Randy Orton's career has taken a rare course in the last couple of years and I'm wondering your take on it.
By WrestleMania 25, Orton had developed into the hottest and possibly best heel act in the business. This rise included overcoming injuries, disciplinary problems and an already failed run at the top. Then, by WrestleMania 26, he is one of the hottest babyfaces, while making no changes to his character. However, other than his feuds with Miz and Christian in 2011, he has been out of the championship picture. He is apparently being used only for the name and attraction of "The Viper Randy Orton" and to work with mostly up-and-coming mid-card level guys. He hasn't main-evented a PPV in a long, long, time yet he is a multi-time WWE and World Heavyweight Champion who is by no means long in the tooth.
Is he in limbo because of the fear of him getting into trouble again? Is he in a role that he prefers and has requested? It's so rare to see someone rise to main-eventing WrestleMania and win dozens of titles, lose no drawing power or crowd heat, yet still just become another guy on the show for an extended period of time. What say you?
Well, I…hang on, I’ve got a beep.
Scott,
I think that, in answer to both queries, the two strikes are hurting him a LOT. Because now they can never get 100% behind him as the top guy without worrying that he’ll screw up and get himself fired.
As for my personal feelings, I mostly enjoy him as a worker these days, but he doesn’t connect with me on a character level, much like Sheamus. He’s a guy who has good matches and gets good reactions but I don’t particularly care about him one way or another and he tends to win a lot for no real reason.
Stay tuned this Friday...
ReplyDeleteI know I am going to get flamed for this and accused of being a Triple H mark, (which is true) but I actually liked the match between Triple H and Orton at WM 25. I watched it for the first time on you tube so I had the benefit of not having HBK/Undertaker fresh in my memory, and thought it was pretty good.
ReplyDeletei think orton is one of the smoothest wrestlers they have.
ReplyDeletehis selling is incredible.
his moves are crisp.
no wasted motion.
that being said, he needs to be a heel.
i think the face run was good for them but it overstayed his welcome.
i think he should let his contract run out and take a 2 year lapse and come back. itll suck cuz he wil be a face but i think itll do wonders for him. he has been going hard since 2010... he needs a rest.
Christian was the only dude in recent years to get legit exciting matches out of the guy and because this is wwe Christian seemed to get punished for it. If Orton stays as this mid card directionless guy forever I have no problem with that as there are far to many talented guys who deserve the spotlight more than him.
ReplyDeleteI think Orton is 100x more effective when he's in "predator" mode; essentially when he's chasing the title as opposed to having the title. He's much more compelling on the chase since he can play that crazed psychopath schtick so well.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why they didn't keep Christian in the main event. He got 2 matches that, if Cena vs Punk didn't happen, could have legitimately contended for Match of the Year, and his promo skills kicked ass.
ReplyDeleteI've mentioned this is previous posts but I loathe Orton. Now that he's out of the main event spotlight that loathing only reappears when he beats someone that I like (Caesaro, DBD, Ziggler) killing their momentum. Another perspective to the first letter is that Orton was pushed ahead of more deserving guys despite being injury-prone, selfish, the opposite of poised ("stupid, stupid, stupid"), and immature. He was over at Wrestlemania 25 because they had been pushing him hard for five years despite middling reactions.
ReplyDeleteI started in on this on another thread but the WWE faces are just atrocious. Look at Raw this past Monday: with no provocation Chris Jericho harasses Paul Heyman because Jericho is the good guy it's okay. Sheamus walks out after his match and offers a handshake. Sandow, being smart, knows Sheamus is either going to immediately kick him in the stomach, or do that thing where he shakes hands and doesn't let go and does some kind of wrestling move. Sandowrefuses the handshake. So what does Sheamus do? He slaps Sandow in the face. Sheamus goads a guy into a confrontation he’s not trying to have, then physically assaults him. Sheamus is the good guy. Sandow is the bad guy. Because Sheamus is stupid, and Sandow is smart. As the first letter points out Randy Orton is the same sociopath he was before, people just cheer him now.
Why should I root for Cena? I like John Cena the man but his character reminds me of Ned Flanders in Hurricane Neddy and I feel like Homer during their therapy session:
Homer: You know what your problem is, Flanders? You're afraid to be human.
Ned: Ho ho, now why would I be afraid of that?
