Somehow WWE will try to capitalize on this and fail spectacularly. That actually gives me a question Scott: Can you think of a couple examples of times that WWE managed to try to play off of a meme or pop-culture movement and nail it? The immediate one that springs to mind is when Ambrose dumped an ice bucket on Rollins during the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and said, "What? It's for charity." Then he threw the bucket at Rollins and pummeled him.
LOL For fuck's sake. Welcome to the modern world and the Internet; mankind's greatest communicative tool. And we use it for porn, "legit" PPV feeds, and Randy Orton vines.
And I agree with you. Smooth mf'er in the ring, technically sound in every way, capable of doing just about anything he wants with any opponent--he's badass. I've also dug his radio interviews. He comes off as a self-aware and likeable guy.
The last few weeks, crowd support has been noticeably building for him (based on his in-ring skills, maybe?). He's due for a face turn and he's got this viral stuff that will come to mind each time he does an RKO from here on out. Unfortunately for many folks who detest him, he'll be in line for a major push by early next year. (aside: I wish he would take time off to really kickstart the face turn, but what do I know)
I agree Orion definitely has great talent in the ring and on the mic, however, his look and personality has remained exactly the same for ever it seems. Maybe a tweek in his look or personality might help?
I'm kind of with you. Ok, so he's a dick, that sure didn't stop anyone's Benoit fanboy-ism for 10 years.
Athletically he's ridiculous gifted, certainly the smoothest worker of his generation.
He just suffers from the same thing anyone that's been on TV for a decade suffers from, we're used to it. And to a certain extent so is he I think, I'm sure at some point the job becomes like any other job, get from town to town on your sweet ass tour bus, do your spots, get paid, go home.
I can't really blame him for just sort of working toward retirement at this point.
This is one of those things that make me tremendously happy to be a part of this time period. At no other time in mankind's history did the amount of free time it took to create these videos exist, nor the technology to animate them, nor the ability to share with 20 million people you don't know and will never meet all around the globe.
In a strange but very real way, right at this moment all of human achievement has led us to Randy Orton RKO'ing the world.
I remember the good 2009 documentary where he openly acknowledges his asshole behavior in 2004-06. Great bit where he defends himself to HHH on being young and Hunter snaps back "when's the cut off age to that stop being your excuse?"
Did love when Vince sets an example by doing the Ice Bucket in a gym in full suit rather than outside in shorts and shirt like everyone else. That and challenging "that slimy amphibian Kermit the Frog."
I never heard of Benoit being a dick to anyone until he died. Then it was "oh yeah, he took part in a lot of the backstage hazing & discipline". I think a lot of net reporters deliberately didn't discuss that out of worship for Benoit.
WWE should totally make this an angle. Just have random people going around backstage, then having a hiding Viper run out and RKO them, do his pose, then run off. It's exactly what Kanyon used to do, and it would get him over as a top babyface immediately.
Might as well post this here, as it fits: does anyone else feel like Randy Orton has never truly 'peaked' in the company? He's had several runs at or near the top, both as a face and as a heel, but it seems that all those world titles notwithstanding, he's still clearly a tier below the other big stars of his era, and that his longevity has helped elevate him to where he's at now? It's like something's holding him back from reaching that next level, even though he's been given chances ad nauseum to achieve it.
When they turned him around 2010ish and basically had the SCSA gimmick of doing his finisher to faces and heels alike, he was getting plenty over. The formula isn't hard for a babyface Randy: same heel schtick, but against heels. We can say what we want about Randy Boreton or whatever the nickname is, but random RKOs are usually delightful.
I like him a lot, i don't mind the, uh, "methodical" pace of his work because he's definitely working a more 80s heel style in the ring (he uses the fucking Garvin stomp, come on), he's one of the better guys in terms of working the audience during a match, and his finisher is fucking awesome. Plus he does this: \_O____/
I don't mind him as long as he doesn't talk. But it's been since at least the DX feud since he's had a decent promo. And he's a terrible face. And he doesn't always try…
An innate unlikeability? He's not someone I'd ever want to share a beer with, I doubt he's any kids make-a-wish dream, he just seems like a real life asshole.
