10 WWE Storylines From 2017 That Will Never Be Resolved

7. No Vengeance For Explosive Men

Triple H Jason Jordan
WWE.com

At the climax of Jinder Mahal's Punjabi Prison WWE Championship defence opposite Randy Orton at Battleground, the Great Khali hobbled to the ring, miraculously scaled the bamboo, and cost the Viper his chance to reclaim the gold.

This was the sort of transition into a new feud WWE deals in frequently. Much like Orton's own RKO, these new antagonists often appear from out of nowhere, purely as a means of setting up the next month(s)of TV, while nominally ensuring the heel retains his chicken-sh*t "heat". It's rote, it's incongruous, but it at least yields something worthwhile on occasion (see: Braun Strowman's interference in the Universal Title bout at Royal Rumble).

Orton, one of the most protected stars in the modern era, was made to look like just another geek in the aftermath. While the prospect of Orton Vs. Khali was as bleak as a kitchen sink drama, logic dictated that it should have happened. Orton, never one to suppress his anger, remedied his Intermittent Explosive Disorder by simply choosing to ignore the events of Battleground, along with just about everybody else.

He didn't call out Khali. The voices in his head probably said something along the lines of "Randy, mate, you're boring enough. Just let it go."

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!