Early Favorites for the Royal Rumble 2015

The Returning Viper – Randy Orton

WWE.com

The final participant that could potentially rise above all others to become number one contender is Randy Orton. The Viper departed a couple of months ago on the cusp of a face turn, breaking out on his own against Seth Rollins and the rest of the Authority. This evoked a fantastic reaction from the audience, who had become bored by his run as a heel and lack of direction. When he was again set to face John Cena at Hell in a Cell, the crowd groaned in unison, until the prospect of a match between him and Brock Lesnar was batted around, and then it became interesting once more. This shows that the fans are intrigued by the prospect of those two locking up for the first time since Orton became a big deal.

Of course, there is no questioning Orton’s work ethic or technical ability in between the ropes. He is as good in the ring as anybody else, as crisp and strong as anybody else. He has a proven track record of competing in the WrestleMania main event, having two to his name, including last year’s classical encounter. Whilst that was mainly due to a response to Daniel Bryan’s road to glory, Orton certainly contributed into making it a great match. Orton is a trusted hand, and is the rare combination of a superstar with over a decade’s experience that has had little to no interaction with Lesnar.

However, there are a few obstacles standing in his way. As it stands, Orton is yet to return from the supposed injury he suffered on an episode of RAW as a result of a pair of Seth Rollins’ Curb Stomps. Realistically, the Rumble is the perfect opportunity to make an impact on your return, often filled with surprises. Yet, with Orton’s focus likely to be on his former stable-mate Rollins upon his return, his participation in the Royal Rumble might simply be a brief cameo to eliminate Mr. Money in the Bank and himself in one fell swoop. Still, I personally refuse to let go to the hope of an Orton/Lesnar match, as it could prove to be an instant classic.