To my mind, the first six months of 2011 are about the closest he's come to that point, and he still didn't manage it. He was a heel but was massively over with every sector of the audience and people were fucking sick of Cena across the board. With no real other megastars around, and Orton one of a tiny, tiny handful of people who appeared vaguely different to the sanitised tedium on display elsewhere, the fanbase seemed to get behind him. Of course, then Punk capitalised on this vacuum and Orton went back to doing what he usually does.
Yeah, Benoit's death and the fallout eradicated what little faith I had in wrestling journalists. All of the fucking stories about his psychopathic, bullying behaviour can't have been unknown to them.
I've loved a lot of his mic work since he turned heel last year. The bickering between him, 'Tista and HHH cracked me up, and he also did a great job at getting legitimate heat from the crowd during the "hijacked" Ascension ceremony with Cena pre-TLC last year.
I get the same vibe from him too. I have a buddy that had a WWE tryout and he said when he was going through shaking hands and introducing himself that Orton was the least friendly person he met.
Hate to nitpick, but Orton was a heel in 2011. His face turn started right around WM26 in 2010, and he stayed a face until cashing in MITB on Bryan at Summerslam 2013.
That being said, 2011 may have been his best year for in-ring work, thanks to his feuds with Punk, Christian, and (of all people) Henry.
I was really into the cocky Legend Killer Evolution Orton. He looked good, had good matches, good support from Flair and Batista, ok promos, somewhat funny when he had to be (mainly with Eugene).
His face turn after taking the belt from Benoit was very meh, and he lost all momentum. After that he just never felt quite the same. His Rated RKO and Legacy runs were just bleh. He wasn't much of a leader or partner. His promos got worse, his style slowed down, his character and motivations felt non-existent. Then he feuded with Triple H over Steph, and that didn't work for me either. Around that time I realized what a douchebag he looked and acted, so that was a turn off. He wasn't a fun douchebag, instead he was a buzzkill. He looked too young and babyface to be a good heel. He discovered the beard/fuzz look, which helped a lot for me at least. But by his time he's like a 9 time champ that's done it all.
So yeah, he never really hit the absolute top like Cena and even Bryan (last year was legendary).
I think he's that way because wrestling is really easy for him, so he expects everybody to be on his level, instead of realizing it's not easy for a lot of people, and they have to really work at it. I also kind of think he's more of a loner by nature, so he doesn't really work at being friendly or social. Orton and Punk are both like that IMO, except Orton is probably more of a "natural" asshole, and Punk learned it by being annoyed by fans and fellow wrestlers (like them ribbing him for being straight-edged).
I also think at some point, being a douchebag character turned Orton the person into more of a douche.
No, totally fair - I did wonder whether I was getting my facts right, given how little his character changes and how frequently he has turned.
Ultimately, though, he was in a wannabe SCSA role during this period - doing heelish things, RKOing everyone in sight and acting like a heel, but still getting the loudest pops (bar the Royal Rumble incident, I grant you).
I think you nailed it. Orton seems to be an aimless asshole in general. Punk comes across as more bitter and driven. I like that about Orton though -- it's one of the reasons I'm a fan of the guy, even if, like TimeandtheRani, I wouldn't want to have a beer with him.
I know I am an evil person for saying this but if Randy Orton came out on an episode of Raw and started RKO'ing anyone associated with the Susan G Komen then that would make me a happy panda!
His personality now is way different than it was as a face, which was WAY different than it was as the dastardly, silent Viper heel, which was way different from the cocky Orton character before that.
Who knew that the internet could find a way to get Randy Orton over!
ReplyDeleteBut whose side are they on?
ReplyDeleteYou know how some smart-ass would quip that "someone has a lot of time on their hands"?
ReplyDeleteThis is not one of those times. This is time well spent.
I'm legitimately worried that they're going to use this.
ReplyDeleteIn any rate, me and my fellow smark coworker spent the better part of our afternoon laughing like idiot children at this. Absolutely spectacular.
Outstanding.
ReplyDeleteWorried? I hope they do!!!
