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It was on last week's episode of SmackDown Live (November 20th, 2018), that Randy Orton brutalized Rey Mysterio with one of the most dangerous RKOs of all time, after which he proceeded to attack Mysterio's neck with a Steel Chair and then unmask "The Master of the 619".
Interestingly, throughout the week, Orton bragged about travelling with Mysterio's mask, and posted constant updates about it on his official Instagram account. However, "The Viper" didn't stop there though, as on this week's SmackDown Live episode (November 27th, 2018), Orton came down to the ring with Mysterio's mask, and cut a highly disrespectful promo against the legendary Luchador.
Now, I must mention that several fans, as well as experts, expected Orton to be booked against former Evolution teammate Dave Batista in a WrestleMania 35 feud, especially after the WWE's original plans of booking a Triple H vs. Batista rivalry failed due to Triple H's pectoral injury at the Super Show-Down event (October 6th, 2018).
However, since Batista and the WWE still haven't reached a deal despite several months of talks, the WWE has booked Orton to feud with another industry veteran, Rey Mysterio, on SmackDown Live. Well, Orton is a 13-time World Champion and he has to feud with someone, doesn't he?
Regardless, after several weeks of brutal attacks by Randy Orton on Rey Mysterio, today, we examine why the WWE could present Orton vs. Mysterio as a long-running feud which will end at WrestleMania 35. We also try to understand how the WWE could plan on swerving us by adding Dave Batista to this feud.
Warning: The video below which shows Orton's vicious attack on Mysterio from last week's SmackDown Live, contains color (blood). Kindly skip the video if you are not a fan of blood in pro-wrestling. The RKO takes place around the 0:50 minute mark of the video
#5 Randy Orton disrespecting Rey Mysterio's Luchador code
As noted above, Randy Orton has been carrying around Rey Mysterio's mask with him, ever since "The Viper" disrespectfully ripped it off on last week's SmackDown Live (November 20th, 2018).
For those fans who are relatively new to pro-wrestling, I'd like to note that the act of unmasking a Luchador is considered to be one of the most disrespectful things you can do to the Luchador.
Although Orton unmasking Mysterio is obviously a part of the WWE's storylines, it's very important for us to understand that such acts are taken very seriously in the world of professional wrestling, and when an "unmasking segment" like that takes place, it's a huge sign that a long-running rivalry between the unmasked Luchador and the person who unmasked him will take place in the days to come.
#4 WWE could be planning a Triple Threat Match between Randy Orton, Rey Mysterio and Dave Batista at WrestleMania 35
Alright, I've got mixed emotions regarding this possibility. Let's face it, when rumors of Batista returning to the WWE for a feud with his former Evolution teammate Triple H first caught our attention around WrestleMania 34 season in April of this year, most of us were quite excited.
Well, unfortunately, Batista didn't return to WWE at 'Mania, and Triple H teamed with Stephanie McMahon in a match that they lost to the team of Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania 34 (April 8th, 2018). However, Batista did make his on-screen WWE comeback to celebrate the 1000th episode of SmackDown (October 16th, 2018).
I must add that Batista's return at SmackDown 1000 generated a lot of buzz, especially because he took a direct shot at Triple H during his promo, by stating – "There's nothing! Nothing! That this man (Triple H) hasn't done in this business...Except beat me."
Needless to say, it was quite obvious that the WWE had planned a Triple H vs. Batista feud for WrestleMania 35 (April 7th, 2019). However, Triple H suffered a horrific pectoral muscle injury, and there's no fixed timeline for his in-ring comeback.
It was after Triple H's aforementioned injury, that talks regarding WWE booking Orton to take on Batista at WrestleMania 35, started gaining steam!
Frankly speaking, with Batista still busy due to his Hollywood obligations, it makes sense that the WWE has booked Orton to feud with Rey Mysterio. However, if Batista does return to the WWE on the "Road To WrestleMania 35" – which begins at the Royal Rumble PPV on January 27th, 2019 – don't be surprised if the WWE gives us Orton, Batista and Mysterio in a Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania 35.
After all, all three of them have teamed as well as feuded with each other over the course of their long and storied careers.
