More than any other story in the last few months of WWE programming, Randy Orton's face turn feels genuinely natural and organic. It has been born not of hasty writing and the whims of WWE Creative, but of real planning and intricate storytelling. Orton's performances have been carefully controlled to maximise the impact of his frustration finally boiling over. The work on behalf of Orton, the rest of The Authority and WWE Creative has been excellent throughout the build of Orton's turn. Initially, the problems were minor as Orton complained to Triple H about the fact that he never got his one-on-one rematch with Daniel Brayn after dropping the title at WrestleMania XXX. The Viper's resentment logically grew as Seth Rollins was paraded around as Triple H's new golden boy, at the expense of Orton. Finally, the growing arrogance of Rollins and his positioning as the head of Team Authority at Survivor Series pushed the WWE's Apex Predator one step too far and forced Rollins to eat an RKO. The storyline is a masterful display of logical story progression. The concept of a dominant stag being usurped by an energetic young buck is not exactly fresh and original, but it has been told in such an impressive fashion that the motivations of all involved have been totally clear. There's a lot of talk about brash gimmicks and edgy content in terms of crafting a successful wrestling product, but simplicity can also be the best way to get a story absolutely right. In the case of Orton, back to basics has clearly worked very well. Do you think WWE has made the right decision by turning Randy Orton face? How do you think he will be booked on his return? Let us know in the comments section.
Freelance film journalist and fan of professional wrestling. Usually found in a darkened screening room looking for an aisle seat and telling people to put away their mobile phones. Also known to do a bit of stand-up comedy, so I'm used to the occasional heckle.
