10 Absolutely Incredible Wrestling Comparisons
8. How Time Passed Before And After The Randy Orton Years
Think about the year 2002, and what it meant to Vince McMahon.
He was celebrating 20 years at the helm of and as the creative force behind WWE, during which time he oversaw dramatic change. He expanded into and conquered the vast majority of an unrecognisable world using a brigade of moralistic superheroes and cartoonish villains under an old glory colour scheme. Then he almost went to prison. Then he soaked his WWF in blood red, sanctioned chair shots to the head, widespread breast exposure, and became a grotesque extension of himself in storylines. He then bought his last remaining competition, sat atop the wrestling world, and celebrated by plunging his tongue down the throats of various blonde women because he f*cking could, pal.
In 20 years, Vince lived a life worthy of a sweeping Hollywood biopic epic, one too fanciful to actually get made.
Now think about Randy Orton's 20 years in the company, and how little has changed, which exacerbates the feeling of pure stasis brought on by his particular style and - until very recently - character range. After 2002, the ropes changed colour a few times and...
...that's it.
No real sets outside of 'Mania, a belching echo of Vince Russo's impromptu match format, opening talk-heavy promos, authority figures, the whole bit.
Not a single meaningful thing has changed WWE's way of doing things.