I'm starting this thread because I was arguing with someone in another thread over whether Orton could survive in Japan. I claimed Orton was boring and he said that I'm not being objective and questioned whether anyone else thought the same way. So heres my thread for it. Is Randy Orton nowadays boring or not?
He's just been around for so long and done everything there is to do. He's also a guy who doesn't have to fight and claw for his spot anymore so when he's in a feud/storyline that doesn't interest him he doesn't give it 100%. When he's involved in something that he finds enjoyable though there's very few wrestlers in the world more interesting and entertaining than him. He's a guy that the IWC is very hot and cold on, when he's at his best his fans talk loudly about him, but when he's stuck in crap like the Wyatt feud then his detractors become very vocal.
He's just been around for so long and done everything there is to do. He's also a guy who doesn't have to fight and claw for his spot anymore so when he's in a feud/storyline that doesn't interest him he doesn't give it 100%. When he's involved in something that he finds enjoyable though there's very few wrestlers in the world more interesting and entertaining than him. He's a guy that the IWC is very hot and cold on, when he's at his best his fans talk loudly about him, but when he's stuck in crap like the Wyatt feud then his detractors become very vocal.
When they give Orton an edge, he's pretty good. His feud with Brock last year was the best thing he's done in a while.
You can tell that Randy is literally just going through the motions at this point though. Turn him back into an aggressive heel and let him beat the hell out of someone. Hell, let him have that edge as a face.
Right now, at this moment in time? Hell yes, his promos are dull, he's done literally nothing interesting since winning the belt from Bray, his character seems to be all over the place too.
However, Orton used to be my personal favourite growing up, as the Legend Killer, and during his Age of Orton run? Loved him, thought he was immense, great heel work and i liked his matches too. He's clearly slowed down a bit due to age and injuries but his face character is doing nothing for him really, he just doesn't seem interested right now, which is kind of a trend for Orton these days.
I don't just find him boring as a character and a promo, but I find his ring work boring as shit too. The resthold era is over, every Orton match is paced like a glacier and he only has one cool move in his whole moveset. Orton doesn't belong in this fast paced, high spot era, he belongs in the 80's holding Hogan in a chinlock while the ref raises his arm 3 times.
i feel like he should have retired after his series of matches with christian in 2011. that was by far the best work i've seen out've orton, as they knocked it out the park every match. says a lot about christian too though, one of the most underrated workers of all time imo.
I wasn't watching during the era when he was supposedly interesting when he was doing the punt, but since I got back into WWE in the last 4/5 years I can't remember a single time I found his character interesting.
To me everything about the guy is bland. His entrance is boring, his promos are boring and most of his matches are dull unless he's in there with someone really good who the crowd is invested in (see his series with Daniel Bryan). But yes these things are all subjective so I'm sure other people find him very interesting, but he has never done anything for me personally.
Like others had said, when he's motivated he's great, when he's not...eh.
Regardless though, he's one of the best in ring workers in WWE and his finisher is the most over in WWE too so he is and will always be seen as entertaining and over with the casuals.
I personally don't think he is.But, can definitely see why others say so.
Wyatt is booked like crap & it will spread to everybody who feuds with him maybe it be Ambrose,Cena or Orton.
The only reason people think it's okay for Jinder to main event is because of Orton's star power.Only other guy who can main event with Jinder is Cena.
Only time people cared about Harper,wyatts or AA was due to Orton.Without Orton in Cena's absence the smackdown live events revenue would have been shit.
Only Thing Randy Orton fans can bring up is his Legend Killer gimmick, which is 14 years ago LOL, Even that gimmick ran it's course and got boring. Problem with Orton is Vince over push him to be this mega star.
He at times lacks motivation without a doubt. Overall however he isn't boring, unless it's in the same manner in which Bobby Roode is considered boring. Which is to say not at all boring. People probably don't don't fully understand what they are trying to do with their work. They are a throwback and they want to make every facet of the match important. Many fans these days would rather see a 20 minute match with nothing, but high spots and impact moves maybe even a car crash spot or two as well. There isn't anything wrong with liking either style. So I think it comes down to personal taste because they are both polarizing styles. For me though Orton is a very talented performer and when motivated is probably 1 or 1a in terms of performers currently in WWE.
His ring work is still pretty good. Not a fan of the spot monkey indy style that seems to have taken over so I've got no problems with that. It's his character and promos that are completely boring now. He needs to turn heel and revert to his Viper/punt kick or Legend Killer days or something similar. That is when he was an interesting character. His current face persona is the epitome of boring.
Saying "Orton could be great when the handcuffs are off" doesn't fly with me because that very argument can apply to many other talents as well. Difference between Randy and most talents is that he has the clout to say "fuck you" and do his own thing if he felt so inclined. But he doesn't. He coasts, IMO.
That said, I, personally, find Orton boring. I do so today, I did at the beginning of his career, in the middle of his career and at every other point in time of his career. Dude just bores me. That's not to say I have no respect for him, it's just that he never has, at any point in his career that I can recall, entertained me.
So, yes, I find Randy Orton boring. Not without talent, but boring? Yeah, I do.
Each to their own, but I've always found Randy Orton extremely boring. On TV I'll usually skip his matches unless he's wrestling someone I especially like. Of the few house shows I've been to he's been at all but one, and even then I can't find any interest in him.
Orton should be a guy who works only the major PPVs now. He's earned the right to be a part timer, and it would make him more interesting when he comes back to a huge pop.
He can be. He is right now. It's very obvious when he doesn't give a shit, like right now. But he's also someone that even when he doesn't give a shit, he's so naturally gifted and respected by the crowd he can pull a great match out of his ass.
And when he's motivated, especially when he's a heel, he can be great.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Wrestling Forum
23.4M posts
266.5K members
Since 2002
A forum community dedicated to all Wrestling enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about WWE, AEW, Ring of Honor, Impact and all forms of professional and amateur wrestling.