WWE Is Beginning to Properly Utilize Randy Orton

Randy Orton is sliding away from being a simple henchman and once again becoming one of WWE's top heels.

Monday's Raw punctuated Orton's recent shift back to the vicious, sadistic predator he was born to play. WWE has seemingly rediscovered the best way to showcase the former world champ: tapping into his hunger for destruction.

That was on display in Baltimore, Maryland in what WWE was calling the "season premiere" of Raw. He refitted himself in wolf's clothing and assaulted Roman Reigns inside a steel cage.

It's unclear where this leads in terms of a match, but it's a return to an improved gimmick for him.

Too often over the past few months has Orton been just another goon for The Authority. He had been portrayed as too much of a whiner, his cowardice overshadowing his menace.

At the end of 2013, he tried to beg his way out of a match with Daniel Bryan. Before WrestleMania, Orton sucked up to Triple H and asked him to reconsider the stipulation that would allow either Bryan or The Game himself to challenge for the WWE title at that event.

In June, Triple H spoke to Seth Rollins and Orton like a father trying to control bickering children.

Fans saw this Orton too often. He was a pawn in Triple H's game, a watered-down villain. The brutal, most compelling version of his persona only came in flashes.

His feud with Reigns has drawn out the serpent side of him. WWE is allowing him to step back into a role in which he has always thrived.

The process of reestablishing himself as a monster picked up on July 28, when Orton ambushed Reigns before his scheduled match with Kane. The Viper felt that Reigns had taken away his opportunity at the WWE title and so left him out cold after smashing him into the ring steps.

Pressing his face into Reigns', The Viper growled, "I'll show you what happens to people who steal from me."

He was still a part of The Authority, still a slippery coward, but was worthy of being feared. This was a huge improvement.

Orton seems to be having a blast when he is asked to perform this kind of demolition. It's as perfect a character for him as the gutsy family man was for Ricky Steamboat or the resilient good guy is for John Cena today.

Fans saw that Orton emerge when he drove Rob Van Dam into a steel chair on SmackDown in August. It came out to play again on Monday's Raw.

Orton promised to hurt Reigns. He said what he would do to him would make Rollins' attack on Dean Ambrose look like something from Sunday school.

Here was an angrier, nastier and more focused Orton on the hunt. He passed by the trainer's room and mauled Chris Jericho without provocation.

A man that enraged apparently doesn't need a reason to go after somebody.

In the main event, he took on Reigns once again. Much like SummerSlam, Orton led the dance inside the ring. He was the ring general; Reigns was still the up-and-comer in the process of learning the craft.

This in itself is wise use of Orton. Reigns needs experience. He needs to develop the skills required of putting on longer, more high-profile matches. Orton is as dependable an opponent as one could ask for.

The bout allowed him to dive into his darkness again. He sent Reigns flying into the ring steps, caught him in mid-flight and smashed him into the mat. At one point, blood slid down his chin, and he looked down at Reigns with a devilish grin.

As the Wrestle Enigma Twitter account noted, it was a fitting moment:

Then came the apex. Orton called on Kane and Rollins to help him stomp out Reigns. Meanwhile, the steel cage from the night's first match began to come down.

Reigns fended off his attackers for a few moments, but it was soon a futile fight.

The Apex Predator cracked a chair across Reigns' spine again and again. He lifted his foe's head with the weapon and smiled at his own violent handiwork.

Credit: WWE.com

Orton did rely on his allies' help, as heels are known to do, but he wasn't begging, sucking up or being berated. He was the monster sinking his teeth deep inside his victim.

This is what Orton needs to be. This is the song that he plays best.

After wandering with his character, WWE has circled back to what has worked best in the past. With that solved, he now needs a foil to keep his predatory nature at this same intensity.

If Rollins and Reigns should collide at Night of Champions, Orton is going to be left out. Many fans assume that Reigns will then move on to Triple H and eventually Brock Lesnar.

Either of the midcard champs, Sheamus or Dolph Ziggler, offer appealing options for Orton once their current stories play out. Getting him a talented babyface to oppose and a place to press his newly sharpened fangs is key to continuing his momentum.