Who Should Randy Orton Feud with Next?

Randy Orton lasted longer than anyone else on his Survivor Series team Sunday, and he then beat Alberto Del Rio in a very entertaining two-out-of-three Falls Match on Raw the following night.

But what looked like two opportunities to ignite a new feud for Orton were both squandered when nothing new really happened for “The Viper” this week.

He was pinned by a guy he recently feuded with in Dolph Ziggler at Survivor Series, and he did the same to a guy he’s had a lengthy rivalry with over the last couple of months (Del Rio). It’s time for him to move on to a new rivalry.

With most of the WWE’s top stars already entangled in major rivalries at the moment, however, there are relatively few options for Orton to ignite a feud with.

The one I suggest is Damien Sandow. 

Right now, most of the WWE’s bigger names are either involved in the top angles on Raw or SmackDown or teaming up with someone in the tag team division, but Sandow is suddenly someone who finds himself in neither situation. After his tag team partner Cody Rhodes suffered that nasty fall on last week’s episode of Main Event, Sandow is sort of left up in the air without anything substantial to do at the moment.

No one can be sure how long it’ll be before Rhodes returns, but even if he only misses a short period of time, it makes sense to give an up-and-coming star like Sandow a placeholder feud of sorts that keeps him busy until his tag team partner returns.

Although Sandow has been around for about eight months now, he still hasn’t any substantial singles rivalry. He’s only had brief ones with guys like Brodus Clay and then has spent the rest of his time as a part of Team Rhodes Scholars.

Yet, in the relatively few opportunities he’s had to show what he can do in singles matches, Sandow has been very impressive. In particular, his two bouts against Sheamus on Raw were great showings that proved that Sandow probably won’t have any problem hanging with the WWE’s top stars.

Now, it’s time to give him an opportunity to not only wrestle another top star, but to actually feud with one in Randy Orton.

Although Orton teasing the punt kick at Survivor Series seemed to be the WWE’s way of foreshadowing an upcoming heel turn, I don’t think the creative team is ready to pull the trigger on that—not yet at least.

Orton is still one of the company’s biggest babyfaces, and after picking up a bunch of wins (over guys like Ziggler and ADR recently), I think he’s going to remain in his face role for at least a little while longer. If that’s indeed what happens, then I’d love to see that rivalry with Sandow.

I think it would be a nice clash of gimmicks, with Orton as the quiet assassin and Sandow as the intellectual who loves to run his mouth. Of course, Orton’s great skills in the ring and Sandow’s impressive performances against Sheamus suggest that these two would put on an entertaining match or series of matches, too.

I’m not advocating that Sandow simply leaves Rhodes behind because I think they’ll play a pivotal role in the tag team division going forward. I just think that—with most of the WWE’s other top names currently busy—it makes sense to put these two guys in a feud and see what happens.

Orton vs. Sandow? You’re welcome.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter!