5 Mistakes WWE Must Not Make with Randy Orton's Heel Turn

Randy Orton is a bad man.

So bad in fact, the man himself desires nothing more than to see 30,000 people heckle and boo him at every live event and house show.

Earlier this month, it was revealed by Wrestling Inc that Orton is desperate for a heel turn (hardly breaking news, but good to know anyway). But also, the WWE plans for the turn to happen later in the year, once Sheamus is reliable enough as the top babyface on the SmackDown roster.

But, is the WWE able turn a top guy heel without resorting to cheap tricks anymore, destroying the man's reputation in the process?

CM Punk's recent character change was a welcome development, but at times, failed to give the WWE Universe the credit it deserves in its method.

When the writers sit down to discuss how Orton will be turned later this year, I sincerely hope the same mistakes won't be made.

Here are five of them.

"Spokane, Washington Sucks!"

Insulting the traditions of the local crowd has long been one of the staples of the business of professional wrestling.

Whether the WWE is in Montreal, Canada or Spokane, Washington, rarely is there not some kind of hometown derision.

Some wrestlers have even come out wearing trunks the colour of the local sports team's rivals.

It may play well on location, but for us fans watching from the comfort of our sofas, it seems like a very cheap way, indeed, to get a negative pop.

Time to put an old custom to sleep, I believe.

Leave Britney...I Mean Jerry Lawler Alone!

One of the most beloved institutions in the WWE, the loveable Jerry "The King" Lawler, has been used as fodder more than once in his career for budding villains.

CM Punk was merely the latest in a long line of heels to have attacked the crowd favourite, recently, berating Lawler for seemingly innocuous comments made in the commentary booth.

"The King's" terrible heart attack three weeks ago will not see him able to engage in any physical disputes for awhile, but I wouldn't put the possibility of a verbal beratement past Vince McMahon.

His is one legend Randy Orton has to leave alone.

"Screw You Guys, I'm Going Home"

Whether a heel is abandoning his tag team partner or just abandoning the match in general, the "I Quit" is a decent, if well-worn technique to incite boos.

My problem with the concept is its inherent laziness.

It seems every heel from Cody Rhodes to Damien Sandow has walked out on a match this year when the going has gotten tough.

For Randy Orton, though, the move just wouldn't work. Have you ever heard of a Viper that quit?

"I Work (Not Very) Hard for the Money"

OK, so we all know that The Big Show is on a bumper, iron-clad contract, but does he have to be such a jerk about it?

The only thing a superstar can say to get a more negative pop from a crowd than "I'm richer than you," has to be "I'm richer than you, and I still don't work very hard."

The Big Show did it with great success earlier in the year, but I just can't see Orton trying the same trick.

We all know he's rich anyway.

"R-E-S-P-E-C-T, Find out What That Means to Me"

CM Punk may have legitimate beef with WWE for his perceived lack of respect, but his constant whining about it is making him sound like a less high-pitch Vickie Guerrero.

Of course, in saying all of this, I realise it seems like I'm effectively saying that WWE's options for turning Randy Orton heel are limited.

But, is it too much for a loyal fan to ask the company to show a little originality in their characterisation? Orton's "Legend Killer" persona was dynamite, "The Legacy," too.

All I ask of the WWE is for him not to be turned into a whining, sulking, money-obsessed jerk.

Give us a villain we can root for.

What do you think the future holds for Randy Orton and a possible heel turn?

Follow me on Twitter: @MaxTowle