Randy Orton at Wrestlemania

[Sexcellence of Sexecution]

This idea sounds wonderful on paper but there's one big problem. I don't think it has longevity. So Orton is going to be a heel, the Future Killer, going after young guys. But in order for the gimmick to become legit, Orton needs to find some young guys to beat. So in reality what you have here, is Randy Orton becoming something like Brock Lesnar, an unbeatable heel. Because, the gimmick needs to have some strength behind it, right? He needs victories.

And here's the problem. He's just going to beat fresh talent and talent that you are looking at to become the future main eventers.

And then, all of that will end until the big young babyface emerge. The one that will beat Orton and end this future killer gimmick.

So in reality, all of this, benefits one guy, the guy that will beat Randy or to put it better, the guy that Orton will be unable to defeat.

However it's a great idea that could provide some interesting TV and I think can lost easily at least 6 months and maybe if they book it nicely.. a full year. But that's about it.
It needs some long term booking, as you need to find the sacrificial lambs, those who will lose to Orton and of course the chosen one, who will finally beat the Future Killer.

The only distinction I'd make form Brock Lesnar is that Lesnar is THE main event, meaning he's always on last and feuding with the top, top guys. Guys like Joe and Braun were built well, and Lesnar is a bit of a roadblock to their momentum because he has to win. For the record, I'm a Brock Lesnar fan and I don't think this is that big a problem if it's done intelligently.

Orton has the advantage in that he'd be at the IC Championship level. I completely agree with you, for the Future Killer gimmick to really get over, he's going to need to beat some guys. A lot of guys. So did Cena when he was US Champion in the midcard, you need to get the idea and the title run over. But the thing is, you have more options for opponents. Orton could go up against guys like Johnny Gargano or Roderick Strong. Guys that the fans can get behind and will put on a good match, but that can afford to sustain a loss. They have potential and they're fresh faces, but they can lose and it's fine. It won't really hurt them. Even Andrade Almas, Adam Cole, or EC3 could get away with losing to Orton in a competitive match.

I also agree that the Future Killer gimmick wouldn't last forever, but keep in mind that when Orton was The Legend Killer it wasn't as if every feud was against some old legend. So he can still feud with other wrestlers on his level from time to time, in between targetting the young guys. And furthermore I don't think it's a problem to have an expiaration date on a story. Stories need to end. The audience needs closure. Have Orton run through young guys for a year, then get beat by someone you really want to push. It's a satisfying conclusion and accomplishes something going forward. Then move on to something new.