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#1 WWE booked Triple H vs Randy Orton in a street fight on RAW
Triple H appeared on WWE television for the first time in months when he opened the show, before being rudely interrupted by Randy Orton, who demanded the WWE Championship or number thirty entry into the Royal Rumble. The former member of D-Generation X not only refused Orton's demands but called him a "no good p***k." The "Viper" took umbrage to this and challenged his former mentor to a match later on in the night. Triple H reluctantly accepted after Orton insulted his manhood. The two long-time rivals would meet in a street fight later on that night.
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This bizarre angle began in what was to be one of the company's most baffling episodes in recent memory.
Originally, Orton was to face WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, but before RAW aired news broke that the champion McIntyre had tested positive for Covid-19 and was now in quarantine. Therefore, the booking of the angle was as bizarre as it was forced. But if fans thought the street fight setup was weird, what happened during the match would take it to another level.
Triple H and Orton brawled until the "Game" unveiled his trusty sledgehammer. The hammer inexplicably burst into flames, and the lights went out.
Triple H was gone when the arena lit back up, and Alexa Bliss made her shocking return. Bliss returned to get payback on Orton with a perfectly aimed fireball to the face that sent the "Viper" writhing in pain, as the show went off the air.
The match itself was short and existed only to continue the Fiend and Orton's feud, which begs the question, why set up the match in the first place? Surely WWE could come up with a better and less bizarre way to reach the show-ending angle?
It was clear WWE was thinking and booking somewhat spontaneously from start to finish, due to McIntyre's absence. While it may have felt a little off, under the circumstances, the feeling is understandable.
