Why Randy? Why? How Randy Orton could’ve responded could set the tone for months to come. But how would it have been accepted by the fans?
This is something many of us didn’t think would be uttered for a few months given Randy Orton’s recent face turn against AJ Styles and his history with Edge. Even when he was setting Edge up for an RKO last week, both men’s eyes were glistening. It was an emotional moment and Orton ruined it.
Since then, fans have been asking, “Why, Randy? Why?”
Why indeed
Storyline-wise, it could be played off that Orton wants to protect Edge by showing him things have changed and that it’s dangerous to step foot into the ring. Orton had his chance at last night’s Raw (2/3), but he remained silent under the barrage of the fans’ boos.
He tried several times, but he couldn’t find the words.
Most likely, he was given a couple of ways to go, depending on how the fans reacted. If they were flat, he probably would’ve been brash like with Kofi Kingston (“Stupid, stupid, stupid, of you to come back, Edge.”)
That would’ve opened the door for him to be the gatekeeper, the unsung judge of who was capable and worthy to be in the ring and who wasn’t. He would’ve come across as arrogant and condescending and it would’ve ignited the fans and the boos would’ve made it a glorious moment.
He would then continue along the lines of doing it in Edge’s best interest by showing him how fast he could get hurt. It’d put Edge so far over it’d be ridiculous, and would’ve given Edge every incentive imaginable to make it back from being taken out on a gurney to face Orton.
That simple speech would’ve given their feud the fire it’d need to last through WrestleMania where two legends would battle for the right of Edge to remain in the WWE.
Afterwards, since Edge would win, Orton would offer his hand and the fence could be mended and things would return as they should be.
It’d be a wonderful moment for fans storytelling-wise we haven’t seen in a long time. It’d hearken back to yesteryear when storylines were more important than the big matches or the big moves.
It’d be a throwback to when the WWE ruled the world instead of limping along like they are now; a wounded king drawing the scavengers.
It ain’t over
This angle is still possible, in fact, even more so given the emotion Orton showed in the ring on Raw. He looked every bit the beaten man after what he did, and was unable to face the fans’ wrath.
It has every chance to make his eventual admission all the more powerful and heartbreaking for Edge.
Edge would then use that fact his “brother” thinks so lowly of him that he’d do everything he can to prove Orton wrong, all the while thanking him for pushing him and giving him the chance Orton sought to prevent.
When they face one another at WrestleMania 36, there’s little doubt this would be the match fans would want to see.
Lost in this entire storyline is the tragedy of injuries. Edge had to retire early because of injuries, and not he’s been given the opportunity to take part in a potentially storyline for the ages with the one person in the WWE that can still creative powerful stories in the ring.
As bad as it is to say this, AJ Styles being injured by Edge, of all people, at the Royal Rumble may be he best thing that could’ve happened to the WWE.
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