Why is he one step below?

[S.J. Maximus]

I understand that John Cena is bigger than Randy Orton. I don't, however, understand why it appears that they aren't (and haven't been) in the same league. There are many different angles that I could use to attack this issue but I'm only going to use one: The Part-Time Programs.

Since 2012 we have seen some of the most legendary names in the history of wrestling return (or debut) to WWE and work some high profile matches. Apart from Chris Jericho, every legend has only worked matches that fall under three types:

Program v Cena - Usually a "Top Dog vs Top Dog" billing, whereas the legend questions if Cena truly deserves to be the face that runs the place. Ex. Brock/Cena '12 & '14, Cena/Rock '11-'13

Legend v Legend/Decorated Veteran - Almost always is primarily a battle about the past, but I will admit Lesnar and Hunter's battles were about the events that happened on RAW in 2012. Ex. HHH/Taker '12 Big Show/Lesnar '14 & '15 HHH/Sting '15

Legend v WWE Champ/#1 Contender - This is going to seem like a stretch, but I think this label accurately summarizes all of the other matches that part time legends have worked in the last 3 years. While it kinda mimics the Cena concept of having the Legend challenge the legacy of his opponent, these matches differ because the legend never acknowledges their opponents as worthy adversaries the way they do with Cena. These guys are always either champ at the time of the match or fresh in the title hunt. Ex. HHH/Punk '11 Taker/Punk '13 HHH/Bryan '14 Brock/Rollins '15 Sting/Rollins '15

In 2013 when I saw Punk face Brock at SummerSlam, I simply thought they felt that Cena and Punk were the only guys worthy to face part-timers for some reason but seeing Bryan and Rollins join the fold just had me thinking - what the hell does Randy Orton mean to WWE?

Onscreen they refer to him as a "Future Hall Of Famer" and "WWE Legend", JBL is always spitting out statistic after statistic, but why do these other guys get to work big money matches while he trades wins with Sheamus for months at a time every year? He is obviously still over, very talented, and still has maintained his pop despite not being involved in a major storyline. My personal dream match remains Rock/Orton in a battle of the greatest 3rd generation stars of all time, but on a thread titled "Where does Brock go from here" on this forum the majority of posters said they'd prefer Brock vs Randy.

Since 2012, Brock has faced Cena in singles competiton thrice, HHH thrice, Big Show twice, Cena again in triple threat, Undertaker thrice, and Rollins twice. Instead of all these stupid trilogies maybe we could've had an Orton bout. As for Dwayne, he's had two vs Cena, one with Cena, and two vs Punk. If he comes back for another match please don't make it his 500th match against Hunter please put him against the legend of the day. Just imagine how inferior it would've made Austin look if the NWO only targeted Rock. People complain he didn't face Hogan that year, but think about how much worse it would've been if Austin hadn't been on the NWO's radar at all. As things come full circle and it is now Rock who is coming back as the Legend, it completely makes Orton look second rate to see that he's been feuding with Cena, Punk and even to an extent Miz without even glancing in Randy's direction.

As a guy who spent most of 2003-2005 known as the Legend Killer, Orton is no stranger to feuding with WWE Legends. As a matter of fact, he is the only member of the full-time current roster who can say he faced Hulk Hogan and Mick Foley in high profile matches on WWE ppv. I'm not saying to bring back his old gimmick, but I'm sure there are a lot of people who see Brock/Orton and Rock/Orton as dream matches damnit! DDP was just in the Rumble not too long ago, how cool would it have been to see Orton come out and have them do a Diamond Cutter vs RKO battle on live WWE Television?

I'm so sorry for the length of the post, I was actually trying to condense it, but all in all these are my questions:

Why do you think WWE has chosen to go with guys with "lesser legacies" to face Rock and Brock these last three years?

Would you enjoy / Would you have enjoyed seeing Orton face these guys since their in-ring returns in 2012 or am I really just a huge Orton mark?

Are Cena and Orton the Austin and Rock of the last 10 years? Or is this just Cena World and the #2 guy changes every once in a while?

Do you think WWE has dropped the ball with one of their top guys?

 

[Just Zay'n]

For me it's pretty simple, all those guys with 'lesser legacies' are simply better than Orton. I don't know what it is about Orton, I'd even say that I like him, but he just lacks 'something' that would have propelled him to the top of the roster. Even though I can't really put a finger on what's lacking, it's obvious that higher-ups in WWE probably think the same thing, or else he'd be much bigger than he is.

Yes, I would've enjoyed Orton having matches with those part-time guys, although as you pointed out, they were based around a "Top Dog vs Top Dog" billing, which wouldn't have drawn as much hype if it had been a "3rd/4th Best Guy vs Top Dog" billing. If, at any time, there were better choices for those matches than Orton, then it's not WWE who has dropped the ball, but maybe Orton himself for not really upping his game over the last few years.

And no, Cena and Orton are not the Austin and Rock of the last 10 years. In fact, there has been no Austin and Rock of the last 10 years.

 

[OYDK]

Why do you think WWE has chosen to go with guys with "lesser legacies" to face Rock and Brock these last three years?

Well, I'll completely disagree with poster above me in the sense that Orton's "not as good as those other guys". It's not that Orton "isn't as good" as John Cena or CM Punk or Seth Rollins, it's that at the time when these guys faced these megastars, they were infinitely better positioned than Orton. When Punk faced The Rock he was in the midst of the longest title reign of the modern era. When he faced Brock they had the Heyman connection. Not to mention he just started to take off once all these legends came back. John Cena is always going to be the #1 choice for these guys' first match back because of his ability to draw, that's not going to change. As for Seth Rollins, he is obviously the WWE's pet project right now and they are giving him mass exposure. If this were 2005-6 when Randy had his Legend Killer gimmick and was flying up the ranks, you can bet he would be one of the first picks to go against these guys. As it stands now, Orton has taken a backseat. He's been in the business for 13 years and has basically done it all, he's not really full-time anymore, and he has nothing to do with the title picture. Orton is not so big of a name that just his presence demands a Mania main event match like Rock, Brock, Cena, Taker, Sting, etc. so with all that taken into consideration, a match between Orton/Brock or Taker or Rock doesn't accomplish all that much anymore.

Would you enjoy / Would you have enjoyed seeing Orton face these guys since their in-ring returns in 2012 or am I really just a huge Orton mark?

I would have obviously enjoyed to see some of these feuds and there's still hope for Brock/Orton or HHH/Orton, but it's not something I'm clamoring for. Like I said, if this were 8 years ago, I would have been all for it.

Are Cena and Orton the Austin and Rock of the last 10 years? Or is this just Cena World and the #2 guy changes every once in a while?

Rock and Austin were something special, almost on the exact same level. As good as Orton is, and while I would qualify him as the #2 to Cena's #1, Cena is head and shoulders above Orton in terms of name value. While Savage/Hogan and Austin/Rock ran neck and neck, I personally think Cena has left Orton in the dust over these last few years. When people look back on this era, they will remember Cena first, and guys like Orton, Punk, Edge, etc. second.

Do you think WWE has dropped the ball with one of their top guys?

Not really. Orton's done it all and he was the one to ask for time off. They can't really commit with him if he's only showing up every 3 weeks.

 

[Kodo Sawaki]

I wouldnt say Orton got off bad last few years. He has solid matches, after he cashed in MiTB in 2013 he had feud with Bryan, got over Cena clean to be first WWE World Heavyweight Champion, got in mainevent of Mania with Bryan and Batista, had as a part of Evolution feud with Shield and this year had feud on Mania with Seth Rollins. Eventhough welness violations certanly halted him to become even bigger, its not like he is someone who hasnt had major acomplieshments. Guy is 12th time Champion with lots of major feuds in his legacy.

Why do you think WWE has chosen to go with guys with "lesser legacies" to face Rock and Brock these last three years?

Rock has always been about Cena and Punk was there only to Rock can win major Championship before Cena wins it at Mania. Brock could have a feud with Orton along the way but at the times it was always something else though I am sure in i next 3 years he is there they would have Orton- Brock along the way.

Would you enjoy / Would you have enjoyed seeing Orton face these guys since their in-ring returns in 2012 or am I really just a huge Orton mark?

I would. Orton is maybe best technical wrestler WWE has so he always did make good matches and RKO is still so popular that every once in a while I see some gif with Orton doing it.

Are Cena and Orton the Austin and Rock of the last 10 years? Or is this just Cena World and the #2 guy changes every once in a while?

Make no mistake, Cena is no1 face of company. But Orton was no2 and their rivalry was huge. Though I couldnt say WWE regarded Orton as bigger then Cena as Rock has taken over Austin over years of Attitude Era.

Do you think WWE has dropped the ball with one of their top guys?

No, Orton is 12th time World Champion with huge legacy so they didnt drop anything. But as I said, its Ortons fault himself that he isnt even bigger star because of those welness violations.

 

[AegonTargaryen]

This is something which I had been wondering for years and then I stopped as I disconnected and distanced myself from the WWE/Wrestling. Long gone are the days when Randy Orton excited me, or really, anything in pro-wrestling did.

But to do justice to this thread, Randy Orton was never ever treated as "the guy", though he did have multiple title rains on Raw and then Smackdown. With Rock and Austin, it was like 1998-2000 was Austin until he got injured and then The Rock totally took over it and they were sort of both #1 until 2002, ironically both of them quit the roster as full-time superstars around the same time.

Why is it so? What does the future hold for Randy? None of us know but I surmise Randy's star has faded long ago. Too many heel and face turns. Maybe there's still one last heel turn remaining. But honestly, Randy Orton, just like someone else here said, lacks "something". It's inexplicable and yet palpable every time he's on TV. One last thing, Randy Orton was, is, and probably will always be a superior and a far more versatile wrestler than John Cena, and much more exciting and entertaining to watch in the ring than John Cena. (my honest, humble opinion).

I think Randy Orton has(somehow) that one big push/heel turn and 2 years of glory remaining, if only they will. But it should be organic. Imagine a Randy Orton who is is unpredictable and vicious feuding with and defending the WWE WHC against the likes of Roman Reigns, Bray Wyatt, Seth Rollins, and even Brock Lesnar?

 

[Mustang Sally]

Long gone are the days when Randy Orton excited me, or really, anything in pro-wrestling did.

That's the essence of it. Yes, he's excellent in the ring, an elite performer if there ever was one. But after all these years, WWE likely feels matching Randy against the returning legends and part-timers cited by the OP simply wouldn't get people excited enough to make it an event worth the investment of time & money......not when they've got Cena.....or the most recent sensation (Reigns, Rollins, etc) on the roster, whom fans apparently want to see in the ring with the returning legend.

Yes, Orton is currently a good guy, but only because they're telling us he is; matching him against bad guys is the only way we can tell he's a face. But, imo, Randy is eternally a bad guy, no matter how he might try to present himself. As good as he is, he no longer inspires significant crowd reaction .....if he ever really did.

I certainly wouldn't want to see Randy Orton ever leave WWE. But as far as seeing him in the ring with Brock Lesnar? Eh. It would be a good match to watch.....but present little to get worked up about.

 

[L@RISANO]

I have to disagree with those who say he doesn't excite them on the whole. I think Orton, like Cena, needs to step out of the Main title scene with Brock back on a new contract and the new guys like Reigns & Rollins, amongst others.


However, I do feel that Orton is being wasted at the moment, whilst we have to watch guys like Big Show and Kane in arguably more important storylines. Yes, Orton is a part of the Ambreigns vs Wyatt storyline, but I'd argue that he is a 3rd wheel in it, atm, and really and truly, when he was taken out before NoC, it would have been better to keep him off TV for a while and let him take a break instead of having him appear as an 'unimportant' piece of a storyline which centers around others.



Randy Orton has been around for a long time and has won all there is to win. Of that there is no doubt. However, I think many will agree that even now, whenever he appears, he does generate a pop, and most crowds, especially casual ones, do like themselves some Randy Orton. Thus, it is quite puzzling that he is basically being used in throwaway storylines in the midcard or as a throwaway piece of a midcard storyline at this point.
What if it was the Beast Incarnate vs the Viper at MSG this past Saturday? Plant some seeds and gauge the interest of fans in such a fresh feud that can play out in the near future.


As I mentioned, Orton, like Cena, is stale in the Main title scene, but in terms of fresh feuds, there are still ways in which a Superstar of his pedigree and credentials can be used to drum up interest in the product and elevate guys as John Cena has been doing for the past year.
Yet, the current formula for Randy Orton is... "We need to fill some TV hours... ok, let's just throw Orton in a series of matches with Sheamus in a lazy manner to kill time!"

 

[AegonTargaryen]

.
Randy is eternally a bad guy, no matter how he might try to present himself. As good as he is, he no longer inspires significant crowd reaction .....if he ever really did.

Perfect.

.
I certainly wouldn't want to see Randy Orton ever leave WWE. But as far as seeing him in the ring with Brock Lesnar? Eh. It would be a good match to watch.....but present little to get worked up about.

Perhaps. However, to think of it, a few weeks ago I finally got access to a TV(I don't own one) and I watched NOC and the next Raw and wondered, "Where's Randy Orton?", and a few weeks later, he's on Raw and faces/beats Bo Dallas(?) in a pointless 2-min match. At this point, it feels like either they have to resurrect Randy(or Randy has to resurrect Randy) into something refreshingly original and badboyish(sort of how Sting became The Joker Sting, or anything, as long as it isn't too improbable or farfetched), or people wouldn't even care if he no longer is in the WWE. Until then, Brock Lesnar vs Randy Orton wouldn't be nearly as thrilling as it should be.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

As Sally pointed out, Orton is pretty much a bad guy even when he's a good guy. Even when Orton has been a babyface, he's NEVER been someone that's felt like he's someone with a "nice" personality. Even now, Orton is a pure tweener every bit as much as Brock Lesnar is in that while he might be labeled a babyface, everything from the way he carries himself to his mannerisms to many of his actions inside the ring scream that he's heel.

I think also one reason why Cena might be "one step" above Orton is because Orton has something of a troubled history in WWE. To be perfectly honest, if half the reports I've heard about Orton are true, then the guy's pretty much an asshole and that's honestly the sort of feeling I've always gotten about the guy. While these reports have undoubtedly influenced my perception of him, I've honestly never really felt that Orton was a "nice person". Orton has failed 2 drug tests and the 2nd time around, which was a few years back, there were some higher ups in WWE who wanted to fire him because of a lousy attitude he's had and because of how much they company has invested in him. Orton has also had some controversy regarding the Divas, I'm not exactly sure what happened or what went on but I know that it was so bad it resulted in Orton being suspended for 30 days, which was sometime in the 2006 to 2009 timeline. This led to some confusion about why Orton wasn't fired after he was suspended for the third time a few years back as it was his 3rd suspension was only his 2nd one for a Wellness Policy violation. Orton has had a contentious relationship with some of the Divas, I recall an incident maybe 4 or 5 years back in which it was stated that while he was giving a radio interview, he essentially called Kelly Kelly a **** by saying that she'd slept with half the men in the WWE locker room.

Nobody's ever going to be able to say Orton hasn't had a grand, Hall of Fame worthy career in WWE, it'd be laughable to even think of claiming otherwise. However, Orton SEEMS to have a bad attitude that's probably sabotaged his career to some slight to moderate degree. As I alluded to, even before the official PG rating was reinstated, Orton's behavior got so bad at one point that he was sent home for a month.

