WWE Rumors: Could Randy Orton Heel Turn Lead To Wyatt Family Membership?


It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Randy Orton heel turn. The last time this happened, it was at SummerSlam 2013, as “The Viper” cashed in his Money in the Bank contract, and relied on the help of Triple H to beat Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship. He was a fantastic heel during his time with Triple H, Stephanie McMahon, and the rest of The Authority, but when time came for him to turn face, he wasn’t as well-received, as had often been the case when he’d be asked to play a good guy.

So what does it mean now that Randy Orton’s made a heel turn, or at the very least, hinted at one? On Tuesday night’s episode of SmackDown Live, Orton hit the ring during Kane’s no-disqualification match against Bray Wyatt. Instead of helping Kane, whom he’d been teaming with recently, that trademark “RKO out of nowhere” ended up hitting the “Big Red Machine,” allowing Wyatt to pick up the dirty win. Orton then teased joining The Wyatt Family after the match, simply remarking that “if you can’t beat them, join them.”

Right now, it’s anybody’s guess as to whether Orton is now allied with the Wyatts, after failing to defeat their leader at No Mercy. But many observers, including Bleacher Report’s Ryan Dilbert, believe it would be a good idea if Randy Orton’s heel turn leads to Wyatt Family membership. According to Dilbert, this gives WWE a chance to explore the possibility of an established wrestler “giving in to Wyatt’s cult-leader charm,” while adding an interesting twist to a story that had, up to the time of Tuesday’s match, felt flat and unfulfilling. He added that the addition of a new Wyatt Family member could help build Bray Wyatt up as a credible force, something that many others believe wasn’t quite accomplished as the “Eater of Worlds” lost pay-per-view after pay-per-view prior to No Mercy.

“For one, Wyatt welcoming a new sheep into the fold will make him look far more powerful. He will not only be a man who can unsettle his enemies, but he can break them to the point of joining forces with him.”

But wait, wasn’t this angle tried before when Daniel Bryan had ever-so-briefly become a part of The Wyatt Family toward the end of 2013? Forbes believes that may be what ultimately happens, meaning the whole Randy Orton heel turn may be a ruse to gain Wyatt’s trust and may end up with Orton attacking Wyatt and Luke Harper once that trust has been gained. According to the publication’s Donald Wood, such a swerve could benefit Orton and establish his reputation as a “cerebral” wrestler.

Again, that sounds very similar to what Bryan did previously, but would it be a wise idea to replicate an angle that had a satisfying ending, but confused a lot of fans ahead of its resolution? Bleacher Report’s Dilbert agrees that a faux heel turn for Orton may be an option, but it’s just one of many at the moment.

“Suddenly, a story that hadn’t quite found its stride added intrigue aplenty. Orton may be set to undergo a transformation. Wyatt may get to play puppet master. Those developments will further both men. They will showcase Wyatt and Orton in creative fashion.”

There are definitely pros and cons to Orton turning to the dark side and joining the Wyatts. As the Inquisitr reported earlier this week, such a turn would take away the possibility of a WWE World Championship match against AJ Styles in the near future, with Orton as the face and Styles remaining a heel. But Orton has proven time and again to be better playing a villainous role than a heroic one, and Wyatt does need a boost in credibility after months of running in place in WWE’s mid-card. Obviously, this new twist to the Orton vs. Wyatt Family storyline is still developing, but Randy Orton making a heel turn does seem to have more benefits than disadvantages at this point in the game.

[Featured Image by JP Yim/Getty Images]

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