ReplyDeleteYeah that was pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteWell, at least now I know what Cabs was going on about earlier. That's fucking funny.
ReplyDeleteThat.Was.Awesome.
ReplyDeleteSomehow WWE will try to capitalize on this and fail spectacularly. That actually gives me a question Scott: Can you think of a couple examples of times that WWE managed to try to play off of a meme or pop-culture movement and nail it? The immediate one that springs to mind is when Ambrose dumped an ice bucket on Rollins during the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and said, "What? It's for charity." Then he threw the bucket at Rollins and pummeled him.
LOL For fuck's sake. Welcome to the modern world and the Internet; mankind's greatest communicative tool. And we use it for porn, "legit" PPV feeds, and Randy Orton vines.
ReplyDeleteTo quote Cabs, NO REGRETS.
Oh, and to quote me (kinda): #HOSSAPPROVED
I was in tears from laughing so hard.
ReplyDeleteRandy Orton is the one guy, more than anyone else, that I disagree with blog consensus about.
ReplyDeleteThe video is fantastic. Reminds me of Kanyon's random Kanyon Kutters, of course--but that's not a bad thing!
ReplyDeletePfft, this is soooo Sunday/Monday
ReplyDeleteKanyon Kutters were my 1st thought, too
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree with you. Smooth mf'er in the ring, technically sound in every way, capable of doing just about anything he wants with any opponent--he's badass. I've also dug his radio interviews. He comes off as a self-aware and likeable guy.
ReplyDeleteThe last few weeks, crowd support has been noticeably building for him (based on his in-ring skills, maybe?). He's due for a face turn and he's got this viral stuff that will come to mind each time he does an RKO from here on out. Unfortunately for many folks who detest him, he'll be in line for a major push by early next year. (aside: I wish he would take time off to really kickstart the face turn, but what do I know)
I agree Orion definitely has great talent in the ring and on the mic, however, his look and personality has remained exactly the same for ever it seems. Maybe a tweek in his look or personality might help?
ReplyDeleteI'm usually that guy. But you're right, that was awesome.
ReplyDeleteStill awesome.
ReplyDeleteThey used MTV and the growth of cable pretty, I'd say.
ReplyDeleteI'm an Orton fan. I'm saying it dammit!
ReplyDeleteI agree that he's much better in the ring that many give him credit for.
ReplyDeleteThey should just have Orton start running out and RKO'ing geeks at any moment. That would be COOL and INTERESTING! I know, god forbid.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most entertained I've been by "Blandy Bore-ton" since, well, ....ever.
ReplyDelete(Okay, I laughed at his Christmas-themed match with Otunga.)
Now I badly want to see Orton RKO all the guest stars.
ReplyDeleteRandy using the RKO was one of the best career decisons he ever made.
ReplyDeleteWhen, and only when he wants to.
ReplyDeleteThey wanna turn him face effectively? THIS IS HOW. And he can still do it under the auspices of being a dick, which is what he prefers personally.
ReplyDeleteBecause it's not like they don't already do that with the Be a Star crap anyway.
ReplyDeleteHilarious... I just can't wait to see how the WWE will fuck it up and make it uncool..
ReplyDeleteRKO....ing.
ReplyDeleteThey recognized the Trash TV phenomenon of Jerry Springer type shows and translated that into the Attitude Era.
ReplyDeleteThere was that time they did the ORLY the Owl thing quite literally two years after it was a thing....what was your question?
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of with you. Ok, so he's a dick, that sure didn't stop anyone's Benoit fanboy-ism for 10 years.
ReplyDeleteAthletically he's ridiculous gifted, certainly the smoothest worker of his generation.
He just suffers from the same thing anyone that's been on TV for a decade suffers from, we're used to it. And to a certain extent so is he I think, I'm sure at some point the job becomes like any other job, get from town to town on your sweet ass tour bus, do your spots, get paid, go home.
I can't really blame him for just sort of working toward retirement at this point.
This is one of those things that make me tremendously happy to be a part of this time period. At no other time in mankind's history did the amount of free time it took to create these videos exist, nor the technology to animate them, nor the ability to share with 20 million people you don't know and will never meet all around the globe.