Homer: Because humans are obnoxious, sometimes. Humans hate things.
John Cena is the wrestling version of Dwight Howard. He's out thereacting like a thirteen year old wrestling fan who found the Zoltar machine from Big. Cena's blase "what, me worry?" attitude is infuriating. There's no vulnerability, nothing interesting. Guess what? If I did all the things Cena did and people booed me I'd be pissed, because I'm a human being. But month in and month out we're treated to the WWE treating us as though we have Guy Pierce's memory disease from Memento in regards to Cena. When was the last time Cena showed vulnerability? When Punk won at MITB 11, not a coincidence.
Why do I root for CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, the Shield, Rhodes Scholar, and Mark Henry? Because they're right and they're acting like the good guys.
Eh, I wish they'd use Orton to get guys over. Orton is still someone who could give Caesaro or Ziggler a strong rub. But the treadmill he's on has lead Orton to be even more mediocre than he was when he was being pushed.
ReplyDeleteThere's a knock on guys that they're "formulaic" which I think is often misapplied. Every wrestler should have his signature spots, it's how you set those up. With Orton it's rest holds and punch/kick until you get to the powerslam/elevated DDT/RKO ("from nowhere" that is always very obviously coming). Contrast that to a guy like Daniel Bryan who has the backflip in the corner, the tope, the corner clothesline, and the Yes!-lock. Bryan will also pepper in the missile dropkick, other submission moves, and transition moves. Orton feels like he's channeling Cactus Jack's ECW heel.
The person emailing this really didn't know the answer to this question? It is obviously the two strikes as that is the only thing that has changed in Orton's situation.
ReplyDeleteThis occurred to me recently: Orton got a drum solo push beginning in
ReplyDelete2004 (and didn't get over until 2009, but I digress),
Cena's been main eventing since 2005 (well, 2003 but
I think we can all agree he was more of a mid-carder until early 2005).
Based on the sheer volume of exposure of course there's staleness to Orton and Cena.
Hogan is really the only comparable wrestler to Cena and Orton in terms of longevity in the main event. Think of how stale Hogan was after nine years, and that was without weekly television and monthly pay-per-views.
CM Punk has been around since 2006 but there have been tweaks to his character even if the base stays the same. Cena's character changes are like Malibu Stacy with a new hat. At this point, Cena is the worst aspects of the Rock (as a face) and Hogan rolled into one.
Ok... this is subjective but Orton was over as early as 03 and as late as 04.
ReplyDeleteThe 04 title run did severe damage to him but the Rated RKO of 06-07 helped him out immensely.
Orton has solidly been over since the 07-08 title run easily.
He has just never been a bonafide ppv/ratings draw, but he is over.
No, I think it is only the two strikes. Vince and the office have always loved Orton, if he had one strike, he'd still be winning world titles and be in main events.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't be any less interested in Orton. I can't deny that the guy is over and he consistently gets big reactions, but I haven't given a shit about the guy since his 2004 face turn. He beats everyone who seems to be gaining steam in the midcard and sleepwalks through all of his matches. I think at this point, they have to keep him on the payroll just because they've invested so much in him, but he should be used to put over an up and comer.
ReplyDeleteSide note, but how many times are we going to see that springboard into RKO finish? It was cool the first time, but I feel like any time he wrestles someone who can springboard, it's the same finish. I'm over it.
I think we can't overlook the fact that Orton's decline has coincided with Punk's rise as a main eventer. Punk's a guy who they know will never have a wellness violation and is therefore a lot safer bet to put in a high profile role than someone with a checkered past like Orton.
ReplyDeleteMaybe by watching Daniel Bryan, The Shield and Bray Wyatt get so immersed in their characters he'll be motivated to do something with his own. Those guys are completely living their characters every time they're on screen and even as they wrestle. Orton needs to take a hint!
ReplyDeleteIt's wwe that needs to take the hint, not Randy
ReplyDeleteDon't the strikes go off your record after a year?
ReplyDeleteChristian hasn't been healthy in what feels like forever, not much they can do about that.
ReplyDeleteI've read that it was pretty much because Vince just didn't see him as a main eventer. Christian could have gone out and cut the best promo of all time and Vince still wouldn't have been sold. He only got the title because of the timing with Edge's forced retirement.
