Orton/Rollins Storyline Is Fresh

[Twanfusco]

It's fresh and it makes total sense. I've seen many say that he should hurry up and turn on Rollins and The Authority so they can start building towards a match at Mania..I completely disagree. It's fresh because when was the last time they didn't rush an angle to instantly gratify the fans? He returned and we all expected him to chase Rollins about everywhere, every week, meh, seen that many times and it's not even in character of Orton. He's the viper, a snake, it makes perfect sense for him to sliver his way into The Authority and nail Rollins with the RKO quite literally outta nowhere!

Everything they've done with it each week has been perfect. He's playing on the fact that HHH/Steph want him onside, whilst getting close to Rollins and manipulating him. For so long we've bitched about how no-one outside of Bray Wyatt has any depth or meaning to their character (even his is a little limited), they're all just cookie cut outs. Well everything Orton is doing, is exactly what Orton would do in those situations. Eventually he's gonna either manipulate Rollins into putting his briefcase up for grabs at Mania, or just flat out drop him outta nowhere and if that happens on the go home Raw, i'll be delighted..imagine that Mania pop.

It was mentioned in the Raw Review this week by Josh Isenberg that he believes Orton should just turn already and I just wondered what others opinions on this build are.

 

[chicagokmc]

I call it suspension of disbelief. It's so implausible to me the last thing I notice is the slow build. They turned their back on Orton and tried to end his career. Knowing Orton as intimately as they do what would ever make the Authority think they could trust him? We know why Orton is doing what he's doing. The Authority I would think wouldn't be stupid enough to fall for it. But sometimes you throw your hands in the air and just watch.

 

[L@RISANO]

My problem with this 'slow-burn' stuff with Orton against the Authority is pretty simple.
Around 4 months ago, Orton was thrown out of the Authority and was brutally dismantled in an attack led by Seth Rollins. For the few weeks before his being thrown out, the Authority were actively trying to keep Orton in their control and were in the process of 'working things out'.


After the attack happened, Orton took some time off, and has now returned, and went straight back with them?
It just makes no sense given all the history, and frankly, this isn't the time for a slow burn at all given everything was in place for a Huge Randy Orton return where he could easily dismantle the Authority in his effort to get to Seth Rollins, and all the while a Certain Triple H is pre-occupied with the Vigilante Sting.


The story writes itself and all it needed was execution by the people in creative... however, they decided to go back the "working things out stuff, when everything seems obvious anyways", and in the process a White Hot Randy Orton's momentum has steadily decreased within a period of 2 weeks.

 

[FightOwensFight]

The way I look at it, Orton did intend on going after Rollins right away. He went at him at Fastlane and then called him out the next night at Raw. The whole Authority crew came out and Steph made the surprising call to try and patch things up. Randy wasn't interested, and then reconsidered. My thinking is that he realized he had a better chance to get at Rollins from within (i.e. "Keep you friends close, but your enemies closer"). He can bide his time, have Rollins let down his guard, and then take him out when it is least expected.

I know it is a stretch (especially with WWE creative's lack of a good track-record with things that are more subtle and drawn out), but that scenario is also perfectly plausible from a strategy standpoint.

 

[@smarkmouth]

I'm enjoying it as well. I hate to say it, but only two matches have my attention going into the Royal Rumble, this is one of them (the other being the ladder match).

I understand the critics. This feud isn't for everyone, I guess. I find the criticism surprisingly backwards though; criticizing Orton's tactics in this build. I thought that the Authority and Rollins buying it would be the hardest thing to buy. But, flip side of that coin, I'm glad that the Authority's involvement was limited to Stephanie trying to bury the hatchet, then stepping aside to let Orton/Rollins develop the program together. I wouldn't be surprised if the feud culminates in Orton breaking up a cash in attempt on Lesnar for the go-home Raw.

Orton looks refreshed and ready to deliver, and Rollins has had a tremendous year. I can't wait for this one.

 

[PeterSellersSTL]

I'm in the same camp, I'm enjoying this side of Orton. He's in there with the architect and the cerebral assassin why shouldn't he play mind games? I'm waiting for the Authority to slip up and leave Rollins unguarded. Him and Rollins are great together, they're like step-brothers.

