WWE: Career Rejuvenation Likely Coming For Sadistic Heel Randy Orton

One of the most decorated and successful WWE superstars of all-time is undoubtedly Randy Orton, a third generation superstar that has shattered the mold of what a third generation wrestler can do.

The Viper has reached tremendous levels of success in the WWE since his main roster debut in 2002.  He has won every championship and major accolade imaginable, but something has been missing from him over the past few years.

Orton has won championships with any type of character he has been given, but most would consider his best work in the WWE has been with his heel persona.  Looking back at his career, the most memorable moments have come while he was a heel.

It got started with his time as a member of Evolution when he climbed up the ladder in the WWE and would end up developing his Legend Killer persona.  This version of The Viper was disrespectful, full of himself, and cocky to a fault and it worked brilliantly to help make him stand out.

A few years later after a successful stint with Rated RKO alongside Edge, Orton’s character morphed into one of the most sadistic heels in WWE history.  He was cold, calculated, and borderline certifiable going after the McMahon family and taking out both Vince and Shane while his feud with Triple H ratcheted up.

His actions towards Triple H’s wife Stephanie McMahon were also as cold as it gets.  Orton would end up turning babyface the following year in 2010 and would remain a babyface for a few years, but around the time The Authority angle really got going, he was back to his heel routes.

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The Apex Predator won the Money in the Bank briefcase in 2013 and thanks to Triple H screwing Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam 2013, he cashed in and became WWE Champion while riding shotgun with The Game in The Authority.  He remained in that role for a couple years or so until he turned babyface again after he broke away from The Authority.

Orton primarily remained a babyface from 2015 onward outside of a brief stint as a member of The Wyatt Family in late-2016.  But since turning on the Wyatt’s and defeating Bray Wyatt for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 33, Orton had been a generic babyface with no real character outside of what he had accomplished in the past.

Fans were clamoring for Orton to go back to his heel routes and mercifully, that has happened recently after his return at Extreme Rules.  The Viper turned his attention towards Jeff Hardy following Hardy’s loss to Shinsuke Nakamura with the United States Championship on the line and took it to another level on the most recent edition of SmackDown.

During Hardy’s rematch with Nakamura for the U.S. Championship, Orton got involved and started beating Hardy down.  It would reach a sadistic level when he tried to stretch out Hardy’s earlobe and rip it.  It was something the early-2009 version of Orton would do and that’s exactly what needs to happen for Orton to have the career resurgence he desperately needs.

There’s no other way to put it, Orton’s recent babyface character was dull and boring.  It didn’t showcase him as someone you have to go out of your way to see.  It just showcased him as another generic babyface among a crowd of other generic babyfaces.  That’s not what The Viper is capable of and even nearing 40 years old, Orton is still capable of being must-see.

With his recent actions and what the future could hold for the sadistic heel Orton, he is automatically in a better position than he has been in for several years.  It’s no coincidence that nearly every standout moment throughout Orton’s career has come while he was a heel and it’s about time the WWE realizes he is in his comfort zone as a heel.

That’s not to say he hasn’t had success as a babyface, but it’s been far less success than when he has been a heel.  In his new old role, Orton should be in line for a major career rejuvenation and it will be exciting to see who he tangles up with in the coming months after his apparent new feud with Hardy goes.

The number of potential tremendous feuds he could have as a sadistic heel on the blue brand are endless.  There are countless superstars he could work with and he could help bring out the best in many babyfaces at the same time.  This move just makes sense across the board for the future of not only Orton, but the SmackDown brand as well.

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It might have taken longer than it should have, but The Apex Predator’s apparent return to his sadistic heel persona could result in one of the best runs of his storied career if the WWE sees it through all the way.