What Wrestling Legends Really Think Of AEW

6. Randy Orton

Triple H
Instagram, @randyorton

Hilariously, Randy Orton all but admitted to choosing AEW over NXT on the first head-to-head battle of October 2. He was enthusiastic in his assessment of it, too.

On a Twitch stream, an allegedly buzzed Orton - who, while being pushed now as the biggest star in the company isn't much of a company man - required very little encouragement. "Speaking of Vince," he said, before transitioning into something that has very little to do with Vince, "that AEW was f*cking cool, huh? Did you watch that show last night? Oh my God! I'll tell you what - it's that big match feel, that big show feel."

Orton also dedicated praise to Sammy Guevara: "That kid can do some sh*t. I'd love to work with that kid."

Funnier still, Randy Orton in parallel has buried NXT on the regular by, and he's probably just trolling - but then again, that Tommaso Ciampa match never did happen - raging against its ceaseless thigh-slapping. He "slapped his leg" in appreciation for TakeOver: In Your House on Twitter.

He was of course most likely playing a long game, by panicking a desperate Vince McMahon into paying him more money. And, sure as sh*t, he signed a lucrative five-year extension the very next month, spending much of his time since bantering AJ Styles off the earth in the only time that could ever happen.

Legend.

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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!