ReplyDeleteIn a strange but very real way, right at this moment all of human achievement has led us to Randy Orton RKO'ing the world.
This is why the Internet was invented.
ReplyDeleteI remember the good 2009 documentary where he openly acknowledges his asshole behavior in 2004-06. Great bit where he defends himself to HHH on being young and Hunter snaps back "when's the cut off age to that stop being your excuse?"
ReplyDeleteDid love when Vince sets an example by doing the Ice Bucket in a gym in full suit rather than outside in shorts and shirt like everyone else. That and challenging "that slimy amphibian Kermit the Frog."
ReplyDeleteI never heard of Benoit being a dick to anyone until he died. Then it was "oh yeah, he took part in a lot of the backstage hazing & discipline". I think a lot of net reporters deliberately didn't discuss that out of worship for Benoit.
ReplyDeleteFucking amazing.
ReplyDeleteWWE should totally make this an angle. Just have random people going around backstage, then having a hiding Viper run out and RKO them, do his pose, then run off. It's exactly what Kanyon used to do, and it would get him over as a top babyface immediately.
Epic, with all the sophisticated production values of the WWE, it took some nerd in his basement to finally make Randy Orton entertaining to me :D
ReplyDeleteMight as well post this here, as it fits: does anyone else feel like Randy Orton has never truly 'peaked' in the company? He's had several runs at or near the top, both as a face and as a heel, but it seems that all those world titles notwithstanding, he's still clearly a tier below the other big stars of his era, and that his longevity has helped elevate him to where he's at now? It's like something's holding him back from reaching that next level, even though he's been given chances ad nauseum to achieve it.
ReplyDeleteI have a Christmas card and $100 for whomever made that video. It will be a dollar for every time I watch it.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't stop watching this stuff today. Deserves a hearty \_O___/
ReplyDeleteWhen they turned him around 2010ish and basically had the SCSA gimmick of doing his finisher to faces and heels alike, he was getting plenty over. The formula isn't hard for a babyface Randy: same heel schtick, but against heels. We can say what we want about Randy Boreton or whatever the nickname is, but random RKOs are usually delightful.
ReplyDeleteI like him a lot, i don't mind the, uh, "methodical" pace of his work because he's definitely working a more 80s heel style in the ring (he uses the fucking Garvin stomp, come on), he's one of the better guys in terms of working the audience during a match, and his finisher is fucking awesome. Plus he does this: \_O____/
ReplyDeletehe learned well from HHH
ReplyDeleteI don't mind him as long as he doesn't talk. But it's been since at least the DX feud since he's had a decent promo. And he's a terrible face. And he doesn't always try…
ReplyDeleteBut silent, motivated, heel Randy is awesome.
That HBK "I just get kicked Stan!" segment that was funny the first time but rapidly lost value on re-watches comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteAn innate unlikeability? He's not someone I'd ever want to share a beer with, I doubt he's any kids make-a-wish dream, he just seems like a real life asshole.
ReplyDeleteYes. This immediately stops being funny the SECOND Michael Cole tells me how funny it is.
ReplyDeleteThey'll give Randy a gimmick where he bumps his head and forgets how to wrestle and literally does nothing but RKO attempts for his matches.
ReplyDeleteTo my mind, the first six months of 2011 are about the closest he's come to that point, and he still didn't manage it. He was a heel but was massively over with every sector of the audience and people were fucking sick of Cena across the board. With no real other megastars around, and Orton one of a tiny, tiny handful of people who appeared vaguely different to the sanitised tedium on display elsewhere, the fanbase seemed to get behind him. Of course, then Punk capitalised on this vacuum and Orton went back to doing what he usually does.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Benoit's death and the fallout eradicated what little faith I had in wrestling journalists. All of the fucking stories about his psychopathic, bullying behaviour can't have been unknown to them.
ReplyDeleteHHH was the biggest star in the company for a while. Orton's never been at the very top.
