Every wrestler needs to be comfortable doing their job, whatever it is. In Orton's case, he has always looked a lot more comfortable as a heel. When he's a babyface, he looks like he's trying too hard to make the fans happy and then he suffers as a character because working as a face doesn't come easy to him. It's been that way since he showed charisma in the RNN news update days after he hurt his shoulder. It wasn't a lot of charisma, but you could watch those segments and think "this guy comes off like a jerk." That's good because that is exactly what a heel is supposed to do. When he was working as the "Legend Killer" that was rising up the ranks he became one of the best heels in the business. Fans didn't complain about his rise to the top because he earned it and looked like he belonged. Last August when he turned heel again, he looked like the happiest guy in the building. Prior to his SummerSlam 2014 match with Roman Reigns, Orton did a classic beatdown that few heels in WWE could do as well as him. He beat Reigns up all around the ringside area. He used all kinds of weapons at ringside and at the end of it, all the fans could do was say "that guy is damn good at his job." He is. Orton's a great heel. It's what he knows best. Taking him out of his comfort zone by making him go babyface would be a mistake.
John wrote at WhatCulture from December 2013 to December 2015. It was fun, but it's over for now. Follow him on Twitter @johnreport. You can also send an email to mrjohncanton@gmail.com with any questions or comments as well.
