Orton: The Anti-Hero | WrestleZone Forums

Orton: The Anti-Hero

AwesomeRko

Getting Noticed By Management
Randy Orton is and always has been one of my favourite WWE superstars, he has the look, the athleticism, the technique and when given the opportunity even the mic skills. Having said that I believe as a face in spite of regularly getting the pop of the night, he has not yet reached his potential.

The reason why people began to cheer for him in the first place has I feel kind of been lost in translation, in that he was just a manic, all round bad-ass who didn't care what or who he went through to achieve his goals. In the past year Orotn has put on some of the best matches of his career and it is obvious that his in-ring talent has really blossomed yet his character has been somewhat toned down. he has lost the psychotic edge which made the fans really buy into him in the first place, it has been seen in glimpses granted but not to the extent I believe it merits.

If Stone Cold Steve Austin taught us anything it is that fans love the anti-hero. I think that Orton has to bring some of the old swagger and cockiness which elevated him as the legend-killer and mix it with the ruthless persona of his early Viper to develop as a character. His recent tendency to help out the faces and show genuine repsect for them should be wiped and he should be just as willing to kick their ass as the heels if the situation arises.

Orton is one of the best at acting like a heel and being loved for it and when given the opportunity to stray out of the typical do-gooder type face stereotype he has bene proven to excel. In short he should become unpredictable again, yet be given the opportunity to show a little more of himself on the mic.

What do you guys think about where Orton's character should progress post-mania?
 
Exactly what you said, I agree with it all. He needs to face The Rock at next years Mania and "Kill the Legend of the The Rock". Thus making him the Legend Killer once again! lol
 
the legend killer gimmick IMO was just a way to build him up to become a star and now that hes a star i dont think the legend killer gimmick will work now. i saw the legend killer gimmick as a cocky young star orton isnt that young kid anymore. i think Anti-Hero could work
 
He and CM Punk would both be good anti-hero characters in different ways. CM Punk resorting to more heelish ways instead of the smiling babyface he is today but he should be more like the way he was in the Summer. Complimenting Michael Cole, not giving a crap about anyone and etc. CM Punk could be the anti-hero in more of a verbal way.

Randy Orton doesn't have Punk's eloquence and that's okay but he should resort to being an anti-hero in more violent actions. RKO'ing everybody babyface or not, attacking authority and everyone in his way. Like let's say Johnny Ace annoys him and he RKO's him and Otunga or even if Teddy Long was and he RKO's him and Aksana. He and Punk should both incorporate more rebellious traits into their characters.
 
I'm not sure there is a real clean cut path for him to develop his character, at least as a continued babyface. Orton is a great anti-hero, and really shows that it's the fans that determine how is a babyface and a heel, not the performer. He acts like a heel and wrestles like a heel.

He has had an interesting progression of characters. His Legend Killer persona really got him on the map, and his persona as a young playboy type with Evolution seemed to really only fit within the context of that stable. It wasn't until his main event heel push that he really seemed to come together with both the persona and the in ring work.

Trying to change him too much could be bad for SD and for Orton. WWE already has the clean cut, larger than life babyface in John Cena. You have the rebellious, and counter culture face in CM Punk. Orton provides a unique alternative in that he isn't a good guy, doesn't try to really shake things up on the microphone...he simply continues to be that brooding, demented babyface bent on being a champion. It's a good niche for him to fill, and not something just any superstar could pull off.

The only real way to change Orton now, or to relieve him of his anti-hero persona would be a monsterous heel turn, against a CM Punk or Sheamus. But even then I'm not sure a majority of fans are going to boo him, and I'm not sure WWE wants to let go of any of the Orton merchandise sales either.
 
Orton bores me right now. This being said, he needs to update his character in some way, and soon. Could Kane make Orton embrace the hate and become that insane maniac we all loved before? Or will this be another case of "Oh a lot people like him, lets not take the risk of change."
Orton needs that intense edge back.
 
