10 Best WWE Character Arcs Since Last Year's WrestleMania
5. Randy Orton (Bitter Veteren To Unhinged Necessary Evil)
As we've already mentioned, Randy Orton ended his night at 'Mania 35 staring at the stars after being bested by 'The Phenomenal' AJ Styles.
With that, Orton decided to wash his hands of the former TNA and NJPW world champ, focusing his attention on the new WWE Champion Kofi Kingston instead.
Orton shifted his character into that of a despicable soul who wanted to stifle Kingston's progress as a main event star, harking back to their 2009 feud. It didn't work and he was dispatched by the champ, before eventually being shipped off to Raw in the 2019 Draft.
This move led to Orton playing a multitude of mind games with his new colleagues.
Orton seemed more unpredictable than ever, even tricking old rival AJ Styles into believing he was injured in order to strike when he least suspected it.
This, however, pales in comparison to what Orton had in store for his returning buddy Edge after the Royal Rumble.
After a hero's welcome back to WWE shores, Orton confessed that Edge had saved his career/life. Then, before the fans even had a chance to breathe in the feel good moment, Orton struck again with a cruel mixture of an RKO and multiple conchairtos.
Orton later claimed this attack was designed to save Edge from himself and from any further injuries inside of the ring.
'The Viper' was a nasty piece of work coming into 'Mania 35, but coming into 'Mania 36 he's become an unhinged force of necessary evil.
There's more than one shade of bad guy, you know...