 

[John McCass]

Yes, this feud does make sense and will be a part of the show at Wrestlemania. But, I have a problem with this feud for Orton. Orton was on a losing streak before he took time off. He kept jobbing to various opponents throughout the year. He got many losses last year. If this match happens (and it will), Rollins is going to be the obvious winner of this match and it is going to be worse for Orton. So, one thing Orton needs for this match is two straight back to back wins on upcoming Raws and SDs to look like a credible threat to Rollins' fucking MITB BRIEFCASE. Yes, the match can be given stakes by adding the MITB Briefcase stipulation. With the addition of MITB Briefcase and the vicious Viper Randy Orton, this match is going to be a Stellar match. What else can you think of cocky Seth Rollins vs "The Viper" Randy Orton with MITB Briefcase on the line?

 

[Mustang Sally]

Eventually he's gonna either manipulate Rollins into putting his briefcase up for grabs at Mania, or just flat out drop him outta nowhere and if that happens on the go home Raw, i'll be delighted..imagine that Mania pop.

That's good thinking; I hadn't even considered the idea Randy might be after the briefcase. But whatever he winds up doing, I think it was a great idea to not have him simply oppose the Authority from the time he returned. At the backstage meeting the day after Fast Lane, he would have refused, been pounded by the Authority henchmen, and gone on to battle Rollins. What they're doing instead is better.

The thing is, when the Viper is ready to strike, simply dropping Rollins with an RKO isn't anything special; as a classic, cowardly bad guy, Seth is getting dropped all the time. I say Randy needs to spring a bigger surprise. It may involve the briefcase or it might be more of a psychological ploy; separating Seth from his security force and putting him in the position of having to go it alone. How Seth reacts would make great theater.

By the way, that's no guarantee Rollins by himself won't come out on top. In a recent match, Noble & Mercury were banned from ringside and Seth, to my surprise cleanly defeated Dolph Ziggler. It was great stuff and gave Rollins' character more dimension. Can he do the same against Randy Orton?

I like what they're doing. Randy can really handle the 'tweener role and I'm more interested in him than I've been in a long time..

 

[Dave]

I have to agree and disagree at the same time. The reason I agree with you, is because they have sent Orton down a path now that the only believable payoff is to eventually turn on Rollins very close to WrestleMania and set up the match. For me, the longer they hold off on this, the better it is going to be. Everyone is expecting the turn anyway, so best get the most out of it.

The reason I disagree with you is because they shouldn't have sent Orton down this path in the first place. He was so over when he came back and now he the lackey to the Authority once again. It would have been much better to see Orton stand against the Authority upon his return and wreak havoc until WrestleMania. Obviously that wasn't the plan for Orton.

So yeah, as far as this feud goes, they are doing well with it. But I would much rather have seen him return differently.

 

[@smarkmouth]

I just had another thought, and this may be a stretch; Is it possible Rollins turns in this program? Could a soft-double turn be in the works? WWE is pretending Orton's motives are less ambiguous than they are, and I'm wondering if that's being done for a reason.

This would give us a new side of Orton, a man who quelled the voices in his head for level headed business decisions, while starting Rollins a (admittedly, far too early) run as baby face.

I'm just entertaining a thought, really.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

I can take a dump and call it fresh but you are still going to think it stinks. That's where I am with this story. It stinks and it doesn't make sense to me. Attack at Fast Lane, get talked down on Raw, act like you are going to attack, attack a J&J guy, withdraw attack, come out to prevent Rollins from attacking a celebrity, walk away, help Rollins beat no 1 contender, walk away during group attack and group humiliation.

But I get why they are doing it. Necessity is the mother of invention and without half of their Mania main event roster and Cena playing a PG angle they have to do something with Rollins and Orton that fills main event time.

But it still doesn't make sense to me. Rollins basically tried to kill Orton. Kill him. Orton should be trying to kill him back. I guess I was never supposed to see it that way or supposed to forget. Oh well.

 

[OYDK]

I think Rollins and Orton could make any Mania program great, but I agree that this hasn't been the greatest booking. OP says that this is classic Randy Orton but I completely disagree. Heel or face, Orton has usually been the hothead who can't control his temper, and as others have pointed out, Rollins tried to end Orton's career four months ago. You would never see a face Austin, HHH, Rock, Taker, etc. come back after 4 months and shake hands with the person that injured them... because that's not good booking for a badass face. They would do anything to get their hands on the one who put them out, as should Orton.

When Orton came back at Fast Lane, I thought this was the route they were going. And than the next night when The Authority confronted him and began talking, I got a bad feeling that he was going to "re-join" The Authority... and than he did, and I thought why? I'm sure when Orton eventually does hit Rollins with an RKO, the pop will be huge but I can't help feeling they should have just gone the Ambrose/Rollins route. Orton should be trying to kill Rollins every time that either one is in the ring, not helping him.

