WWE Draft 2011: What Will Happen with Randy Orton?

Yeah, just in case you didn't know, it's the draft this week, and all our fevered speculation about who's going and staying on both Raw and SmackDown will finally be put to rest.

Randy Orton has been the subject of more rumours than most. He and CM Punk got the main event spot on Raw last week—but will that be their last match-up on the show for the foreseeable future?

I'll accumulate the rumours here, and give you my thoughts on what's actually going to happen. And then you can feel free to disagree with me—or, heaven forfend, agree with me—in the comments.

WWE Draft 2011: Randy Orton, Will He Stay...

The case for Orton to stay on Raw is simple.

It's the better show, and he's a great performer.

Having said that, maybe that's a bit TOO simple, and things are never easy in the WWE Universe.

Well, let's think of it from a storyline perspective. The feud with Punk has a long history now, and can be built on and improved further.

With John Cena's feud with the Rock having a year-long build, Orton and Punk can take centre stage on the week's live show, and gradually prepare the Viper to step into the role of top company face at some stage in the future.

WWE Draft 2011: Randy Orton, or Will He Go?

Well, Orton could hang around on Raw, waiting for his chance to step into Cena's shoes, or he could head right on over to SmackDown and take over as the top face immediately.

This is the rumour that's been circulating for several weeks now, and there does seem to be an element of truth in it. (Not R-Truth.)

As we all know, something can be confirmed by WWE and then changed at the last minute, so obviously anything like this has to be taken with a pinch of salt.

But it could be a good move. Seriously, how many more times can we be expected to watch Orton-Punk match-ups? (I blogged about this earlier in the week.)

Shift Orton out of Raw, end this feud at Extreme Rules, give him some different people to work with, and see what can happen with his character, which is becoming more and more ambiguous by the week. Speaking of which...

WWE Draft 2011: Randy Orton, Saving Face

The current ambiguity of Orton's character (he acts like a skull-punting, revenge-taking bad guy, except now we're supposed to cheer for him) seems to me to have been set up for a turn back heel at some point.

As he is now, he seems on the verge of turning to the dark side once and for all.

The Corre—CM Punk's other chief adversaries—are disintegrating as I type. Could Orton lead a new faction—whether on Raw or SmackDown?

The Legacy and Evolution mean he has form as working as part of a villanous group.

WWE Draft 2011: What Will Happen with Randy Orton? Conclusion

Multiple RKOs

Turning him heel would be ridiculous. The company is overloaded with great heels, most of whom are underused as it is. So if that was in the pipeline once, it will have been quietly shelved.

So if Orton is staying face, the logical thing is to move him to SmackDown.

I can't see anyone else having as much pulling power as him over on the other brand as the leading good guy—if this week's Raw audience was anything to go by, he appeals to exactly the same demographic as John Cena, and we know how highly the WWE hierarchy think of him.

Keeping him on Raw would be a step back in the long run. As I keep saying, there's only so long this feud with Punk can be drawn out while they're fighting each other every week.

Unless there's a compelling storyline (complete with new fake wife) coming up for him, a move to Smackdown is the best option for the show, for Orton, and for the WWE Universe.