Orton V Wyatt
Total Wrestling Magazine|March 2017

Randy Orton has been one of the faces of WWE since 2004. An enormous star for the entirety of the 2000s and beyond, he has faded into mediocrity over the last two years. A main event program, and a layered story involving Bray Wyatt, has ‘The Viper’ regaining the attention of the WWE Universe. Join Erik Beaston as he investigates Orton’s resurgence, how his current storyline helps him and how it all benefits wrestling’s hottest brand, SmackDown Live.

Orton V Wyatt

In the world of professional wrestling, the worst thing a performer can become is stale.

Especially when that performer is a household name, one of the few legitimate stars the industry has produced in the last 15 years.

That is the situation Randy Orton found himself in when he disappeared from television in 2015. A future Hall of Famer and a Superstar whose accomplishments helped make him one of the defining performers of the ‘Ruthless Aggression’ era, he had become a shell of the character that once captivated audiences. His motivations unclear, his status as a lead baby face waning thanks to the apathy with which fans approached him, he was in desperate need of a spark.

Injury forced him to the sidelines, though, and he faded into the realm of insignificance. In his absence, Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, AJ Styles, Chris Jericho and Kevin Owens carried the ball for WWE. So stale had he become that it was easy to forget that Orton, one of the top three stars of his generation, had not appeared on television in months.

It was a harsh realisation for Orton and company to come to. After years of providing fans with unforgettable battles involving Mick Foley, Triple H, John Cena, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns, he was forgotten by that same audience.

The 2016 brand extension brought with it, though, the opportunity for new faces and the rejuvenation of longtime stars. Drafted to SmackDown, it became very clear, very quickly, Orton was at the top of head writer Ryan Ward’s list to feature heavily on the weekly broadcast. To rebuild Orton into a compelling character, one who could headline pay per views and reign supreme atop the brand, Ward enlisted the enigmatic and engaging Bray Wyatt.

This story is from the March 2017 edition of Total Wrestling Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the March 2017 edition of Total Wrestling Magazine.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TOTAL WRESTLING MAGAZINEView All
Bea Priestley
Total Wrestling Magazine

Bea Priestley

Bea Priestley is bright and cheerful even at 9am on a Monday morning. A long way from what fans expect from her. To them she is a hard nosed bad girl, but on the other end of a Skype call is a very confident young woman who is keen to talk to James Truepenny about her past, her influences and her immediate future.

time-read
4 mins  |
February 2017
Orton V Wyatt
Total Wrestling Magazine

Orton V Wyatt

Randy Orton has been one of the faces of WWE since 2004. An enormous star for the entirety of the 2000s and beyond, he has faded into mediocrity over the last two years. A main event program, and a layered story involving Bray Wyatt, has ‘The Viper’ regaining the attention of the WWE Universe. Join Erik Beaston as he investigates Orton’s resurgence, how his current storyline helps him and how it all benefits wrestling’s hottest brand, SmackDown Live.

time-read
6 mins  |
March 2017
Jeff Jarrett
Total Wrestling Magazine

Jeff Jarrett

In 2002, Jeff Jarrett founded Total Non-Stop Action Wrestling and after being with the company for nearly 11 years left in 2013.

time-read
7 mins  |
March 2017
Female Focus Lana Austin
Total Wrestling Magazine

Female Focus Lana Austin

While WWE are having their women’s wrestling resurgence across the pond the UK scene is also seeing a batch of very talented female performers coming through with names such as Nixon Newell, Kay Lee Ray and Viper impressing across the length and breadth of the British isles. One performer whose name should also be mentioned in the same breath as those competitors is Lana Austin.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2016
On the Spot With: Bayley
Total Wrestling Magazine

On the Spot With: Bayley

On the Spot With: Bayley

time-read
9 mins  |
December 2016
Thy Kingdom Come New Japan Pro Wrestling in the Tokyo Dome
Total Wrestling Magazine

Thy Kingdom Come New Japan Pro Wrestling in the Tokyo Dome

This coming January 4, “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada of Chaos will make his second defence of his current IWGP title reign against Kenny Omega of Bullet Club’s Elite in the main event of Wrestle Kingdom 11 at the  Tokyo Dome. James Truepenny looks back at what has made that day so special, and why New Japan in The Egg Dome has become synonymous with great matches and big money feuds.

time-read
5 mins  |
December 2016
Examining The Face That Runs The Place John Cena
Total Wrestling Magazine

Examining The Face That Runs The Place John Cena

Another classic encounter on his resume, this one a five-star match against AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble, John Cena once again reigns atop the sports-entertainment mountain.

time-read
6 mins  |
February 2017
Heidi Katrina
Total Wrestling Magazine

Heidi Katrina

Heidi Katrina is a thoroughly modern wrestler, but her mind set is decidedly old school. James Truepenny caught up with her between Dojo sessions for REINA two continents away from home.

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2017
Alexis Rose
Total Wrestling Magazine

Alexis Rose

Alexis Rose is a name you are going to hear a lot more of in 2017.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 2017
Cody Rhodes
Total Wrestling Magazine

Cody Rhodes

Since leaving WWE, Cody Rhodes has been a man who’s in hot demand.

time-read
6 mins  |
January 2017