5 Wrestlers We Want To See Randy Orton Face In His WWE Return (& 5 We Don't)
Mia Walsh Randy Orton is finally back in WWE, making a return to the company after over a year out with a potentially career-threatening back injury. Coming back at Survivor Series for WarGames against The Judgment Day is certainly one hell of a way to come back, but looking forwards there is a lot to look forward to in terms of potential opponents.
Every Major Injury Of Randy Orton's WWE Career, Explained
Randy Orton is one of WWE's biggest stars and has had to overcome a number of major injuries to retain his main event status.There are some feuds Orton should 100% avoid, with fans not wanting to see boring opponents or repeated rivals from the past, but there are some that fans do want, whether that be because it will promise a great match or feud, or because it is something completely fresh and new.
10 We Want To See Randy Orton Face: Cody Rhodes
Randy Orton & Cody Rhodes Have A Long History
- Randy Orton formed The Legacy faction in 2008 with Cody Rhodes
- Two masterful storytellers in a story that makes sense
Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes have never had a singles feud, but they have a long history which would no doubt promise a thrilling tale and one with Rhodes finally overcoming his mentor.
Orton playing a respectable veteran or even a heel in this would both offer great scenarios. This is a must for WWE, and it is one of the few feuds that Orton really needs to have before hanging up his boots, whenever that may be. WWE should arguably wait until Rhodes is a world champion before booking this.
9 We Don’t Want To See Randy Orton Face: Bobby Lashley
Randy Orton Would Have A Slow Match With Bobby Lashley
- Randy Orton and Bobby Lashley would be fresh, but that isn’t a good thing
- Two wrestlers in their 40s who should be facing younger guys at this point
Bobby Lashley and Randy Orton would probably have a good, serviceable match, but with how both men work, it wouldn’t be anything special, at least not at this point in their respective careers.
It isn’t a feud that has been done before, but it feels like the boat has passed and the time for it being perfect has sailed. Perhaps during Lashley’s huge push a few years back or in his first WWE stint, but not in 2023.
8 We Want To See Randy Orton Face: LA Knight
LA Knight Would Be Elevated By Randy Orton
- LA Knight needs to keep up his momentum in WWE
- LA Knight would get the best out of Orton, and vice versa
Randy Orton works best when someone brings out more of his personality, and someone with the charisma of LA Knight would no doubt get the best out of Randy Orton.
Knight needs to keep momentum and find ways to stay over after a big loss to Roman Reigns and due to the fact that he likely won’t get a world title any time soon. A non-title rivalry and win against Orton would ensure that he retains his current star power and buzz. It is also a new match that has never happened before.
7 We Don’t Want To See Randy Orton Face: Drew McIntyre
We’ve Seen Randy Orton Vs. Drew McIntyre Too Recently
- Randy Orton feuded with Drew McIntyre in 2020
- The pair had several matches, and fans don’t want it again
Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton worked pretty well with one another back in 2020 when McIntyre was WWE Championship during the ThunderDome Era, but their feud certainly dragged on too long with too many matches. Not enough time has passed for this to be done again.
Why Randy Orton Regrets His Classic WrestleMania Match Vs. The Undertaker
Randy Orton had a bad attitude in the early days of his WWE career, and he even disrespected The Undertaker before their WrestleMania 21 match.Fans don’t want to see these two go at it anymore. It has been done, it was fine for what it was, but it wasn’t at the level that fans would want to see it now.
6 We Want To See Randy Orton Face: Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens Had Never Feuded With Randy Orton
- Randy Orton and Kevin Owens have mostly avoided one another
- Kevin Owens and Randy Orton could steal a show
Kevin Owens has faced most big names on WWE’s main roster, and he has done battle with Orton before, but never one-on-one at a PPV and never in a big feud. They would create magic together for sure, with both being world class at what they do between the ropes.
Give them some time on the mic, some personal animosity, and twenty minutes on a big show, and they can steal it for certain. It is a shock that WWE has never had them feud, but it is better late than never.
5 We Don’t Want To See Randy Orton Face: Austin Theory
A Repeat Of Austin Theory Vs. John Cena Would Be Poor
- WWE might want to try and push Theory against another legend
- Fans groan any time Theory is on screen
Whilst it may be different under Triple H, there may be a desire from WWE to try and make Austin Theory a star yet again, this time by overcoming Randy Orton in a generation vs. generation feud.
It didn’t work with Cena, and whilst Orton would likely give Theory more in terms of getting over in promos and inside the ring, it is evident now that Theory isn’t the future main eventer WWE previously envisioned. Fans do not want to see this at all.
4 We Want To See Randy Orton Face: Logan Paul
Logan Paul Would Learn A Lot From Randy Orton
- Logan Paul is still gaining experience
- It is easy to imagine a great match between Logan Paul and Randy Orton
Logan Paul has yet to have a bad match in WWE, and working with someone as crisp and smooth as Orton, it is easy to imagine having a brilliant match, especially if Paul is able to bring in his personality and sports entertainment goodness.
Paul would learn a lot from Orton for sure, and scoring a victory over someone of that name value would raise his stock in WWE even further. Paul has succeeded on all fronts thus far, and fans would likely be open to seeing this matchup.
3 We Don’t Want To See Randy Orton Face: Karrion Kross
Karrion Kross Would Bore In A Feud With Randy Orton
- Karrion Kross has been WWE’s go-to for babyfaces to win a feud
- Randy Orton wouldn’t benefit from facing Kross
If Randy Orton’s first few months see him as a babyface again, and if WWE wants to give him some easy victories to gain some momentum, Kross feels like a choice WWE would go for.
However, this would result in a bore-fest of a match as both men are very slow and methodical workers, and it wouldn’t make for good viewing by any means.
2 We Want To See Randy Orton Face: Roman Reigns
The Tribal Chief Vs. The Viper Is Fresh
- Roman Reigns and Randy Orton haven’t feuded for a long time
- Roman Reigns has faced every big name in WWE except Orton
This is a matchup fans have seen before, but not under Reigns’ “Tribal Chief” iteration. Reigns’ current title reign has been nothing short of incredible, and the names he has defeated along the way has been stunning. However, on a long list including John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Edge, Goldberg, Daniel Bryan, Rey Mysterio, Drew McIntyre, and more, it is missing Randy Orton.
Roman Reigns' Definitive 15 Best WWE Matches, Ranked
Roman Reigns is the greatest WWE Superstar of this generation, with a long list of classic matches.Orton and Reigns for the world title is a massive match, and prior to Reigns (likely) losing his gold next year, WWE should no doubt pull the trigger on this huge clash.
1 We Don’t Want To See Randy Orton Face: Seth Rollins
Randy Orton Vs. Seth Rollins Has Been Done Before
- Randy Orton and Seth Rollins have good chemistry, but fans don’t want it again
- The pair had a long feud back in 2015
There isn’t too much interest in seeing Randy Orton and Seth Rollins. They have battled far too many times to really convince fans that it would be interesting to see them lock horns. Sure, they would likely have a good match, but Orton has plenty of other names that fans want to see him go against.
It should be noted that their feud back in 2015 did eventually become tiresome, and it isn’t worth running that risk again.
