Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt: The Good, Bad and Ugly of Current WWE Feud

In its early stages, Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt has been a test of patience.

WWE has been unable to translate potential into great theater so far. The storytelling has limped along.

Orton vs. Wyatt could be a compelling juxtaposition of characters, an opportunity to elevate a future megastar or a showcase of the bizarre and the brutal. For now, it's been marked by odd choices and a slow pace.

It's unclear how much of that can be blamed on circumstance.

WWE has been tight-lipped about The Viper's health. If the delays and detours this narrative has taken are because of injury concerns, it's hard to blame the company for how things have gone. 

Whether it's bad writing or Orton not being 100 percent that's holding the feud back, fans have been forced to sit tight and hope that this battle will explode as loudly as it should.

The Good

The verbal dynamic between Wyatt and Orton is edge-of-your-seat stuff.

Orton's no-nonsense, badass rhetoric has been a great complement to Wyatt's haunting diatribes. The Eater of Worlds has been more focused thematically than he often is, making it easier to follow his train of thoughts.

The story of one predator seeking out another is a smart foundation for this rivalry.

Orton's lack of fear has frustrated Wyatt. The Viper's smug attitude has turned up Wyatt's aggression. That all has the audience excited to see what unfolds.

The feud has the potential to be one of 2016's best. It has yet to get out of first gear, though.

The Bad

The first showdown between these rivals never happened.

At the Backlash pay-per-view on Sept. 11, Orton and Wyatt didn't go to battle. Instead, Wyatt attacked The Viper backstage, rendering him unable to compete.

That's the kind of angle best done on TV to set up a PPV bout, not to derail a much-hyped match at a major event. WWE may have had little choice in the matter, however.

Several reports emerged that Orton was legitimately injured before Backlash. PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson wrote, "The belief of several that we have heard from is that thus far, that Orton has not consistently been able to pass the company's medical testing to the point where WWE's medical staff is comfortable with Orton taking bumps."

WWE never confirmed this officially. And Orton seemed to mock the reports on Twitter when he tweeted, "I was wrestling on a #SmackDownLive event in VA, apparently against [doctor's] orders?"

The clash not happening then was either a case of unfortunate timing or poor booking. Either way, it hurt the rivalry's momentum. 

The Ugly

Credit: WWE.com

Kane slams Bray Wyatt at Backlash.

WWE just can't help itself. It has to position Wyatt on his back.

When The Eater of Worlds ambushed Orton at Backlash, he stood in the ring and gloated about his violent act. Here was the monster triumphant and proud, finally getting some of the momentum he sorely needed.

Then came Kane.

Kane and Wyatt collided in a No Holds Barred match that the 49-year-old veteran dominated for the most part. Kane pinned Wyatt after an RKO from Orton.

Why weaken Wyatt now?

He so often plays up his destructive power, only to fall. The feud with Orton was poised to remedy that. And for some reason, the first image WWE crafted in this story was of Wyatt stumbling. 

The confusion about The Wyatt Family's status has been odd as well.

Wyatt seemed to abandon Erick Rowan weeks ago. There was no talk of what happened between them. There were no signs the faction was still alive.

Then Rowan emerged on the Sept. 13 edition of SmackDown to aid Wyatt. Rather than come off as an exciting surprise, it was the kind of moment that left fans scratching their heads.

Consistency, one way or another, will fix that. 

Projections

The story will soon pick up speed.

Orton and Wyatt are sure to start trading talk for violence in the coming weeks. Their animosity toward each other will remain at a high level for the rest of the year. 

Look for the rivals to move from the ring to the cage and from backstage to back alleys. Thanks to Wyatt's unique character, WWE is going to allow this feud to venture into bizarre territory. 

Eventually, Orton and Wyatt will fight at the Wyatt compound, colliding in a battle much like the Final Deletion match TNA put on in July 2016.

And ultimately, Wyatt will topple Orton. The New Face of Fear needs signature wins. WWE needs to signal to the audience that he's a serious threat to the company's top heroes. Orton is a made man who can swallow a loss with little consequence.

In an effort to push Wyatt as a key player in the New Era, he will devour Orton in their final meeting, forcing The Viper to remain offscreen for weeks to recover.