Randy Orton Face Turn

Mr.Shabby

Im new to the boards so mabye this topic has beeen done before, but id like to discuss Randy Ortons face turn. I turned off from the WWE product for the last three years after 15 years of nonstop viewing.Now he's a big face I must ask has he really improved,cos three years ago he was a terrible performer.

Diabhal Beag

The fans love him but he has lost character by becoming a mute. His feud with Edge is terrible. Could have been a World-Title quality feud but it has been a waste so far.

waltersobchak

You could probably argue all his fueds since Kofi Kingston havent been great, but ive a feeling that'll change after MiTB, have to say im becoming a massive Orton mark...

michael.etc...

Mr.Shabby wrote: »

Im new to the boards so mabye this topic has beeen done before, but id like to discuss Randy Ortons face turn. I turned off from the WWE product for the last three years after 15 years of nonstop viewing.Now he's a big face I must ask has he really improved,cos three years ago he was a terrible performer.

Can't agree at all. Three years ago, he was a terrific performer (and still is). In what way do you think he wasn't?
In 2007 he had cracking PPV matches with RVD, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Cena. He was on the cusp of a massive push a'la HHH circa 2000, until his momentum was derailed by being booked into a repetitive, never-ending programme with HHH. But for the most part, he was a super-effective heel from spring 07-08.

The problem with his "face turn" is that they completely botched the Legacy break-up, and gave fans no real reason to emphathize with Orton. He also has the demeanour of a guy who knows too well that the material he's been given is rubbish, and can't be bothered improving on it.
That said, I think his cooling off over the past month could be the best thing for him, and he has potential to finally fill the gap left by Stone Cold. Fans clearly want a reason to back this guy.

Big fan of him.

flahavaj

Good to see you Michael.

I think Orton is the best thing in WWE right now.

michael.etc...

Cheers Fla.

I think he's really starting to find his groove. Slow start on the face run to be sure, and he wasn't helped much by the pairing with Edge (i felt the timing of two guys in uncertain roles was terrible) but given some seriously effective storylines he'll be grand.

Diabhal Beag

flahavaj wrote: »

Good to see you Michael.

I think Orton is the best thing in WWE right now.

Have you not seen the DUDEBUSTERS :pac: Laycool are the best thing in WWE IMO but Orton is pretty great too.

Ridley

I've been an Orton fan since his return after the RNN segments I found irritating: getwellrandy@wwe.com!

He's certainly improved since then, definately don't think he was a terrible performer three years ago but his major flaw wasn't being an uncharismatic master of the headlock, it was being unable to handle deviations from the script.

Not still sure if it plays out like in my head but I remember when Triple H tore his other quad at New Year's Revolution 2007, Orton got in the ring with a chair, stood there, then just randomly rolled out again. He still has traces of it (see Kingston's late arrival to save Roddy Piper in November) but he's better.

Not sure if I think he should be speaking more. For all the hate the PG era gets, people seem to miss that Orton's is now a face with the "intermittent explosive disorder" excuse he used just to avoid getting fired for the McMahon punt. He's Austin with Ken Shamrock's gimmick. And a much better one.

Playing to the stereotypes there's a nice balance of clean cut, noble Cena for the kids and unhinged, antihero Orton for the adults. Superman and Batman and all that.

paddyismaddy

raw is short on faces at the moment but orton works better as a heel

D.Q

Orton doesnt throw down well enough.. If you look at austin, taker, even the rock, they could all stand and trade punches with the other guy. Orton is too methodical for my liking, he seems to lack any sort of passion.

GTR63

Just ondering if i`m the only one who notices the ONLY way he connects with the crowd is hitting RKO`s.It was really shown the last month or so.Its not quite Petey Williams bad.Don`t mention him in the same breath as Austin,The Rock or Taker.He`s not half the draw they are/were all you need to look at is the ppv buys.To his defence most the people at shows now there to see Cena`s ie Kids,women and sad acts.

Penn

Yeah, they seem to be focusing on new ways for him to hit the RKO, like in the middle of Bourne's SSP, and I think he hit someone falling from a ladder at MITB.

GTR63

The RKO while cool did nothing for Bourne besides get him in the Raw opening video.It wasn`t as bad as a 50+ year old Nash burying a talented X-Division Wrestler but it still wound me up.The supposed youth movement led push for Bourne got derailed for me there.He looked like a clown who works partime as a stuntman.

JP Liz V1

For me the WWE messed up the end of and break up of Legacy and now his feud with Edge which should have last longer imo. I say keep him a tweener he is currently the unstable kind of character and thats fine no need for him to be fully fledged face imo.