ReplyDeleteFar from being on HHH's shitlist I think Orton's prominence has been because HHH likes the guy. How many other guys got fired for two strikes? It seemed that Orton skated along with NO punishment until better options came along.
ReplyDeleteNot to slurp the Shield too much but it's the little things that they do that I love. Rollins barking out encouragement or admonishing the ref, Ambrose with the open-palm slaps, that sort of thing.
ReplyDeleteThe RKO out of nowhere! Well, you know, besides Randy slapping the mat.
ReplyDeleteCouple that with Punk being a better interview, a better wrestler, and better at getting other people over and you have your answer.
ReplyDeleteWrestlers are more responsible for the growth of their gimmicks/characters than we think. If Bryan/The Shield/Wyatts hadn't immersed themselves in their characters as much as they have, they wouldn't be getting the attention/pushes they're currently getting. Orton could do interesting things with his character (in-ring, during promos etc) but he doesn't seem bothered
ReplyDeleteYeah exactly, it's those nuances that make compelling characters
ReplyDeleteDon't forget Bryan getting over despite the "funny isn't money" maxim.
ReplyDeletehttp://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_megruodQin1rnsyjio1_500.jpg
ReplyDeletethis. Orton himself might get injured often, but I heard several wrestlers mention what a safe worker Orton usually is (yes, I know that might be WWE propaganda but what do we know?).
ReplyDeleteIf you're not going to push him use his credibility to get those guys over. I don't get the logic.
ReplyDeleteThe problem that WWE has had in the last few years is that there is very rarely any babyface motivation. Why does Cena do what he does? Why should we cheer him? Too often (not always), the answer is: because he's the good guy. Same with Orton, same with Sheamus, same with ADR. The heels usually have motivations, but the babyfaces very rarely do.
ReplyDelete*picks up a rotary phone and cracks you in the back of the head with it*
ReplyDeleteI don't think so, I think I read that if Jeff Hardy were to return he'd be on his last strike to. I think. Was he on his last strike? I only remember the suspension before Wrestlemania 24.
ReplyDeleteOrton is the definition of blase, and despite his cartoonish viper routine he spits in the face of wrestling psychology. He can receive the beating of his life for 10 minutes, yet one RKO and it's all moot? Pass.
ReplyDelete"I'm in Ortonnnnnnnnnn state o' mind,"
ReplyDeleteWhich means i need to act like a buttmonkey arsechuggler douche spigot
I think it's because he's still a draw/merchandise mover. I find Orton as boring and tedious as the next guy, but Randy is definitely over. He gets probably the most consistent pops of any full-time wrestler in the company, excluding Punk, Daniel Bryan and on a good day, Cena. And that's his saving grace. If Randy received complete apathy, he'd probably be wrestling Ken Anderson in TNA right now.
ReplyDeleteShield, particularly Ambrose, should get more promo time. Although, that may turn them face...
ReplyDeleteSo every top babyface in wrestling history spits in the face of wrestling psychology? Because you just described every babyface Randy Savage, Hulk Hogan, John Cena and (many times) Shawn Michaels match.
ReplyDeleteShoot, we used to call it "Playing Ricky Morton".
ReplyDeleteHow often does he actually hit the RKO after slapping the mat? That's like whining about HBK tuning up the band even though he rarely hit the superkick after.
ReplyDeleteYuuuup.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I know it's nothing new. I'm not sure why Orton doing it in particular bugs me. I just feel like I know exactly how every match he ever has is going to go, and I can't say that about Michaels or even Cena.
ReplyDeleteBret Hart and others who have never wrestled him have said the same thing. So it's not just WWE propaganda.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a jab at Orton, it was at the announcers. It would be like if they ALWAYS said HBK hit Sweet Chin Music out of nowhere.
ReplyDeleteI know you're an Orton fan but you know who he reminds me of right now? Davey Richards. Former world champions who are running in place and are theoretically part of the title picture but aren't in consideration.
ReplyDeleteI think the difference is that Michaels would sell a beating through his comebacks. Cena only sells T-shirts, and Orton, even up to giving the RKO, somehow magically becomes unharmed, like he had some red/green herb mix or something.
ReplyDeleteI've never quite gotten that philosophy. Mick Foley drew a lot of money being a funny guy. So did The Rock.