#3 Randy Orton's savage beat-down of Rey Mysterio, wasn't just senseless violence
In the main event match of last week's SmackDown Live (November 20th, 2018), when Rey Mysterio flew below the bottom rope, trying to hit a Suicide Dive on Randy Orton, "The Viper" caught Mysterio mid-air and delivered what WWE color commentator Corey Graves called "the single most sudden RKO" he's ever seen.
Orton then dragged Mysterio's body into the ring, stood him up, and delivered another RKO, after which he pinned the Luchador. However, as we discussed before, Orton then used a Steel Chair to attack his opponent – as he wrapped the Chair around Mysterio's neck and sent him crashing into the ring-post!
After leaving Mysterio in a bloody heap, Orton raised the Luchador's mask in the air, as the cameras showed the expression of pure disgust and shock on the faces of several fans in attendance at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California where last week's SmackDown Live tapings were underway.
While most fans were more focused on how shocking and humiliating the unmasking segment was for Mysterio, what caught my attention was the bloody beating that Orton gave the Lucha legend. Orton's savage beat-down of Mysterio wasn't just a senseless act of violence...It was a well-planned, systematic attack from "The Viper" who has perhaps already planned many more ruthless attacks on Mysterio for their rivalry.
#2 Randy Orton cut an extremely risky promo regarding Rey Mysterio's culture, on SmackDown Live
Randy Orton appeared on this week's SmackDown Live (November 27th, 2018), with Rey Mysterio's mask in his hand, and proceeded to cut an extremely risky promo regarding Mysterio's culture and the significance of the Luchador mask in professional wrestling.
Orton first claimed that he doesn't understand what the big deal is about the Luchador mask, and then referred to the mask in his hand as a "piece of trash"!
It's very important for us to applaud Orton for the way he delivered this promo, because honestly speaking, if a lesser-experienced pro-wrestling performer would've delivered the same promo, he/she may have ended up legitimately offending the Luchador community.
However, Orton smartly diverted the fans' attention by claiming that his attack and unmasking of Mysterio wasn't meant to disrespect Mysterio's Luchador culture, but was only aimed to embarrass and humiliate Mysterio.
The writing is on the wall, friends! Orton has made this rivalry with Mysterio personal, and there's no chance that this ends in a short-term feud with a random match. Per the evidence, all signs point towards Mysterio's feud with Orton extending well after the Royal Rumble PPV (January 27th, 2019) up until WrestleMania 35 (April 7th, 2019).
#1 The Resurrection of Randy Orton, as the industry's top psychopathic heel, will continue in 2019
In my personal opinion, Randy Orton was at his very best back in 2009, during his feuds with the likes of Dave Batista and Triple H. Orton, as the leader of "The Legacy" alongside his proteges Ted DiBiase Jr. and Cody Rhodes, wreaked havoc in the WWE over a two year period (2008-2010).
During that time, Orton gained worldwide notoriety as the top psychopathic villainous character in all of professional wrestling – with his maniacal expressions becoming the subject of several hilarious Randy Orton memes over the years! Nonetheless, Orton's brand value as a psychopathic, yet opportunistic heel, continually grew, and the only times The Viper's stock has taken a hit, is when the WWE makes him work as a babyface.
Let's be real here, it'd be safe to say that most of us agree, Orton is perfect for the role of a deranged heel, and is not really believable as a heroic babyface character in the WWE's storylines. Considering that, Rey Mysterio – who has always been "The Ultimate Underdog" in professional wrestling – is the perfect foil to Orton's psycho heel character.
Moreover, while a Mysterio vs. Orton WrestleMania 35 match would be awesome, it'd make all the sense in the world, if they make it a Triple Threat Match by adding Dave Batista to the equation – particularly because after so many years away from the ring, it'd be quite risky to expect Batista to work a one-on-one matchup on The Grandest Stage Of Them All nonetheless.
Would you like to see Rey Mysterio take on Randy Orton in a singles match at WrestleMania 35, or do you feel WWE should make it a Triple Threat Match by adding Batista? Please give us your thoughts in the comments section below!
