Extended Randy Orton vs. Edge Feud for WWE Championship Would Be Major Letdown

Anyone who is even remotely familiar with WWE programming seems to know where things are going between Edge and Randy Orton.

Edge isn't even on television right now because of injury, yet it's plain as day WWE and CEO Vince McMahon have a certain idea in mind simply through Orton's usage: have a title on the line in a match between the former friends at WrestleMania.

That notion picked up serious steam at the recent Hell in a Cell event, where WWE inexplicably ended Drew McIntyre's superb title reign to hand the belt to Orton—despite his losing a handful of noteworthy prior contests against the champion, including an ambulance match.

The following night on Raw, McIntyre seemed to act a little out of character by not outright demanding a rematch or even bringing up the fact that he had made short work of the new champ multiple times before the misstep.

And now this. According to Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Cageside Seats' Randall Ortman), WWE is forging ahead with the plan to have Edge challenge the new champion at WrestleMania 37.

As always, one major thing must receive a highlight here: Edge vs. Orton doesn't need a title belt.

This has been said over and over and over again, but WWE's bookers clearly don't care. Goldberg hasn't needed a belt in the past. Neither has Brock Lesnar, especially to the detriment to someone like Kofi Kingston. A top title's reputation is better off on the next generation of stars because returning headliners are going to be draws no matter what.

Keeping a top title on a returning star (and rest assured, Edge is probably winning it if this happens) is as risky as it gets. There's more harm than good that can come to a title's reputation (remember the botch-filled Goldberg matches?), and taking it back off them is nearly impossible.

Granted, Edge doesn't strike anyone as a guy who will have a flop of a match. He looked good on his return during the men's Royal Rumble and in a few other spots before tearing his triceps in June. But it's still a risk, especially for a guy working his way back from a serious injury.

And besides these well-traveled ideas about returning Superstars and unnecessary title usage, there's something else to consider: WWE using Edge's limited availability on a feud with Orton.

It feels safe to classify any Edge run as risky considering he's 47. And while there is some strong storytelling value in having him in this feud with a veteran, his name has appeared plenty over the past decade on dream matches lists.

WWE has arguably its deepest and most talented roster ever. Orton-Edge is fun, but getting The Rated R Superstar in some fresh matches would endear him to a new generation of fans. Heck, it might even move the needle more than an Orton feud too given The Viper's had problems with keeping fans engaged in the past.

Think Edge against Seth Rollins, Edge against AJ Styles, Edge against this version of Roman Reigns. Daniel Bryan. Any number of NXT Superstars.

The names and ideas go on and on. And maybe WWE's idea is he can end up doing some of these feuds after he wins the belt at 'Mania. But it's wishful thinking that he's going to hang around awhile (or that his body will hold up). And the dramatic reception WWE has in mind for his big return from injury and title win might end up falling much flatter than it should if there isn't a packed arena of fans there to react.

The match would be a little more exciting if they hadn't already done it twice already—and if they hadn't seemingly capped off the possibilities of such an encounter with the funnily named Greatest Wrestling Match Ever at Backlash in June.

But here rests one of WWE's biggest problems at times: not doing retreads. Edge vs. Orton was superb earlier this year, but leaning into it too much could lead to disaster. Fans don't need a third meeting, and that third in a budding apparent trilogy doesn't need a top title.

New is good. New is driving the company in great directions. Think McIntyre taking down Lesnar for top-guy status and Reigns finally turning heel. New and fresh would be Edge getting in some of those rare dream matches while he still can—not remaining in what-if land forever like someone such as Sting.

The door is open for those dream matches, yet WWE seems intent on having another throwdown between these two. It's already hurt weekly programming, with McIntyre derailed, and it signals pretty much everyone feuding with Orton is bound to lose (step on up, punching bag Bray Wyatt).

By the time it's done, the main event scene and outlook might be worse than the surprisingly good direction in which the audience-less area was headed.