The Rattlesnake and The Viper: Stone Cold Randy Orton?

When simplified down to a basic concept, wrestling sees the good battle the bad for supremacy. Inevitably the bad guy is going to win a few encounters, often by cheating, until the stakes are raised when the good guy triumphs, usually at a major event like Wrestlemania.

At Wrestlemania 13, the wrestling world was however turned on its head when Bret Hart, long time face, battled Stone Cold Steve Austin, long term heel. The contrasting images of the two superstars was notable, whereas Bret would hand you his glasses, Austin would likely show you his middle finger.  

The match has come to represent the birth of the anti-hero. Following Hart's victory which saw Austin literally lying in a pool of his own blood, he almost instantly changed sides by attacking the motionless Austin. Hart, who stood for everything pure was now the heel, Austin, who was the ultimate bad guy was now the fan's favourite.

While for those watching the change was the result of Hart's attack after the match, the truth, as examined by the excellent Wrestling with Shadows, was that the fans had begun to change their views on traditional wrestling.

The good guy who ate his vitamins and said their prayers was no longer cheered and in his place, the swaggering bad guy who drank beer, attacked referees and officials and generally did what he want, when he wanted.  

The rise of Stone Cold also gave rise to the Attitude Era which in turn allowed for the onset of groups like Degeneration X and to an extent also helped popularise the New World Order. The fans were now excited by renegades, gone were the white trunked superheroes of old.

The rise of Austin did not technically change the good vs. bad concept but it did give the fans an all-important role in influencing what they saw. Austin was now the leader of a rebellious generation, whilst Bret became the defender and champion of traditional values. Fast forward over a decade later and suddenly a similar story is reappearing.

The rise of John Cena and Randy Orton has been most fascinating in terms of their appeal and role in the WWE. Cena has taken the mantle of the modern day face such as Hulk Hogan or The Rock whilst Orton has been labelled a traditional heel.

The reaction of the WWE crowds together with the internet community however has given rise to a potential Wrestlemania 13 rerun. The franchise boy, John Cena though wildly popular with younger fans, none the less still has never won over some of his fiercest critics.  In contrast, Randy Orton, a long term heel, has now begun to get very audible support from the crowd, often when he is still being promoted as a heel.

The question of whether we will see a reversal in fortunes for these respective superstars is uncertain give Cena's market value but with bad guy Orton proving to be popular amongst some in the wrestling world, could he at least have a Stone Cold conversion?

If history is to repeat itself and Orton does become the new Stone Cold - could he be the one that finally ends the PG era in the WWE?