 

[TDFG]

Orton's career was almost stop start with injuries, then we've had wellness violations and then the odd niggling injury after that.

He's a 12 x Champ so he's had a great career, he suffers a bit along with Cena that there time at the top has been when the business was on the down turn.

Orton can still be relevant, maybe after Cena has his time with the US Title a heel Orton can feud with Ambrose, Reigns, Cesaro for it.

 

[THTRobtaylor]

You have to remember that despite injuries, the character he plays or Cena... Orton has been a douche of the first order for a LOT of his tenure and at times has been VERY lucky to still be in a job.

They say that part of the business is what you do, part who you're friends with and the rest who you piss off... There is no doubt Vince WANTED to bet the farm on Randy Orton, he got the push ahead of Cena and it was only when he flopped that they moved on to Cena instead.

The reason Orton doesn't change character is cos too much is out in the open about him, the mistakes he's made, the discharge from the Marines, the wrecking hotel rooms, bullying and drug taking. So they turned that into a character that works with all that shit included, but that guy can never be the TOP guy.

His rep backstage is pretty bad for not being the best guy, how he berated Kofi or got Kennedy fired sticks with him... he gets odd flourishes of overness, like the RKO memes but they are fleeting cos people then remember, "oh right, he's a prick, I don't like him".

Orton now is like Piper was between 87 and 92... Up there, need him on your show but you're not giving him the keys to the kingdom fully cos he's too damn erratic. He's overdue some kind of meltdown/fuckup and Vince probably knows that better than anyone.

When all is said and done, Orton can have no complaints, he got more than Piper, DiBiase , Rick Rude and Curt Hennig did and all were better than him. He'll be a Hall Of Famer, probably inducted by his dad and will get to leave the biz in 2-3 years relatively healthy and rich.

 

[Messiah]

It's tough to say with Randy Orton. I'm a huge fan of his as well, he might be my favorite in WWE, but Randy has always been a wildcard. He get's suspended for wellness violations, he's been suspended for other shit to. I've got the feeling they don't want to invest anymore time and money into him, rumor's are circulating he wants a part-time schedule (only working TV), his time might have past. He's only got a couple more year's left, they should utilize him the best they can, he's still got a large fanbase and he's still looks like a star and is one of the best in WWE.. Brock vs. Randy is something they gotta do eventually. It's a match that's always brought up, both guys are on the roster right now for who knows how long. They should come up with a story, and do the match soon. WrestleMania might be the best time for that. Orton or The Rock are the only guys who can compete with Lesnar at WrestleMania, and Rock might be filming a movie at that time.. Orton is definitely underutilized, but i totally get why they don't use him more.

 

[kadroan]

I understand that John Cena is bigger than Randy Orton. I don't, however, understand why it appears that they aren't (and haven't been) in the same league. There are many different angles that I could use to attack this issue but I'm only going to use one: The Part-Time Programs.

Since 2012 we have seen some of the most legendary names in the history of wrestling return (or debut) to WWE and work some high profile matches. Apart from Chris Jericho, every legend has only worked matches that fall under three types:

Program v Cena - Usually a "Top Dog vs Top Dog" billing, whereas the legend questions if Cena truly deserves to be the face that runs the place. Ex. Brock/Cena '12 & '14, Cena/Rock '11-'13

Legend v Legend/Decorated Veteran - Almost always is primarily a battle about the past, but I will admit Lesnar and Hunter's battles were about the events that happened on RAW in 2012. Ex. HHH/Taker '12 Big Show/Lesnar '14 & '15 HHH/Sting '15

Legend v WWE Champ/#1 Contender - This is going to seem like a stretch, but I think this label accurately summarizes all of the other matches that part time legends have worked in the last 3 years. While it kinda mimics the Cena concept of having the Legend challenge the legacy of his opponent, these matches differ because the legend never acknowledges their opponents as worthy adversaries the way they do with Cena. These guys are always either champ at the time of the match or fresh in the title hunt. Ex. HHH/Punk '11 Taker/Punk '13 HHH/Bryan '14 Brock/Rollins '15 Sting/Rollins '15

In 2013 when I saw Punk face Brock at SummerSlam, I simply thought they felt that Cena and Punk were the only guys worthy to face part-timers for some reason but seeing Bryan and Rollins join the fold just had me thinking - what the hell does Randy Orton mean to WWE?

