Randy Orton Has Proven with His Title Run That He Can't Carry the WWE

If Randy Orton’s current heel run and title reign has proven anything, it’s that “The Viper” just isn’t cut out to carry the company as a top-drawing star.

It’s easy to see why Vince McMahon and management have invested in Orton. On paper, he is everything they could possibly want in a mega-star. He’s tall, got a great physique and is actually a very solid wrestler.

Still, something crucial is missing with him, and it’s become increasingly obvious over the past year.  

Credit: WWE.com

Orton, of course, turned heel at last year’s SummerSlam and aligned himself with Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.

Since then, his performances have been rather underwhelming—he’s drifted a long way from his 2008 days when he was the most ruthless and dominant bad guy around.

These days, he’s relegated to the lowly role of Triple H’s sidekick. Even holding the supposedly prestigious WWE World Heavyweight Championship hasn’t helped. His run since turning heel has been severely lacking and has verged on downright dismal at certain points.

Credit: WWE.com

His feud with Daniel Bryan last year produced some decent matches, but never truly caught on with the masses—something the abysmal buyrate for the Battleground pay-per-view made abundantly clear.

His following feud with Big Show was even worse and the Orton vs. Big Show bout at Survivor Series also fared terribly.

The star’s woes continued when WWE management made the perplexing decision to book the 3,654th Orton vs. John Cena feud. The in-ring action wasn’t too bad, but who truly wanted to see these two do battle again?

Credit:WWE.com

WWE finally got the message when the two men faced off at the Royal Rumble. Thanks to the lively and frustrated crowd, the bout was a complete and utter debacle.

Throughout the insufferably long match, Orton and Cena were besieged by chants like “Y2J!”, “RVD!”, “We Want Divas!” and even “We Want Pizza!” Well, in fairness to the last one, who doesn’t?

It was memorable for all the wrong reasons entirely.

This ordeal was just one more mark against the third-generation wrestler’s current run. Sure, he’s the champion, but what does that matter when he hasn’t been truly relevant in months? Fans seem decidedly bored of him these days.

It’s depressing to contemplate that, at the age of just 34, Orton’s best days are behind him. How can you not consider it, though?

He’ll never replace Cena as the cornerstone of the company. Bryan has easily surpassed him as the No. 2 star. He’s a good wrestler, but it’s not like he’s churning out Match of the Year candidates.

Credit: WWE.com

Orton still has his place in the company, of course, and he probably always will—it’s hard to see WWE flat-out admitting its mistake with him.

He’ll always have a role. But as the man who can carry the company into the future? Absolutely not.

Buyrates courtesy of WrestlingInc.com.