I know our fearless leader John Corrigan can’t stand it when anyone mentions the name John Cena and the words “16-time world champion” in the same sentence. Somewhere he is hearing nails on a chalkboard just reading this.
I wonder how he feels about the idea of Randy Orton challenging that record.
Now that WWE has seen fit to make The Viper a 13-time world champion, does this mean there are other title runs in his future? And better yet, will WWE fans embrace the idea of somebody else challenging Ric Flair’s all-time record? As a Flair fan, I hope it never becomes an issue.
Orton and Cena are contemporaries. They cut their teeth in Ohio Valley. They came up to the main roster around the same time, and they are friends off camera. They have written chapters and verses on a novel that may not have seen the final page published. Because this is professional wrestling and history repeats itself, you can almost be assured they will face off once again.
But for now, Cena is out of the main event picture, planning his wedding to Nikki Bella (it’s about time) and touring the talk show circuit (I expect my invitation in the mail). WWE has taken the WWE Championship off of the Eater of Worlds, giving Cena the finger as he was the one who wanted Bray Wyatt to wear the belt.
I’m not crazy about the idea of Orton as champion and I think the company gave up way too early on a Wyatt title run, but such is life. The darker, more sadistic Orton is, the perfect he is for Tuesday nights. If there was an opponent who could systematically toy with Wyatt’s character, it’s the man who hears voices. Obviously, this feud isn’t over and has plenty of depth for more subplots to explore.
Seeing Orton work an angle with Luke Harper by his side makes this script even more confusing.
I know there is a return clause from WrestleMania 33, which should be exercised at the next SmackDown Live pay-per-view. Maybe taking the belt off Orton right now is the wrong thing to do. If Wyatt chases him for the title, and more subplots are developed – hopefully including Sister Abigail, isn’t it worth the time invested in the betrayal?
Because of Orton’s track record, he is more affective as a heel than he is as a babyface. The last thing we need is a kinder, gentler world champion. As long as both wrestlers are able to sell this angle, there’s no reason to believe it should change anytime soon.
I still believe there is money left on the table when it comes to these two superstars battling each other. I just wonder how long it will last, and how many more times Orton will win the championship before he challenges a record that should have never been tied in the first place.
And God help us if it ever gets broken.
David Levin
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- Levin: Will Orton Tie Flair and Cena’s Record? - April 6, 2017
- Levin: John Cena’s Place in WWE’s Food Chain - March 24, 2017
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