Onscreen they refer to him as a "Future Hall Of Famer" and "WWE Legend", JBL is always spitting out statistic after statistic, but why do these other guys get to work big money matches while he trades wins with Sheamus for months at a time every year? He is obviously still over, very talented, and still has maintained his pop despite not being involved in a major storyline. My personal dream match remains Rock/Orton in a battle of the greatest 3rd generation stars of all time, but on a thread titled "Where does Brock go from here" on this forum the majority of posters said they'd prefer Brock vs Randy.

Since 2012, Brock has faced Cena in singles competiton thrice, HHH thrice, Big Show twice, Cena again in triple threat, Undertaker thrice, and Rollins twice. Instead of all these stupid trilogies maybe we could've had an Orton bout. As for Dwayne, he's had two vs Cena, one with Cena, and two vs Punk. If he comes back for another match please don't make it his 500th match against Hunter please put him against the legend of the day. Just imagine how inferior it would've made Austin look if the NWO only targeted Rock. People complain he didn't face Hogan that year, but think about how much worse it would've been if Austin hadn't been on the NWO's radar at all. As things come full circle and it is now Rock who is coming back as the Legend, it completely makes Orton look second rate to see that he's been feuding with Cena, Punk and even to an extent Miz without even glancing in Randy's direction.

As a guy who spent most of 2003-2005 known as the Legend Killer, Orton is no stranger to feuding with WWE Legends. As a matter of fact, he is the only member of the full-time current roster who can say he faced Hulk Hogan and Mick Foley in high profile matches on WWE ppv. I'm not saying to bring back his old gimmick, but I'm sure there are a lot of people who see Brock/Orton and Rock/Orton as dream matches damnit! DDP was just in the Rumble not too long ago, how cool would it have been to see Orton come out and have them do a Diamond Cutter vs RKO battle on live WWE Television?

I'm so sorry for the length of the post, I was actually trying to condense it, but all in all these are my questions:

Why do you think WWE has chosen to go with guys with "lesser legacies" to face Rock and Brock these last three years?

Would you enjoy / Would you have enjoyed seeing Orton face these guys since their in-ring returns in 2012 or am I really just a huge Orton mark?

Are Cena and Orton the Austin and Rock of the last 10 years? Or is this just Cena World and the #2 guy changes every once in a while?

Do you think WWE has dropped the ball with one of their top guys?

I honestly never thought about that until you pointed it out. I'm not sure. From a storyline perspective, I can't see how you could make Rock vs. Orton feel like a big match in 2012/2013, Cena was the perfect guy since Rock had legit beef with him. Orton vs. Rock would have been perfect in 2004 at WM XX when Orton was the Legend Killer instead they went with Evolution vs. Rock N' Sock Connection.

As far as him facing Brock, again, Cena was the perfect guy to face Brock in his 2012 return match. I believe his Wellness Violation hurt him for the summer. Punk vs. Brock was definitely a dream match, I can understand why they did that over Brock vs. Orton. The only time I could see a Brock vs. Orton match take place, was Royal Rumble 2015. I thought Orton should have had Cena's place in the match. Orton shouldn't have lost to Cena at HIAC 2015. #RKOuttaNowhere was over, however, WWE didn't let Orton get that spot.

Maybe Orton doesn't career about marquee matches anymore. He got a legit HOF career and now he works less dates.

I think Cena is the closest to Rock/Austin but only person that probably came close was Bryan but injuries and bad booking ruined him.

