10 Fascinating WWE Backstage Facts About Roman Reigns
5. And Randy Orton
Randy Orton is not for everyone.
His lifeless, monotonous style has bored many, his lack of character is offputting, and his storylines haven't been as energetic or exuberant since 2005. Orton's worked the same match on a yearly basis ever since, injecting a concoction of rest holds and a pretty gnarly dropkick into every bout. It's hardly inspirational and it's why Roman Reigns wasn't always so keen to work Orton.
The story goes that Orton, in working with Reigns throughout the latter's infant years on Raw and SmackDown, used his crowd-killing passive style to do just that; kill the crowd and, in turn, kill Reigns' push. The matches they had weren't terrible - a SummerSlam 2014 encounter between the pair was almost great! - but they weren't exactly era-defining. Roman needed elevating and beating a multi-time World Champion was the easiest option.
He and Randy were on icy terms for years, though the former has admitted to seeing Orton step up his game in later years, going so far as to tell Corey Graves on his After The Bell podcast that, at WrestleMania 36, Orton appeared "less lethargic".
In reality, Orton worked the longest, dullest match on that 'Mania card, facing Edge in that walk-and-brawl that dragged on longer than a Vince McMahon apology amidst harassment allegations.
How does that saying go, it's the thought that counts?
Sure, why not...