Randy Orton Is in the Best Place of His WWE Career

Randy Orton is not the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.  That title belongs to Seth Rollins, and right now he is the hottest star in Vince McMahon's company.  And the question of whether or not Orton will win the belt at Extreme Rules is definitely up in the air.  Indeed, The Viper may not walk away with the gold and may not win it anytime soon.

But it makes no difference for him.  Orton is in the best place of his WWE career.

Fifteen years is a long time, and to imagine that a guy could be in such a comfortable place after all those years seems very curious.  Orton is a 12-time WWE and World champion; he's worked the main event of WrestleMania and accomplished everything a Superstar can in the business.

He's faced legend after legend, from Mick Foley to Hulk Hogan to Ric Flair and The Undertaker.  He has been the legit No. 2 star behind John Cena for several years and some fans would argue he was even bigger.

So how does a guy follow all of that up?  The truth is he doesn't need to.

Orton's career is Hall of Fame-worthy, and after working hard to remain at the top of his game, this may be the time when The Viper can actually coast and just enjoy himself.  He's not fighting for a top spot, he already has it.  He's not working to build his legacy, that's already been done.

And he's not necessarily looking to become the champ once again.  He doesn't even really need it at this point.

Facing Rollins is less about Orton getting over than it is about helping Rollins get more. The former architect of The Shield has never looked better in his pro wrestling career, and now that he has won the top prize in the industry, he needs top stars against whom to build his own legacy.

Orton is one of those top stars.

But The Viper cannot be considered an enhancement talent.  He's not yet to the point of hanging up the boots and riding off into the sunset.  And even though Rollins is the perfect opponent for him, that does not mean WWE is building toward Orton's eventual last run as an active wrestler.

Orton just looks like he's having fun right now.  The pressure is off; there is no reason for Orton to feel the heat in his current role.  That has everything to do with who he's facing and why.

Rollins is fresh, he's new, he's entertaining and he's managed to be all of those things despite spending nearly three years on the main roster.  His spot as the new champion has helped rejuvenate him and keep him on the cutting edge of what today's WWE Superstar should look like.  

He's young, he's cocky, he's brash and he's extremely arrogant.  In many ways, he's Orton during his run in Evolution.  And that is why the two mesh so well together.

Orton's role as the veteran helping Rollins along the WWE main event path is working, and their chemistry in the ring is evident.  Every time they face off, fans can expect a well-worked match filled with drama and intensity.  

This has to be easy for Orton, as Rollins is so good in the ring and is so capable of doing anything to get a match over.  Rollins is committed to his craft, and considering the same can be said of Orton, this is a feud that feels very natural in many ways.

And Orton has a lot to do with giving this feud a great level of importance.

Orton is the man to ensure the new champ's star burns as bright as possible.  Rollins needs more than just the belt and WWE's stamp of approval, he needs to shine as often as he can, and that means his opponents must be able to help him do that.  Orton is the perfect man for the job, and it cannot come at a better time for him.

When it comes to being on top, Orton has been there and done that.  He has nothing left to prove and nothing to gain by keeping all his knowledge to himself.  Why not help the next guy out and pass on what he has learned, as others did for him?  Why not just sit back and enjoy the job instead of constantly fighting to be the best when he's already considered to be among the elite in WWE?

And if the company decides to make a change and take the belt off Rollins for some reason, Orton is right there and ready to go.  He is a proven star who can carry the ball when his name is called, and there is arguably no one better at doing just that in WWE.

But if the belt does not end up around Orton's waist, it makes no difference.  The fact is he looks good, he looks healthy and he looks like he's having a blast.  He's paired up with the WWE World champ who is an entertaining star that is the perfect foil for him, and the fans are responding positively to them.

Orton has reached that point in his career when he does not need a belt to be a top star yet can carry the company if he gets it.  He has done it all and can either be content with that legacy behind him or continue to add to it.  This is the best time of Orton's WWE career, and the fact is it can only get better from here.