Randy Orton 'Refuses' To Wrestle Bray Wyatt - WWE Book Battle Royal To Determine Number 1 Contender
Randy Orton won't face his master... for now.
Bray Wyatt and Randy Orton's implosion may not be as close as first thought. The duo engaged in a brief staredown after Bray's WWE Championship victory at Elimination Chamber, and after weeks of toying with the Eater of Worlds, Orton's long-awaited betrayal seemed imminent.
Things took a big twist on SmackDown, however. Wyatt successfully defended his WWE Championship in a three-way match with AJ Styles and John Cena, and Orton came to the ring in the aftermath. Instead of challenging Wyatt, however, Orton pledged his allegiance to his "master," bent the knee, and seemingly refused to face him in Orlando.
General Manager Daniel Bryan followed-up on Talking Smack by stating that next week's SmackDown will feature a number one contender's battle royal, with the winner supposedly facing Wyatt in Orlando. Coupled with Orton's announcement, this had muddied the waters in the WWE Championship scene.
Orton's deception has been on the cards since the moment he first joined the Wyatt Family. Randy vs. Wyatt remains the most likely direction for WrestleMania, but it looks like WWE are set on prolonging the inevitable split. Regardless of what happens in the battle royal, however, Orton's refusal is almost certainly a hoax, and the latest step in his master plan.