ReplyDeleteThat's the one drawback of having old wrestlers run territories or control the book -- so many of them get in shells and think there's only one right way to do pro wrestling. It's probably why WWE's matches are so formulaic.
Austin drew a lot of money in the summer of 2001 being funny. It's about getting over as a badass first, I think. Foley didn't really do comedy until the Rock and Sock connection, Rock's humor was derived from him being a trash-talking jerk and he didn't really go into comedy until Rock and Sock. It was part of character evolution.
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily buy that WWE matches are formulaic, more that a lot of the top guys (Cena and Orton jump out but you can include Triple H) are so badly overexposed that it's hard for them to do something original.
As a side note: did you read the complete Johns run on GL? I lost track after Brightest Day and heard Tomasi was rocking it but Johns wasn't able to keep it up.
That's akin to what I'm getting at. There's no desperation in what Orton does. His brand of "out-of-nowhere" finish is irritating, because it tells the story of every victory he has. He turns his matches into formalities.
ReplyDeleteReally, he should be watching DDP videos. There's a guy who could sell a beating and pull off his "can hit you at any time" finisher without being (too) ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteI think Rock's trash-talking jerk persona (pre-Rock and Sock) WAS funny and drew money because people found him entertaining. But yeah, there was a serious aspect to it as well. But I think fans will pay money to be entertained, whether it's with something serious or something funny.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I've read every Green Lantern-related title publishes since Johns took over in 2004 with the exceptions of New 52 Red Lanterns (which I dropped because it was terrible) and New Guardians (which I picked up just when it started to get good close to the end of Bedard's run).
Tomasi was awesome for a long time on Corps, but I don't think Geoff missed a beat. The Third Army was kind of a dud, but his character work with Simon Baz made up for it. I'm firmly in the camp that enjoyed the entirety of Johns' run. The actual Brightest Day mini-series was a jumbled mess, but I loved the GL tie-in, and I'm in the minority that loved War of the Green Lanterns, particularly the Hal-and-Guy buddy cop stuff.
New 52 GL was great, to me, especially the development done to Sinestro's character and the creation of Baz. And without spoiling anything, GL #20 was one of my favorite single comic issues ever.
Your mileage may vary, of course, but Johns' Green Lantern is the reason I still buy comic books.
I simply don't agree that Michaels sold the beatings through his comebacks. Remember, Scott used to call it "Jesusing up" when Michaels would hit the forearm, kip-up, elbow, etc. and ignore the previous beating. I don't have a problem with it, either. It's just a part of wrestling, to me. Everyone's got their own style of comeback. Sting's, to me, were always the best. The surge of energy, the "feel no pain" aspect, and the wonderful timing. I couldn't care less that he suddenly was more energetic than he was in the opening minutes.
ReplyDeleteI was an Austin guy and the Rock reminded me too much of bullies I knew in school. Which was why he was a great heel. The best thing about Rock as a face (pre-Hollywood and half-assing it Rock of recent times) was that he was basically the same character, just with a glint of goodness. Same arrogance but less of a prick to other faces. To compare Cena to the Rock: Rock would never have kissed Eve (in this case Cena is the non-union Mexican equivalent of the Rock and Ryder is the non-union Mexican equivalent of Foley).
ReplyDeleteActually, if Cena turns heel I want to see him basically having an on-screen nervous breakdown. If anything, I want him to turn the annoying jokes and corny pandering way up. "Feel free to boo! I'm out here FOR YOU and as long as you're having a GOOD TIME I'm doing my job! If you're not having a GOOD TIME then I lost my marriage for NOTHING."
Orton is boring. He makes Lance Storm look like Shawn Michaels.
ReplyDeleteI guess my point is that Orton doesn't really "come back," per se. He has his moveset and the pounding-the-mat mannerisms, but there's no "five moves of doom" to send the match into the homestretch. The Hulking/Jesusing up finish, if anything, added flair to a foregone conclusion. (Although I'd argue that Michaels' finishes were always in doubt, even during his comebacks, especially during his second run.) In Orton's case there's just the RKO after a protracted beating. Which can be impressive if he hits it in a creative way, but also makes me cringe because it seems like he doesn't earn it.
ReplyDeleteBut ... I thought the powerslam and elevated DDT (and slingshot suplex, or did he stop using that?) were his set-ups to the RKO, in general.
