The Unauthorized Story of Randy Orton and The Viper's Strike on WWE (4 page)

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1993: Giant González

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1995: King Kong Bundy

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1996: Diesel

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1997: Sid

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1998: Kane

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1999: The Big Boss Man

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2001: Triple H

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2002: Ric Flair

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2003: The Big Show and A-Train

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2004: Kane

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2005: Randy Orton

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2006: Mark Henry

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2007: Batista

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2008: Edge

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2009: Shawn Michaels

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2010: Shawn Michaels

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2011: Triple H

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2012: Triple H

"What if he doesn’t lose?" Dilbert asks. "What if the match is set up as a career-ending match and everyone expects the Undertaker to lose and he ends up going 20-0 and walking into the darkness on top? If we can’t find someone big enough to send the Undertaker off in a way befitting a legend, then perhaps this is the only viable option."

Unfortunately for wrestling fans, however, it doesn't sound like Mark Calaway is demanding an industry giant like Randy Orton to end the streak. Calaway wants to close the curtain on his career by lighting a fire under a new, promising talent - not someone who has already touched the gold or main-evented a WrestleMania.

"It may seem laughable to suggest," one source admits, "but if given the choice, I think Calaway who much rather have his streak ended at the hands of a rookie than a Triple H, John Cena, or even Randy Orton. Those guys have less to gain from ending the streak. They're already headed for the hall of fame. Mark wants to help someone new get to the hall. And the fact that he's gracious and generous enough to feel this way is exactly why he's the greatest superstar who's ever worked for WWE, bar none."

Regardless of the manner in which he ultimately departs from the WWE Universe, there's an excellent possibility if not probability that the Deadman won't conclusively close the door - or, maybe, the casket lid - on his career. But if he does, look for Randy Orton to be the man who finally slams it shut.

Part 5: HOF Bound

Randy Orton will have an amazing 2012 and 2013, say WWE sources close to the superstar and the storyline trajectories in the works.

But that much may not be apparent to WWE fans immediately.

According to the inside speculation, should Orton get a crack at Brock Lesnar for SummerSlam this year, expect Lesnar to win convincingly.

Although no one wants to see Orton - the future of the WWE - "job" to Brock Lesnar, Lesnar will need to build steam heading into WrestleMania 29 after suffering a startling defeat at the hands of John Cena at WWE Extreme Rules in April 2012.

Nonetheless, simply having Randy Orton in the main event at a "major four" WWE pay-per-view will help to re-establish the superstar on a level he hasn't touched since losing the WWE Championship to The Miz following the November 2010 Survivor Series.

"A strong booking of a feud between Orton and Lesnar is exactly what the WWE would need to continue their hot streak," writes WWE columnist Sammy Sucu. "This feud may also bring Orton back into the light because as of late, he has not been talked about very much. In one way, it's a good thing because he was becoming very stale, but leaving him in the mid-card has not done much good for him lately."

"This is why he so desperately needs a match with Lesnar at this PPV," Sucu continues. "He put over Wade Barrett, has not had the title for months, was on the bottom of the card at WrestleMania and he is having a very odd feud with Kane at the moment. For the purposes of the match, these two have fought before, but never on a stage like SummerSlam. Considering it is one of the three or four biggest PPVs in the WWE, the card needs a very strong match that is not a third or fourth rematch for a title. Lesnar and Orton would be a perfect way to sell a card to any fan that is willing to fork up the money to purchase the PPV at home or buy tickets to watch it live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles."

Rodney Southern, a celebrated journalist with the Yahoo! Contributor Network and a lifelong WWE fan, agrees. "I am very concerned with the lack of direction his character has suffered from over the past year or so," Southern admits. "He has suffered some injuries and even had to spend some time away from WWE Television to recover, but short of that he has simply suffered from horrible booking. His current feud with Kane is a perfect example. It seems to be one of those feuds that simply starts up from out of nowhere every so often with little rhyme or reason. Orton has spent nearly a year putting guys over and I fully support that idea. Still, I think it is time the WWE gets Orton back in the swing of things. Orton is still in his prime."

The Rock Bottom?

WWE doesn't like to be predictable. And that's why everything that WWE fans expect to happen in the coming year may not actually happen.

Expecting a rematch between John Cena and The Rock at WrestleMania 29 or WrestleMania 30? Think it will be Brock Lesnar who squares off against "The Great One" in his final match with WWE next April?

You may be in for a big surprise.

"What I'm hearing in terms of creative chatter," Mike Randazzo confesses, "is that Randy Orton may be the guy to main event WrestleMania 29 or 30 - likely in a match against The Rock. Everyone thought The Rock was coming back to the WWE in 2011 to help eventually put John Cena over with the fans - that is, to silence the half of the WWE Universe that perpetually taunts and disses him. That didn't happen. The Rock won cleanly and convincingly over John Cena. If anything - and this is still incredible to me - it was Brock Lesnar who put Cena over at the WWE's first PPV after WrestleMania 28. Randy Orton is more of the WWE's future than John Cena is. And that's why I keep hearing that Orton will face The Rock at one of the next two WrestleManias."

