9 Ups & 0 Downs From WWE SmackDown (7 Mar - Results & Review)

4. Randy Orton’s Punt-Laced Promo

“I’m going to prove that Pat McAfee is only the second greatest punter in WWE”.

What a closing line that was from a ticked off Randy Orton. The returning legend kicked off SmackDown with a solo promo that could've easily bored everyone senseless. Thankfully, even Randy has realised that he needed to speed up his cadence of speech a little - he's a way better talker than he was during his prime years as a World Champion worker. Orton should be commended for continuing to improve his game this deep into a surefire Hall Of Fame career.

He cut a solid opening promo in front of fans that set up what's inevitable for WrestleMania 41. He's going to punt Kevin Owens and send his head tumbling into the bleachers. Both guys teased that at Chamber last weekend, and it was smart to keep that spot back for later on. It's the real payoff to everything KO has put his so-called friends through since going rogue.

It was refreshing that Randy got the floor here without any interruptions to set up another match or anything of the sort. This was just a straight to the point, fired up speech full of passion and aggression. Fans came right up with him when Orton started talking about “hearing those voices” in his head again. People dig hyper-aggressive, possibly-psychotic Mr. RKO, don't they?

Another compliment you could pay Randy is that he didn't take away from Cody Rhodes cutting a similarly emotional speech later on. Only the best know how to get something over whilst still being mindful of their place on the creative pecking order.