ReplyDeleteI was a Rock guy and didn't like Austin until he turned heel, but other than that, I agree wholeheartedly.
ReplyDeleteI have long contended that whenever Cena turns heel, he needs to change NOTHING. Keep the same moveset, the same promos, and keep being booked like superman, just against faces. But just amp up the cheesiness even more. Wear that cocky shit-eating grin he's known for.
Threadjack but only kind of: Orton talking about Cena on radio is hysterical. I can't stop laughing at the dropkick story.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/2013/6/6/4403246/randy-orton-says-john-cena-cuts-babyface-promos-that-make-you-want-to-kill-yourself
If we got THIS Randy Orton, personality-wise, most of us would be bigger fans.
ReplyDeleteDon't get me wrong, I'm glad Orton's languishing in the mid-card, but don't you think the "ohhhhh it's the two strikes" is overrated?
ReplyDeleteIf they wanted to run with him, do you really think he'd get strike three? Can't honestly remember what the first two strikes were, but assuming a combination of weed or roids, why would they care *if they decide to push him to the moon*.
Only way I imagine two strikes being any kind of hindrance of a push is if they think she'd go wacky and text Chavo to take care of his dogs.
Stop.
ReplyDeletethe residuals of the hot streak were trailing off in 01. Austin's heel turn did not draw alot of money in 01, thats why he went back to stale ol redneck babyface.
plus i dont think its fair trying to apply a character tweak once some is bulletproof.
cuz Austin as redneck baby is "x".
at his worse he will always have "x"
you give him the "what" character tweak, now you have "x+y"
As opposed to Angle started off as a comedy heel, "a"
But totally abandoned "a" for wrestling machine badass "b"
because he doesnt do "a" anymore.
im sorry but this is the best way i can explain my opinion.
Cena always acting invincible reminds me of one of the big flaws of the "Tomb Raider" movies. At every dangerous situation, Angelina Jolie SMILES like it's "oh ho, this stupid thing thinks it can kill me? NO WAY". With no vulnerability, there's no reason to think the villain is anything other than a putz. It's the same reason why "Cool Heels" are horrible for business- because they're always blowing off the babyfaces like they're nothing, the babyfaces ARE nothing, especially when the bad guys win and get to act all smug again.
ReplyDeleteI was told there would be no math?
ReplyDeleteOrton is smooth as silk. Everything he does is ridiculously fluid. The only guy who compares is HBK 96 - first retirement (who I have besting everyone in that category)
ReplyDeleteHOWEVER, I find it really tough to get emotionally invested in his matches/angles. He's so one note. His interviews are awful. He comes across as super detached, which I get is part of his sociopath character but it makes me mentally tune out on him.
Also, his smoothness hurts him, in my opinion, in that he wrestles like a video game character. His matches seem like choreography and not fights. The moves happen when they're supposed to, and they look good, but they somehow don't mean anything.
In a nutshell, f that guy ;)
Its more of a vice versa: not so much "we can't push him because he has two strikes" as "he has two strikes, so we don't want to push him." He'd probably have been in his millionth match with Cena by now otherwise. They just have lost their faith in him.
ReplyDeleteBut he doesn't sell to get to that point. He just stands there and then when he decides its time to go into his finishing sequence, he does. Plus he never builds any sympathy because he never stays in peril for too long, because every two moves he hits his ugly clothesline. He has no psychology whatsoever. I just don't understand how anyone sees a good worker there.
ReplyDeleteThat's like one of the cooler subtle moments of storytelling they've done in recent years: Christian explaining WHY he turned face (after inducting Edge into the HoF). It stood out because so often a face turn is treated as a given.
ReplyDeleteYou're really gonna go down with the ship on this Orton defending, aren't you? SHough and me are two guys you'll never convince. Especially since you don't seem to have much a defense besides ignoring the things we're all seeing.
ReplyDeleteJolie is an atrocious actress. I can't think of anything I really liked her in.
ReplyDeleteGia was good
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen this mentioned but I actually thought his best persona was Evolution era Orton. He was the handsome athletic sleazy playboy and people were really buying him until he was pushed to the World Title too fast. I also thought his Wrestlemania 21 persona was just about perfect. I never cared for the crazy guy, sociopath character, I just can't buy that that is who he is. His current character is extremely played out heel or face.