Ten years after facing a legend (Hulk Hogan) at WrestleMania, The Rock returned to the big stage as a legend himself to face the biggest icon in the WWE today – John Cena - at WrestleMania. And, as a result, parallels are being drawn repeatedly between the main event of WrestleMania 18 and the main event for WrestleManias 29 and 30.

In 2002, Hulk Hogan agreed to lose his match to The Rock, despite being the obvious fan favorite and the biggest name in the history of sports entertainment. By putting over The Rock, some say, Hogan effectively passed the torch to The Rock and the next generation of WWE superstars. And from that moment on in The Rock’s life and career, he achieved more success than he had at any time before.

Is it fair to give Hulk Hogan credit for the movie star status The Rock has since earned? Of course not. But Hogan’s ability to elevate The Rock to a new and even loftier standing in the eyes of the entertainment world certainly didn’t hurt Dwayne Johnson. And, ultimately, Hogan’s willingness to drop the match at WrestleMania 18 was a great move for the business as it effectively moved the WWE forward. While still a living legend bigger than wrestling itself, Hulk Hogan made it clear at ‘Mania in 2002 that the future of the WWE always belongs to the young guys in the dressing room.

Unlike another “dream matches” that never happened in WWE because egos prevented the parties involved from deciding a winner, The Rock has no illusions about his future in WWE – it will be permanent, but limited.

That is, The Rock will always be around, but not as an active competitor. For now and for the foreseeable future, guys like Cena and Orton are the faces of World Wrestling Entertainment. And The Rock reportedly doesn’t want to deprive these young men of the same opportunity he was given by Hogan and McMahon a decade earlier.

In other words, The Rock's winning ways are almost over.

Almost.

Following his victory over Cena at WrestleMania 28, The Rock promised to one day wear WWE gold again. And he very well may do just that. But we all know the truth. The Rock’s promise to never leave isn’t tantamount to a guarantee that the legendary grappler will remain a weekly – or even regular – on-camera character in the years ahead. Will occasional appearances be warranted? Absolutely. Are future wrestling matches definite? Absolutely not.

At the end of the day, The Rock has only committed himself to doing that which is best for the fans and the business – not one or the other. And after WrestleMania 29 or WrestleMania 30, although the fans may want The Rock to appear on every minute of WWE programming, the business will be best served by letting the new superstars cultivate their talents and become the future Rocks, Austins and Hogans of tomorrow.

If, in fact, The Rock stayed longer than he should, some of the criticisms from guys like Randy Orton and CM Punk would be proven valid. Indeed, professional wrestling is a young person’s game with a perpetual eye trained on the future.

Sad but true, The Rock is more of wrestling’s past than its future. But the WWE and the WWE Universe now, perhaps more than ever, need some of the magic of yesterday to rebound from the creative doldrums of recent years and begin working toward a new era of sports entertainment that will give rise to the biggest superstars of the next generation.

And by helping the WWE get to this point, The Rock is not only becoming more of a legend himself, he’s setting a stellar example for fellow legends and future legends to follow: honor the fans that never stopped chanting your name by helping them learn to chant someone else’s.

And the name that WWE fans may be chanting loudest in the next two years could easily be Randy Orton. What remains to be seen, however, is just how Vince McMahon, Brock Lesnar, John Cena, or The Rock will make this possibility a reality for all fans to enjoy.

Evolving Toward Greatness

Gone are the days of Randy Orton trying to abuse everything from drugs to power.

Orton is now a responsible and respectful team player who will put over any star he's asked to push - even Mark Henry and Kane.

And that's why a growing number of industry insiders and fans alike say that one day the Apex Predator will join his father in the WWE Hall of Fame.

"Evolution," writes columnist Tom Clark, "It’s not just the faction the Viper was once a part of.  It is the story of his career. Where he is now, compared to where he once was, is like night and day.  No longer is he sitting at the top as World Champion, reigning over a roster who simply cannot get a leg up. Other Superstars have stepped up their game and have been allowed to shine, including the current World Champion Sheamus.  WWE is all about parity when it comes to the midcard workers, so when the time comes to move one of them up the ladder, it is a believable move for their characters and for the fans watching them."

"Part of that move involves getting the rub from established Superstars," he concludes, "and until Randy truly puts one of the younger talent over, by losing a rivalry in the end, when it counts, he may always have that voice of opposition from some of the WWE faithful who will not concede his importance in the company. But for me, Randy Orton is right where he needs to be, and right where he should be.  He is slowly but surely approaching that Shawn Michaels status in his career, the level on which he cares more about giving back than holding onto his own place in the WWE hierarchy. He is part of the WWE machine, not someone sitting atop of it.  Randy Orton is coming full circle, and that level of comfort is evident in not only his character, but his ring work. From prima donna to professional.  Who would have thought it?"