Opinion: Randy Orton should defeat and injure Jeff Hardy at Hell in a Cell

Randy Orton vs Jeff Hardy inside Hell in a Cell was made official on this week's edition of WWE SmackDown Live. This will mark Jeff Hardy's first appearance inside the steel structure.

Although the match's announcement received a mixed response, I have my hopes high up for this encounter. If Hardy is healthy enough to take his usual risks, we might as well have a match of the year candidate on our hands. However, at the end of the match, it should be Randy Orton standing tall over a wounded Hardy. I will explain why.

Randy Orton's heel turn has been a massive success, and fans have never been more interested in The Viper in recent memory. Orton needs to gain some real heel heat. Although, Orton's hideous attacks on Hardy have made the fans groan in sympathy for Hardy, I believe that Orton could gain immense heel heat if he brings this viciousness to Hell in a Cell.

It looks as if WWE officials are high on Randy Orton, in spite of recent allegations and conspiracies hatched against him. If Daniel Bryan fails to win his number one contender's match at Super Show-Down, or if AJ Styles loses the WWE Title to Samoa Joe, you could expect the despicable and malicious Viper to target any of the two afore-mentioned babyfaces.

In order to feud with Styles or Bryan, Orton would need to gain some serious momentum, and mauling apart Jeff Hardy would accomplish that.

Randy Orton has been great on television these days, and the fans are always itching to see what demented plans The Viper has in store for their heroes. A loss to Hardy would hurt Orton who has just revitalized himself, as fans would start thinking of him as someone like Bray Wyatt or Baron Corbin who always lose matches that matter most.

Lastly and most importantly, Hardy is dealing with a few nagging injuries, and needs to be written off television as soon as possible. Jeff still has a few years left in him, and fighting through injury will shorten his career.

Furthermore, Matt Hardy has been dealing with injuries as well, and is out indefinitely. The Woken One has been teasing a change in character and a re-union with his brother Jeff. If Orton decimates Hardy inside the cell and injures him (kayfabe), Jeff Hardy could return as Brother Nero alongside his 'Woken' brother to take the main roster by storm.