ReplyDeleteI've loved a lot of his mic work since he turned heel last year. The bickering between him, 'Tista and HHH cracked me up, and he also did a great job at getting legitimate heat from the crowd during the "hijacked" Ascension ceremony with Cena pre-TLC last year.
ReplyDeleteI get the same vibe from him too. I have a buddy that had a WWE tryout and he said when he was going through shaking hands and introducing himself that Orton was the least friendly person he met.
ReplyDeleteYeah, this is pretty glorious. Hopefully people don't start trying it in real life like that knockout thing tho
ReplyDeleteOh Man, this was hilarious. That fake call asking if she supported the military was the highlight of my morning.
ReplyDeleteHate to nitpick, but Orton was a heel in 2011. His face turn started right around WM26 in 2010, and he stayed a face until cashing in MITB on Bryan at Summerslam 2013.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, 2011 may have been his best year for in-ring work, thanks to his feuds with Punk, Christian, and (of all people) Henry.
I was really into the cocky Legend Killer Evolution Orton. He looked good, had good matches, good support from Flair and Batista, ok promos, somewhat funny when he had to be (mainly with Eugene).
ReplyDeleteHis face turn after taking the belt from Benoit was very meh, and he lost all momentum. After that he just never felt quite the same. His Rated RKO and Legacy runs were just bleh. He wasn't much of a leader or partner. His promos got worse, his style slowed down, his character and motivations felt non-existent. Then he feuded with Triple H over Steph, and that didn't work for me either. Around that time I realized what a douchebag he looked and acted, so that was a turn off. He wasn't a fun douchebag, instead he was a buzzkill. He looked too young and babyface to be a good heel. He discovered the beard/fuzz look, which helped a lot for me at least. But by his time he's like a 9 time champ that's done it all.
So yeah, he never really hit the absolute top like Cena and even Bryan (last year was legendary).
I think he's that way because wrestling is really easy for him, so he expects everybody to be on his level, instead of realizing it's not easy for a lot of people, and they have to really work at it. I also kind of think he's more of a loner by nature, so he doesn't really work at being friendly or social. Orton and Punk are both like that IMO, except Orton is probably more of a "natural" asshole, and Punk learned it by being annoyed by fans and fellow wrestlers (like them ribbing him for being straight-edged).
ReplyDeleteI also think at some point, being a douchebag character turned Orton the person into more of a douche.
No, totally fair - I did wonder whether I was getting my facts right, given how little his character changes and how frequently he has turned.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, though, he was in a wannabe SCSA role during this period - doing heelish things, RKOing everyone in sight and acting like a heel, but still getting the loudest pops (bar the Royal Rumble incident, I grant you).
I think you nailed it. Orton seems to be an aimless asshole in general. Punk comes across as more bitter and driven. I like that about Orton though -- it's one of the reasons I'm a fan of the guy, even if, like TimeandtheRani, I wouldn't want to have a beer with him.
ReplyDelete#HOSSAPPROVED
ReplyDeletealso, this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8_nAIeeb4k
ReplyDeleteworked for Austin.
ReplyDeletehe should have had that peak in 2009. but we know how that went.
ReplyDeleteI encourage people to start doing it in real life as long as others are filming it for my enjoyment.
ReplyDeleteI know I am an evil person for saying this but if Randy Orton came out on an episode of Raw and started RKO'ing anyone associated with the Susan G Komen then that would make me a happy panda!
ReplyDeleteYeah, his 2011 was off the charts. He even got a ~**** match with Kane on Smackdown.
ReplyDeleteHis personality now is way different than it was as a face, which was WAY different than it was as the dastardly, silent Viper heel, which was way different from the cocky Orton character before that.
ReplyDeleteAs an aside, where does Monday's Powerbomb RKO rank on the list of the all-time best RKOs?
ReplyDeleteGotta be top five for me. It's not the Shooting Star RKO, but it's up there.
First time I've seen this. Awesome.
ReplyDeletebut allways seen below other stars of his time
ReplyDeleteAustin
Rock
Shawn
HHH is a bigger star than Shawn. Lesser legend, but a bigger star.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this will make Randy Orton finally have to go to the papers.
ReplyDelete