Randy Orton Has Established Himself as WWE's Top Heel

Like a true hunter, former WWE champion randy Orton has set his sights upon two separate but also related goals for the immediate future: winning the WWE Championship at the Hell in a Cell pay-per-view and, secondly, destroying his challenger, Daniel Bryan, at any possible cost.

And in attempting to accomplish those goals, Orton has easily established himself as the top villain in the company. 

No one likes to see anyone prey upon a seemingly defenseless person, and that is exactly what Orton did by entering the trainer’s room to “check on” an injured Brie Bella on Raw.

The event got its desired effect when Bryan left his match with World Heavyweight champion Alberto Del Rio and rushed from the ring to aid his fiancée, only to be attacked from behind by the Apex Predator.

Like the true slithering predator that he is, Orton always seems to have a plan of attack, normally one that involves pain and suffering for Bryan and everyone that he holds dear.

With Bryan and Brie's relationship coming to light due to the exposure of the E! network’s reality show Total Divas, Orton has now used Bryan’s significant other against him, with the results varying from bad to worse. 

Orton, a decent in ring performer, has always been able to compensate for his average skills with a cocky and calculating cool that only the top villains in the industry can exude. For long stretches of time when he was playing a face character, fans were left wondering week to week when the other shoe would drop and Orton would return to his treacherous ways.

The answer came at SummerSlam when he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and defeated Bryan for the WWE title. Furthering his heel turn was the fact that he would now be known as “the face of the WWE” and the McMahon Family’s chief stooge.

However, Orton owes some of his success to Bryan as well. Because, after all, what good is a hated villain if not for his showdowns with the beloved hero?

Every week Bryan’s popularity seems to grow, especially in the absence of former top hero John Cena. Deafening cheers are heard everywhere Bryan goes, along with his signature “YES!” chant.

Orton’s other strength is that there are no other in-ring competitors that garner as much hatred as he does, so he is left with little competition for being the most disliked Superstar on the roster. 

Yes, there are other heels on the roster that garner hatred, but not at the level that Orton does. 

Alberto Del Rio is disliked, but he's not downright hated. The Shield have built up a great deal of heat, but fans still respect the trio's ability to put on a fantastic show in the ring.

Paul Heyman, for all of his cowardly ways and underhanded dealings, is actually a must-see character week to week, because the WWE Universe is entertained by his over-the-top reactions and interactions with CM Punk.

Even the Wyatt Family, whom fans are likely meant to dislike, have built a level of mystique around themselves, which makes them difficult to boo. 

And with all due respect to the McMahon Family, with the exception of an occasional match, none of them are in-ring competitors any longer, which leaves them out in the cold when it comes to the debate over who the most hated performer is at the moment. 

And it is not as if Orton is just some random guy being thrust upon the scene. He has over a decade of experience and an incredibly impressive championship resume to boot.

With three World Heavyweight Championship reigns to his credit, along with seven as WWE champion, Orton boasts a list of accomplishments that most would kill for. Add to that a reign with the Tag Team titles (with Edge), the Intercontinental title and a win at the Royal Rumble in 2009, and the makings for a legend are already very much present.

With Cena making his return soon, and Bryan’s popularity soaring to heights that most could never imagine, the company will continue to rely upon Orton to be underhanded, diabolical and shrewd.

Fortunately for WWE, these three characteristics comprise the very marrow of Orton’s bones.