Randy Orton’s WrestleMania opponents are a who’s who in WWE.
He has wrestled them all at WrestleMania, from The Rock and Sock Connection at WrestleMania 20 to AJ Styles at WrestleMania 35. Throughout his 17 year career, Orton has accomplished everything a WWE wrestler can accomplish.
At WrestleMania 36, Orton may not be in the WWE Championship picture, however he still is capable of putting on a solid wrestling match. Defeating a wrestler, with the equity of Randy Orton, goes a long way for a young wrestler’s career. To perform at 16 WrestleMania’s and still garner fans interest is an incredible testament to Orton’s career.
Authors note: Orton’s match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 21 is criminally underrated.
Here are 5 opponents for Randy Orton at WrestleMania 36.
Adam Cole
Adam Cole is the face of NXT. Triple H is the man behind NXT. Randy Orton was once Triple H’s handpicked guy for Evolution. That is the story that leads to a match, at WrestleMania 36, between Adam Cole and Randy Orton.
The feud can start off on NXT. With different wrestlers invading other WWE shows, Orton should be the one to invade NXT next. After Adam Cole wrestles someone like Dominik Dijakovic in a Ladder Match; Orton appears on NXT and hits Adam Cole with a RKO in the middle of the ring. Orton should be the last thing that viewer see NXT before NXT goes off the air.
Triple H can be shown backstage discussing Orton’s attack. When Orton appears, have Orton say that he attacked Cole because of how he remembered being Triple H’s pet project when he was with Evolution, and now that man is Adam Cole. Orton remembers that Triple H turned his back on him after Orton won the WWE Championship. Now Orton is out to gain revenge against Triple H’s new protégé.
Having a wrestler the caliber of Triple H as a middle man on both shows can help enhance the story. It is obvious that Cole is ready for the biggest stage in WWE.
A great way to debut Cole at WrestleMania is having him wrestle, and defeat, Orton at WrestleMania 36.
Ricochet
In wrestling, there are times where two different styles make for a great match. Ricochet’s high flying style is beloved by fans. Randy Orton can be frustrating to watch at times with his work smarter, not harder style in the ring.
With Ricochet and Orton on the same team, the spark for their feud can be laid at Survivor Series.
Orton is at his best when he is the villain that can’t be trusted. Orton can show disdain for another “indy darling” wrestler who hasn’t proven anything in WWE. In the fans eyes, Orton’s character can represent the “WWE machine”. Orton shines as the WWE corporate wrestler.
Ricochet can be the never say die hero character who is determined to prove himself. How Ricochet can respond verbally to Orton will be the biggest challenge with this feud.
This is Ricochet’s opportunity to go from “he has amazing moves in the ring” to “this is a wrestler who should be taken seriously”.
With this feud finishing at WrestleMania 36, it is important for Ricochet to get the win to further advance his career. A wrestler like Orton knows how to make the Ricochet character mean more than it did before the feud started. This is Orton giving back to the WWE.
Samoa Joe
Samoa Joe has been snake bitten during WrestleMania season. His match with Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania 35 was a disappointment. He was injured during the build up to WrestleMania 34. Joe has not had that WrestleMania match that showcases his potential.
One thing that both Joe and Orton have in common is their quick strike ability in the ring. Orton can hit the RKO at any time, Joe can attack out of nowhere with his coquina clutch.
With Joe and Orton potentially both being in the Royal Rumble, they can work together in order to eliminate a few wrestlers. When both men are celebrating their accomplishments Orton can eliminate Joe with a RKO.
Joe can get his retribution when Orton has a match on Raw to determine Brock Lesnar’s opponent at WrestleMania 36. Joe appears out of nowhere and attacks Orton, and costs him his opportunity.
The tag line from Joe is simple “Orton, you took something away from me, and now I took something away from you”.
Joe will get his chance to have the proper WrestleMania match to show the 80,000 fans how great he is. In this match, Orton is seasoned enough to help make Joe look like a future world champion.
Drew McIntyre
Drew McIntyre is becoming the latest “next year he will be in the main event picture” wrestler. When you watch McIntyre in the ring, he isn’t missing much. His promo skills have not set the WWE landscape on fire, but to his credit, he has not been given a feud to showcase those skills. A feud with Randy Orton is the perfect opportunity to display his talent.
If there is a time for WWE to get it right with McIntyre, a feud with Orton makes the most sense. Orton generally thrives in a villain role; in this feud Orton should continue his role of a fan favorite. This is going to be Orton’s challenge in this feud, making the fans believe that McIntyre is a credible monster.
On an episode of Monday Night Raw, McIntyre can wrestle a smaller wrestler, such as Humberto Carrillo, and decimate Carrillo with countless Claymore Kick’s. This leads Orton to come down and attempt to stop McIntyre and aid Carrillo. This is one of the most traditional ways that WWE has gotten a character of McIntyre’s appearance over. Orton will never be that traditional fan favorite. In this feud he doesn’t have to be, he needs to help validate McIntyre as a monster.
In order to make, 2020 the year that Drew McIntyre finally becomes WWE Champion, a decisive victory over Orton is needed.
Rey Mysterio
Rey Mysterio and Randy Orton had a great match at WrestleMania 22. 14 years later at WrestleMania 36, their match may not have the speed that their previous match did. Where father time may have slowed both men down though, it has also made them smarter. They will both know how to put on a solid wrestling match that tells a story that fans will appreciate.
After Survivor Series, neither man will have a defined role. Mysterio is in the middle of a feud with Lesnar, those feuds usually fizzle out after a PPV. Orton will be a part of the Raw team at Survivor Series, after that PPV, there is no set direction for his character.
These two are strong enough competitors that their feud won’t need an extensive build. They can start this feud at any time on RAW. At this stage in their career, neither wrestler may be on Raw every week to help enhance their feud.
The story can just come from something as simple as Orton appearing out of nowhere to hit Mysterio with an RKO.
Both men should get a solid ten minutes to tell a fun story in the ring. The match may not set the world on fire, but it has the potential to be a good plate at the buffet of WrestleMania 36.