ReplyDeleteA big old chunk of Cody Rhodes' head says otherwise. Plus it's convenient how Anderson, Kofi, and Big Show were all to blame when there were botches during matches with Orton, even though for the most part none of them have reputations for being sloppy.
ReplyDeleteShe was really good in "Gia", and I thought she was fascinating in "Alexander", but she's so legit crazy (people forget that before she was Mia Farrow 2.0 with all the kids, she was a suicidal attention-whore who was being as outgoingly extreme as possible) that many of her roles are just her acting all super-confidant and weird.
ReplyDeleteUm.....Show definitely doesn't, but Kofi? Anderson? Really?
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with one guy being the Shield's mouthpiece, why not Dean?
ReplyDeleteAnd I keep hearing this "Rollins is horrible" crap, wasn't he ROH champ? How bad can the guy be, ROH doesn't have a rep for putting titles on people who suck. (Assume Steve Corino's run as a tag champ never happened for the sake of the argument.)
That's actually a clever way to get wrestling down to a science.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, you get a like for the "Stop." comment.
my bad, by saying ROllins is terrible, i meant on the stick.
ReplyDeleteHe can work his ass off bell to bell. He is the best in the ring of the three.
Basically he is the best of Jeff Hardy and CM Punk
Considering some of the shit Jeff has pulled, I don't know if you've complimented Seth or insulted him.
ReplyDeletelol... this is a compliment. Rollins is like 08 Jeff Hardy. right before he left the WWE.
ReplyDeleteWhen else have you heard about them being sloppy, besides when Orton put the blame on them? I've never heard it, but I might have missed something.
ReplyDeleteI think wwe and TNA should Orton and hardy. I think both guys could help improve both shows.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what Orton contract status is, but he desperately needs a change of scenery via TNA. He's going nowhere fast in WWE. He's still young and he's an excellent worker when he wants to be.
ReplyDeleteHe could really give TNA a shot in the arm. I can see him coming in with a lot of fanfare (a la Angle) and playing the tweener role initially, before turning face proper & extinguishing the Aces. Plus, Hogan likes him.
p.s. - I just found out he's signed until 2019!! Jesus H Christ! If I were him, I'd consider lighting up a joint live on RAW, just to get fired LOL
ReplyDeleteAdmittedly, I can only think of incidents involving Orton when it comes to Kofi, but, c'mon, Anderson in WWE got injured every other month.
ReplyDeleteI think he'd do better as a non-Aces heel. Man without a country. "Trusting people is overrated. I'm out for ME."
ReplyDeleteThat I can see, ever since he came back from #2 (not a gym bag), he's been the epitome of bland. If I'm Hunter and I see Orton moping through the motions, there's no reason I go to bat for him to push him. If Orton wasn't a self-entitled awol dick, he'd try to make lemonades out of his lemon push. Hate to compare him to Punk and Bryan but Punk made the remnants of Nexus watchable and Bryan's possibly the most over guy in the company right now a year into "goat face". Neither have strikes issues but they've done a hell of a lot with shittier (again, no gym bags) spots than Orton's had.
ReplyDeleteSo, a day in which you're breathing, then?
ReplyDeletenah, not me, brah, i was sayin' that if i was in an orton state of mind i'd act that cause thats how he acts
ReplyDeletenot me, i'm a cool dude
Eh. Figured birds of a feather, something something.
ReplyDeleteEXACTLY!
ReplyDeleteGood workers don't cut off their opponents offense every ten seconds.
He has terrible babyface timing. And there's no sense of drive or passion in anything he does. He's all style.
And his heel work is ditch-water dull too.
SD ratings with Orton on top were not good.
ReplyDeleteWhat were thes specixifc botxches rwalted to thsatg? Cjz mostley it was him being a aclutXxz.
ReplyDeleteRyan, get off the net, you're drunk.
ReplyDeleteGo watch Shawn Michaels or Mick Foley at their best, and then go watch what you call "selling" from Orton.
ReplyDeleteI've seen as much of both of them as you have. Orton's a fine seller. Is he Shawn Michaels? No, but few are. Also, he's a spectacular bumper and made the Sweet Chin Music look better than anyone did.
ReplyDeleteI'll be the first to complain about HBK stomping on the mat before the superkick because it was fucking stupid.
ReplyDelete