 

[Mustang Sally]

You would never see a face Austin, HHH, Rock, Taker, etc. come back after 4 months and shake hands with the person that injured them... because that's not good booking for a badass face.

True, but it might be a good course of action for a badass 'tweener. To me, Randy is never going to fit the mold of a total good guy or bad guy; I think he's best as the scheming viper, a guy who will work on the side of those with whom he's formed an alliance......yet could turn on them in a second if he sees an advantage in doing so. He's biding his time; I like the program.

Plus, after attending the backstage meeting with the Authority players, he had to see the odds were completely stacked against him, and no matter how formidable he might be, he has no chance to taking them all down.

Instead, he picks them off one by one, first getting Mercury & Noble out of the way before going after his chosen target. He's leading Seth on, but eventually will get to him.....because, as others have said in this topic, there's no way Orton is going to forgive and forget Rollin's actions of 4 months ago.

 

[MERPER]

I would have no problem with the slow play angle if, after the curb stomp that put him out of action, he returned relatively quick...

But after 4 months and countless "he's back at the arena, but doesn't get used on the show" stories... it's time to just let him go after Rollins. WWE Universe has waited long enough for it.

 

[kadroan]

It's fresh and it makes total sense. I've seen many say that he should hurry up and turn on Rollins and The Authority so they can start building towards a match at Mania..I completely disagree. It's fresh because when was the last time they didn't rush an angle to instantly gratify the fans? He returned and we all expected him to chase Rollins about everywhere, every week, meh, seen that many times and it's not even in character of Orton. He's the viper, a snake, it makes perfect sense for him to sliver his way into The Authority and nail Rollins with the RKO quite literally outta nowhere!

Everything they've done with it each week has been perfect. He's playing on the fact that HHH/Steph want him onside, whilst getting close to Rollins and manipulating him. For so long we've bitched about how no-one outside of Bray Wyatt has any depth or meaning to their character (even his is a little limited), they're all just cookie cut outs. Well everything Orton is doing, is exactly what Orton would do in those situations. Eventually he's gonna either manipulate Rollins into putting his briefcase up for grabs at Mania, or just flat out drop him outta nowhere and if that happens on the go home Raw, i'll be delighted..imagine that Mania pop.

It was mentioned in the Raw Review this week by Josh Isenberg that he believes Orton should just turn already and I just wondered what others opinions on this build are.

It's different. I guess it would need to be since if he chased Rollins as soon as he returned, it would get stale as we seen Ambrose do the same thing last year. WWE is creative.

I'm sure this will only make the match more special as each week, tension and build up goes up.

 

[LBGetBack]

It's SO STUPID. Such a dumb angle.

They ALREADY DID THIS. They had an uneasy partnership with a lot of tension for months. It ended with Rollins trying to end Orton's career at the command of Stephanie. Orton was taken out for months.

Orton came back pissed off and attacked him. THEY ALREADY TURNED ON EACH OTHER!!! It already ended! Progress the angle naturally from there!

So now Orton is pretending to be friends, to set Rollins up.....which makes him look like a moron. I mean, how stupid does he think the Authority is......whoops! It's actually working! So that makes the Authority look even dumber than the already dumb looking Orton.

So ridiculous. The angle is unnecessary, predictable(we all know where it's going) and makes everyone involved look dumb.

 

[XXJJ]

I'm not sure if I like it or not...

One thing for sure is that Stephanie's on screen character comes off as naive and stupid thinking Orton will rejoin the Authority and forget about them almost ending his career. At least the other Authority members are hesitant about RKO.

 

[TJ Matics]

You guys are kind of answering your own questions. Orton went against the Authority and was "beaten so badly he was out for months", following that logic, what exactly has changed? What's stopping The Authority from doing the exact same thing to him now that they did the last time he tried to go against them? His one surprise return?

It makes much more sense to do the slow burn and have Orton try and dismantle The Authority from the inside out, especially when HHH has his hands full with Sting and Big Show and Kane having issues with each other recently. That leaves Rollins exposed with nothing more to protect him than the 2 stooges. Both sides have also been shown to be weary of one another so it's not like they're walking around arm in arm, Orton wasn't invited to come down to the ring during Rollin's match but did anyways, and when he did he stood on the other side of the ring clearly showing the two sides don't trust each other. It's just "best for business" to not have an all out war right now.

I agree with an above poster who said that we've already had Ambrose attacking Rollins every chance he got, it been done, recently. So yes this idea is "fresh"...comparatively.