I don't think WWE dropped the ball with Orton. I'm sure if he wanted to he could easily tie/break Flair's record if he wanted to due to his relationship with HHH. I just believe at this point of his career, family maybe even his health is more important than his career.

 

[Navi]

I love Orton and think he's a wonderful wrestler, but there has always been this vibe about him that doesn't quite sit right. Like JH said to say his career isn't HOF worthy is laughable, and even if he never wrestle's another match, he's a shoe in.

But Orton is he own worst enemy at times. His bad moods and habits are legendary and would probably make one hell of a book some day. The thing that bothers me the most about Orton is the way he gets into these for want of a better word, doldrums. It's like he's sick and tired of everything and just starts phoning it in. He's much, much better than that.

I think because of his age sometimes we forget he's been around for the better part of 15 years. I mean he's only a couple of years older than Reigns, and Orton's a 12 time World Champion. It's a shame to say, but I'm not sure what's left for him.

He's won every major title there is to win, turned from heel to face and back again. While he's still over with the fans it might be a good idea to take some time off, go get married and come back with a fresh start. Unfortunately for him though he will never reach the heights that Cena has.

Cena has a passion for the business that I'm afraid i don't see in Orton, and that's why Orton has always been number two. Cena eats, sleeps and breathes the WWE, I'm not sure Orton ever did or will at this late date.

 

[Rhodes2TheFuture3313]

It's a shame, but also understandable if Randy Orton wants to move to a part-time schedule. He is arguably "The BEST" in-ring performer of all-time and continues to entertain every time he is given the opportunity. He definitely has at least 1 more title reign left in him and despite what the office as well as wwe loyalists may think Orton is one of the few STARS that they have. I wanted Orton and Lesnar to be the Main Event of WM 31. I felt that Rollins cashing-in on Orton after beating Lesnar would have been perfect in transitioning Orton to a FACE. Hopefully we get to see Orton vs Angle, Orton vs. Rock, and Orton vs. Lesnar because they would all be great WM/SummerSlam matches.

 

[MC_Live]

The lesser legacies thing is dumb. First of all, I would love to see Orton have a match with Rock or Lesnar. Those could be some fantastic programs.

Why haven't they done those feuds? Cause it just hasn't worked out that way. It's not like they're casting Orton aside and going, "Ah, he's not good enough for a Lesnar feud. Put him with Sheamus again." It's just a matter of Creative pitching the right idea at the right time, and everything falling into place. Besides, as you said, Orton is already a star. He doesn't need programs with the part timers, because he's already a big name. Randy Orton can sell by himself. While putting him up against Rock, or Lesnar, or Sting, or whoever would certainly be a big deal, it's not necessary.

For some reason or another, Orton just hasn't connected with the audience as much as Cena has. You're absolutely right in saying that Orton is at a little bit lower of a position than Cena. But he's still in a very high up position. Where as Rock and Austin were like #1a and #1b, Cena and Orton are more like #1 and #2, like Hogan and Savage. But, that doesn't mean WWE has dropped the ball with Orton. It just means that the storylines you want to see haven't worked out yet. Who knows, maybe we will see Orton vs. Lesnar or Orton vs. Rock in the future. It's not like any of them are going to be done competing in the next few years.

 

[whoopin' ass]

Same reason Hogan and Savage never were - wwe says so. Cena has always had that extra push, that extra shine put to him where Orton didn't - both got pushed more than others but Cena always got a little extra. Remember when he lost the wwe title and was out with an injury yet in just a few weeks, he was announced the #1 contender to the World Title on Smackdown? Would they ever do that with Orton? As well, Orton has had some well documented issues that Cena didn't. I wouldn't feel so bad for Orton though - he had had a good career considering the last few years he just floats around the roster without much purpose. What were his big feuds over the past few years? It's funny, Shelton Benjamin was never made champ because they felt he didn't work for it despite him just being that good in the ring yet Orton is a multi-time champ for that same reason. Guess it all depends on who likes you.