Orton is a great heel/anti hero...he never did anything to become face the fans turned him, so technically he is still a heel but the fans respect him none-the less...i would like Orton get a match with rock for Summerslam...after rock does a promo he is interupted before rock does his catch phrase we get a loud sound bit with a echo...i hear voices in my head...then silence...then Orton comes out to a remix of his theme music...walks in then rko's the rock grabs a mic...and says i am randy orton....the legend killer...then walks out. if u see the pics of the best player of mind games ...Orton should be the one on the right.

i always think randy should adopt jake the snakes use of live snakes in atleast one feud. Or have Jake the snake give him a gift one of his snakes. Then Orton brings it to the ring in a feud...orton said many ah times jake the snake was his favorite wrestler and that can be done around jakes hall of fame induction to get him included in things.
 
If the "hero" of today is the "anti-hero" then the true anti-hero of this generation is John Cena. An anti hero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is contrary to that of the archetypal hero, yet typically retains many heroic qualities (wiki). So, if everyone thinks that a modern hero is more of what we used to call an anti-hero, then it makes sense.

That's why I think the whole anti-hero thing is dumb. It's an old concept and is kinda boring. "OOOOO HE'S EDGY BUT HE'S A GOOD GUY BUT HE SOMETIMES DOES BAD THINGS" give me a break, what is this? 1997. How about something else.

Orton works fine as what he is. If there is going to be a traditional anti-hero, it's obviously Punk. How the hell can a third generation guy who is the youngest champion in history, who was picked and groomed by HHH, who is a GQ level good looking guy with a ridiculous physique EVER an anti-hero? Orton is what he is. He's the ruggedly handsome badass. He's Burt Reynolds.
 
The reason why people began to cheer for him in the first place has I feel kind of been lost in translation, in that he was just a manic, all round bad-ass who didn't care what or who he went through to achieve his goals.

Sounds a lot like his current opponent.....Kane. When Orton first started getting away from playing an uber-heel, he did it in much the same way as the Big Red Monster; not caring whether his opponent was a face or heel; he attacked anyone and everyone......and we never knew what the guy would do next. In a tag match, he might destroy the enemy, then RKO his partner. The unpredictability always stirred interest in the guy.

That's how Randy was.....and what he's gotten away from. Say what you will about his verbal skills, but he's no ball of fire on the mic. He doesn't rant and rave; instead, he talks only how he's going to destroy his opponent. Yet, he retains some of the characteristics of the anti-hero in that he still doesn't seem to be concerned with the fans or what they think of him.....even as he occasionally plays to the crowd with that silly pounding the mat before moving in for the kill (Can you imagine someone in a shoot fight wasting time like that when he's got his enemy ripe for the kill?)

I think Randy should either go back to his unpredictable ways......or turn good or bad outright. It's fine to be a 'tweener.....but if that's what you're gonna do......then stay in between. If you do, we'll never know what's coming next.....and that's where your greatest strength lies.
 
Blame Vince.He always milks his babyfaces anymore and takes away their "badassness." He did it w/ Orton and Punk both. When was the last time we seena punt from Orton?

Maybe this Kane feud will bring it back. I hope so.
 
Randy Orton is alot like Cena on the 'net. He gets alot of criticism for being WWE's golden boy. I'm an Orton fan because he is constantly evolving. Look at all the different stages of his career and you see a WWE Superstar who is always trying to change and tweak his character. In that respect, Orton is better than Cena. Yeah, Orton is a similar type of face character as Cena now, but, Orton will eventually go heel again.

I have to agree with most of what already has been said. Orton was vastly superior when he was the "legend killer". His character was kickass and his promos were entertaining. I kinda liked the whole anti-hero part of his work. He was an anti-hero without having to directly rip off of Austin and others that did it before him. He stood out. The Viper thing is kinda lame but at least he's trying something different. I would love to see Orton return to being the legend killer and finish The Rock. That'd be a great Mania moment.
 

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