most professional wrestlers would be envious of, and as he has matured in the ring and off screen, he has become more of a team player. In the ring, the consummate loner is now part of the best heel clan in wrestling. How he fits in, is a mystery to me, but obviously, WWE knows what it’s doing.
Here are five reasons why Orton’s move to the dark side and part of the Wyatt Family is a good thing.
#1 Feud with Kane
This is more out of necessity than anything else. I am not sure why there was a need to turn him heel, but now that he has made that move to the dark side, he and his rival Kane can find another chapter to write, as they look to remain viable on the blue roster.
Kane had been lurking around the mid card from time to time this year, grossly underused and inching closer to the end of this career. Orton didn’t have a real place on the roster, wasn’t part of a main event run and injuries have taken their toll on his position in the company.
#2 He’s a natural heel
Yes, when the Viper strikes, we all know it. While fans love Orton in any role he plays in the company, his persona is more realistic as a heel. There is something about the man, who hears voices in his head, when he comes out and inflicts pain on opponents, instead of taking in the cheers of the fans.
From early on in his career, his greatest successes were on the side of evil. His role in The Authority proved he was solid as the ringleader of ‘heeldom’. All this does is put Orton in the place he needs to be.
#3 Gives him a purpose on SmackDown Live
When Orton was drafted to SmackDown Live, his role was part of a feud with Brock Lesnar, which ended at SummerSlam and went nowhere fast. WWE has moved on, putting Lesnar in a match with Goldberg.
Orton needed something bigger, to make him more important to a more concrete roster on the blue team. When veteran wrestlers move toward the later part of their career, they tend to deteriorate quickly in terms of exposure.
There is still plenty of ability in Orton, and there are more storylines to be had. Now, there is a chance to see how he works in another stable.
#4 Leads to a potential feud with John Cena
I like this idea more than any other one. When Cena and Orton are in the ring, there is magic. Both work well together – as friends or foes. The fact they have helped re-write wrestling in the past decade makes this an important feud on so many levels.
If Cena captures his 16th world title and is looking for a competitive, solid feud, where he keeps the title but fans get what they hope for – then this is the way to go. Cena chased Orton when he was a part of the Authority angle. Now the shoe may be on the other foot.
#5 Adds longevity to his career
At 36 years old, there isn’t much more he can do. Much like Cena, who is also at a crossroads of sorts, there is massive potential in an angle; that lets us see another side of Orton.
If Orton allows Wyatt to manipulate him, like he does Luke Harper, then WWE has a new direction that it can run with Orton’s character. The angle also helps Wyatt. By bringing in another member of the family, there is power in numbers.
Orton’s calling makes Wyatt look that much more powerful. WWE may have struck gold once again with this new and refreshing angle.
For latest WWE News, live coverage and rumours visit our Sportskeeda WWE section. Also if you are attending a WWE Live event or have a news tip for us drop us an email at fightclub (at) sportskeeda (dot) com.
