Randy Orton Will Thrive in Antihero Role on Road to WWE WrestleMania 31

After returning from a four-month absence following a brutal attack at the hands of Triple H and Seth Rollins, former WWE champion Randy Orton has realigned himself with The Authority.

With an eventual face turn just a matter of time, Orton will thrive in his new antihero role as the WWE continues on the road to WrestleMania 31.

The majority of the WWE Universe expected Orton to come back as a full-blown face, but he is instead setting up The Authority for a major swerve. Seth Rollins was the primary offender against Orton before he left, and as soon as he lets his guard down and shows an ounce of trust toward Orton, "The Viper" will strike with one of his patented RKOs out of nowhere.

Tricking The Authority and setting up an eventual WrestleMania match against Rollins is exactly what the company needs right now. The fans don't want cookie-cutter faces like John Cena anymore, and Orton adopting an antihero persona that is out for vengeance is the character development he needs.

Orton had a long run as a top face, and it was successful, but the act wore thin, and his character grew stale. Instead of morphing into the antihero then, Orton had a heel turn and became the face of The Authority who cried and complained all the time. Neither of those personas really fit The Viper.

Adding an edge to a wrestler like Orton makes it easier for the fans to throw their support behind him. As a character who will attack heels and still fight against faces when needed, the WWE will add depth to his persona and allow the hardcore supporters to get behind him despite being a hand-chosen WWE guy.

That's the difference between Orton and Roman Reigns.

Orton's antihero character will make its triumphant debut when he finally turns on Rollins and attacks him leading into WrestleMania. Both men need something to do for the big pay-per-view, and the top heel in the company fighting against a man who will do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, will result in a stellar addition to the WrestleMania card.

The lack of speaking needed from that type of character is another major win for Orton. He has never been the best at cutting promos, but saying less and letting his actions do the speaking for him will improve his aura as one of the top guys in the company again.

The WWE needs an antihero. With CM Punk gone and Dean Ambrose buried to the midcard for no discernible reason, the WWE lacks a main event good guy who doesn't follow the rules. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and many others thrived in this role, and Orton should be able to succeed as well.

Looking at Orton, the WWE Universe would agree that he has the look and size to be one of the top stars in the company, but the way he has been portrayed for years has many fans bored. Adding an edge to his character and making the shift to an antihero could launch him back into the upper echelon of stars in the company.

Add in the fact that the newly face Orton would put on an incredible match with Rollins at WrestleMania 31, and The Viper's antihero gimmick will fit him perfectly.

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