WWE: Randy Orton or Jake Roberts, Who Will Have the Better Career?

The question of who will end up having the better career between two wrestlers is indeed an interesting one.

Especially in the case of Randy Orton and Jake "The Snake" Roberts.

The biggest reason for this is the fact that both wrestlers come from two different eras. How does one measure Orton’s career, the prime of which is happening during WWE’s current “PG” environment, versus that of Roberts, whose best years came when WWE was known as the WWF?

On one hand, they’re actually pretty similar.

Jake Roberts’ heyday in the World Wrestling Federation was during Hulk Hogan’s monster run at the top of the company.

Hogan was, of course, considered the All-American hero, the face recognized by fans everywhere, and the gimmick that kids loved. He was strong, loyal and fearless when it came to the many challenges placed before him.

Sound familiar?

There are so many reasons that John Cena is compared to Hogan, not the least of which is the fact that their images are used to make Vince McMahon’s company appealing to a wide audience of fans both young and old.

Both men, while presented as tough and larger than life, are kid-friendly and squeaky clean, able to rise above any drama happening around them. No matter what was placed in Hogan’s path, or now in Cena’s path, it makes little difference. Their resolve cannot be shaken.

So, Randy Orton’s present situation in WWE closely resembles that of Jake Roberts in the WWF. Their characters are fleshed out, fully explored and over like gangbusters with the fans. But they exist in a restricted environment in which their actions have to be kept somewhat in check.

Of course, Roberts wrapping a boa constrictor around his unconscious opponent’s neck and Orton kicking his victim in the skull doesn’t exactly make them tame by any standards.

In this way, their existence defies the status quo, challenging fans to change the way they see the typical Vince McMahon created Superstar. Their actions push the envelope during their respective eras of the company, and they each end up becoming hugely popular, solidified as fan favorites.

I for one see so much of Roberts in Orton that it’s scary.

Jake Roberts’ razor sharp squint as he stared down his opponent, the eerily wicked grin that he possessed, his body language as he slithered like a serpent in the ring.

Whether it is an unintentional imitation on Orton’s part, or perhaps a respectful homage to Roberts, the fact is that Randy’s character owes everything to Jake. Orton would simply not be the Viper without the Snake having come first.

There is no doubt that Jake Roberts inspired a whole new breed of heel that would come after him. While many of those guys had to work at developing their characters, it seemed to come so easy for Roberts, he was a natural at it.

Jake Roberts redefined the concept of the cool heel in the WWF. Much like Arn Anderson in the NWA, Jake had a cold intensity about him that set him apart from other heels.

While some workers lived in over the top gimmicks that forced fans to either love or hate them, Roberts did not have to work that hard to draw heat with the crowd. It did seem that all he had to do was lace up the boots, throw a bag over his shoulder, and hit the ramp. He had a great look, and a great gimmick.

However, the major glaring difference between the careers of Jake Roberts and Randy Orton is the fact that Jake Roberts never won “the big one.”

Part of Roberts being a Superstar in the WWF during Hulk Hogan’s prime was that, like a lot of workers, he didn’t receive a run with the championship.

Hogan was the top guy, the face of the company, and Vince McMahon put the entire marketing machine of the WWF behind him. In order to consistently push Hogan above everyone else for so long, he was given his first title run from 1984 to 1988. With a four-year chokehold on the WWF Title, there was a definite ceiling that Roberts could simply not crash through.

Randy Orton is a former six-time WWE Champion, and is currently enjoying his second run as World Heavyweight Champion. It is safe to say that Orton has excelled where Roberts was perhaps not allowed to.

So, who will end up having the better career?

It is a judgment call, and truly depends on the criteria used when making the decision.

Obviously, if championship accomplishments are the sole factor considered, Orton wins by a landslide. There is simply no comparing the career of an undercard wrestler, no matter how loved, to that of a guy who has been given the top spot in the company as many times as Orton has.

But if the discussion is centered around character impact and influence on others in the business, then Roberts is the favorite. His character is easily one of the greatest of all-time.

The debate is not an easy one, and again has everything to do with the fact that both men exist in two different eras of the business. But, every fan has his or her own favorite, and I suppose that at the end of the day that may be the determining factor when deciding who had the better career.

As with so many things in the business, it will be the fans who will ultimately have the last word. What do you say?