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Life may not be as simple as black and white, but I certainly think that the world of WWE is that simple. There are good guys, and there are bad guys, and Randy Orton has excelled at being a heel for most of his career.
But this week, we saw him team up with Ricochet and Humberto Carillo in the main event of the night, as the three men took on The OC. The question of whether he was a true babyface or not was answered when he delivered an RKO to AJ Styles.
Why did WWE decide to change one of their biggest heels into a babyface in the United Kingdom? I do believe that I have the answer and I'm going to illustrate the same in the five pages that follow.
I invite you guys to leave a comment below, ladies and gentlemen.
#5 Fans cheer for the RKO even when Randy Orton is a heel
There are only certain characters against whom Randy Orton can work as a heel, very honestly. Orton has arguably the most popular finisher in the current roster, and the audience is always waiting to see how the next one will be delivered. When he's taking on someone like Ali or Cedric Alexander, chances are that the crowd in attendance is rooting for The Viper.
You notice the same thing with Ric Flair's run towards the end of his WCW career. Even if he was working as a heel, because of his sheer longevity in the business, the audience was almost always on his side.
Maybe a babyface Randy Orton may even be cheered against Brock Lesnar if he challenges The Beast for his title. Randy Orton is a big man in a generation of smaller Superstars and connects easily with the casual WWE fanbase.
#4 The lack of top babyfaces on RAW
Last week on RAW, Triple H made a proposition to the first-ever NXT Champion, one Seth Rollins. He told Rollins to revive his career with a stint in NXT, something the man actually considered. Naturally, I considered who the face of RAW would be if Rollins were to go to NXT!
It's very hard to come up with a name that fits into the same kind of role that Seth Rollins currently occupies. Ricochet is not ready yet and Rey Mysterio's booking has not really portrayed him as a top guy, but more as an underdog. The need of the hour is a strong babyface on RAW, who can be a secondary face of the brand.
A lot of people have also said that Seth Rollins may turn heel soon, so if that is the case, Randy Orton will become the top babyface on RAW!
#3 Something to attract fans to a taped broadcast
A lot of fans already know that RAW was a taped show, and spoilers were all over the internet before the show aired. In fact, the fact that there was a title change on SmackDown allowed the Blue Brand to score a very healthy rating despite the fact that nothing much happened on the show.
What this essentially proves is that, as long as there is a talking point, people will tune in to check the action that's unfolding. A Randy Orton face turn is huge news and this may have compelled a lot of people to tune in.
A lot of people do not watch RAW and SmackDown live because they believe nothing major will go down. But if they know that something interesting will happen, they watch the show!
This is only a hypothesis. But as we saw from the SmackDown ratings, it is a strategy with a proven track record.
#2 Elevating the promising heel Superstars in the current roster
Randy Orton is just one of those characters who's had his time in the sun, and it is his time to make new stars. He can certainly do so with the loaded RAW roster, especially if he's pitted against the likes of Andrade and Rowan.
AJ Styles pretty much does the same for the babyfaces and he's done it against the likes of Humberto Carillo and Cedric Alexander already, elevating the men to the next level. There are only so many times that Rowan can potentially take on local talent and only so many matches Andrade can have against the likes of Cedric Alexander, who's great but certainly not Randy Orton.
You could make the argument that Seth Rollins is better suited for this role. But Rollins cannot afford to take pins at this point in his career, even though Randy Orton can.
#1 The threat of him turning on his team during RAW
WWE works on the same principles that a show like Game of Thrones operates on. The drama comes from the element of unpredictability that is inherent to the show, not knowing what will happen next.
While the build to Survivor Series has been excellent, one wonders if Randy Orton who was a SmackDown guy until not long ago will be loyal to Team Red just yet. I mean he was also a heel until not long ago and could potentially turn on Kevin Owens, kickstarting a brand new feud.
Maybe Drew McIntyre is the man who leaves Randy Orton high and dry when he's on the verge of a big victory. And maybe Drew McIntyre vs. Randy Orton is the big program that the company wishes to promote in the future.
With a babyface Randy Orton, the possibilities are limitless.
Did you enjoy this week's episode of RAW? If so, please vote for your favorite match right here.
