WWE Raw: Randy Orton, AJ Styles renewing rivalry after main event message?
Last night’s episode of WWE Raw was slow to develop, but it ended with a thrilling main event and a strong message from Randy Orton to AJ Styles.
Remember when Randy Orton and AJ Styles had a rivalry on SmackDown Live wherein “The Viper” kept referring to The Phenomenal One as “some indy guy”? Well, it looks like Orton wants to revisit that rivalry on WWE Raw.
After Styles and his O.C. brothers Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson defeated Rey Mysterio, Humberto Carrillo, and the incredible Ricochet in the main event of the Dec. 2 episode of Raw in Nashville, Orton struck.
Yes. Yes, he did. Randy Orton hit AJ Styles with an RKO to close the show, before ascending the ropes and making his presence felt.
.@AJStylesOrg may have delivered a MASSIVE Styles Clash to @KingRicochet on #RAW, but a Viper quickly struck as @RandyOrton delivered an RKO #OuttaNowhere! pic.twitter.com/2II62JCpRX
— WWE (@WWE) December 3, 2019
Earlier in the night, Orton and Drew McIntyre had a verbal face-off, in which Orton basically acted as if McIntyre is well below his level. McIntyre didn’t take too kindly to that, and he isn’t going away any time soon after beating Akira Tozawa, even if Orton made it clear he’d prefer to move on to a feud with Styles.
No TLC matches have been announced despite the fact that the Pay Per View will take place on Dec. 15, and it will be interesting to see if Orton vs. Styles is renewed as a match to close 2019 at the Target Center in less than two weeks. They are two great wrestlers and two names certainly fitting of a rivalry match, but perhaps McIntyre could be a third big name involved.
As for the O.C. overall, they should have a huge 2020. Lately, the O.C. have been kind of aimless despite their star status, name recognition, and past success both in WWE and abroad, but at a moment’s notice, WWE could capitalize and turn them into one of wrestling’s hottest acts again.
Next. Marty Scurll joining AEW is inevitable. dark
I’m not sure a Styles vs. Orton rivalry will be a catalyst for this, but the show-closing RKO out of nowhere is always a hell of a visual.
Better yet, the O.C.’s six-man tag victory was sensational and showcased some fantastic wrestling from everyone involved. Hopefully, there will be more great trios and singles matches for the O.C., and all eyes will be on Orton and Styles to see if this RKO develops into something more at TLC and even beyond into 2020.
And RKOs that are truly out of nowhere on the live broadcast? Well, they never get old!