WWE Clash of Champions 2017: Randy Orton Should Turn Heel
By Ryan Disdier
Randy Orton currently serves as one of SmackDown’s top babyfaces. However, Orton should turn heel Sunday at WWE Clash of Champions 2017 to add another wrinkle to his character
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn face Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura Sunday at WWE Clash of Champions 2017.
On paper, this seems like a pretty standard match between two heels and two babyfaces. However, this is a perfect opportunity for the company to turn Orton heel, having him align himself with Owens and Zayn.
It would be a somewhat unpredictable swerve, and would add intrigue to Tuesday night’s episode of SmackDown. Although it certainly wouldn’t be an NWO-like aura, a trio consisting of Orton, Owens and Zayn would give the WWE a stable of established superstars who fans can take seriously as rebellious forces.
Turning Orton heel makes sense for the company. Orton is at his best when he’s a cold-hearted, dangerous heel. If you look back at his career, his best moments were when he was on the proverbial dark side.
Orton’s current run as a babyface dates back to his time after he left the Wyatt Family. But even then, the intrigue of seeing what would ultimately happen with Orton and Wyatt detracted from some genuine heat. You could even argue Orton was still a face, generally receiving positive fan reactions.
Prior to that, Orton had been a fan-favorite since he turned on The Authority for a WrestleMania program with Seth Rollins.
There’s nothing outstandingly wrong with Orton as a face. But that’s the issue: nothing outstanding.
A heel turn would inject life into the Viper’s character. Orton is a perfect example of a character who needs a shakeup every once in a while. His gimmick isn’t evergreen, and fans can become tired of seeing and hearing the same things week in and week out.
The pairing of Owens and Zayn has produced a lot of interest in WWE’s Tuesday night show. However, adding another disgruntled heel to the mix would make it one of the most interesting pieces of the show.
The turn writes itself, too. The current stipulation states if Owens and Zayn lose, they’ll be fired from the company. What that likely means is the heels will prevail via nefarious measures.
During a pivotal moment in the match, Orton landing Nakamura with an RKO would be the perfect way to execute the turn. It’s a simple, easy, efficient way to turn Orton heel. The move would only make Nakamura a bigger star, and would enhance the already great duo of Owens and Zayn.
Additionally, a trio consisting of Owens, Zayn and Orton would give The New Day something to do moving forward. As it stands now, the brand’s most popular faction seems marred in a perpetual feud with The Usos. That’s not an outright bad thing, as the two groups always put on stellar matches. However, the trio of babyfaces needs something more to do.
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A war between a newly founded faction and the old guard in The New Day would be some can’t-miss television.
Regardless of what the company does moving forward, turning Orton heel would be very sensible.