5 Reasons why Randy Orton should become the next WWE Champion

During such difficult times, very few WWE Superstars have managed to shine. The legendary Randy Orton is one of them. Upon turning heel in late January, Orton has breathed new life into his character. Granted, he does his best work as a heel - but he has taken his villainous side to another level.

The Viper's rivalry with The Rated-R Superstar has to be one of the best in recent memory; the animosity and concealed respect between these two veterans are palpable. Their chemistry in the ring is unmatched. Although the story-line revolves around Edge's redemption journey, Randy Orton has reaped quite a few rewards for himself.

This past week at Backlash, The Legend Killer and his opponent, Edge, went to hell and back in a breath-taking, scintillating contest. It was hyped as "The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever",but the two foes were unable to live up to the overwhelming expectations. The savvy veteran in Randy Orton was, however, able to gain the pinfall over Edge by hitting the low-blow and blasting his opponent with a mind-shaking Punt kick. Unfortunately, The Hall of Famer suffered a triceps injury that has put him out of action.

The next night after their match at Backlash, Christian - Edge's best friend - stood up to Orton and was later challenged to an Unsanctioned match later in the evening. Captain Charisma reluctantly accepted the challenge, However, Christian left the night on a stretcher after Randy Orton, with some help from Ric Flair, delivered a Punt kick to Christian's head.

The future looks bright for WWE's resident Apex Predator, and perhaps a future WWE Championship opportunity could be in the works for Orton. If that happens, Randy Orton could become a fourteen-time World Champion.

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#5 WWE needs an established, top-class heel as a World Champion during such unprecedented circumstances

Drew McIntyre has been a fighting champion.

The current WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre, has been an amazing champion. The Scottish Terminator has done the WWE Championship justice with his title reign. McIntyre has conquered the likes of Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, and Big Show. However, the WWE Championship hasn't headlined a pay-per-view since WrestleMania.

Money in the Bank was centred around the unique ladder match and Backlash revolved around Edge and Randy Orton's "Greatest Wrestling Match Ever". The WWE Championship matches were over-shadowed at both event, being relegated to the mid-card. The WWE Championship needs a key spot on the card, but with McIntyre as champion, that hasn't happened.

Ratings are low and fan-interest is dwindling. The Scottish Psychopath is a star in the making whereas Randy Orton is an established, high-calibre athlete. Orton is a familiar face who could draw in fans amid all the peculiar circumstances. Moreover, WWE needs more heels as champions to ensure better-quality and plausible story-lines. Only AJ Styles is a heel champion on the main roster. If WWE wants a heel to be the next WWE Champion, The Apex Predator is the most feasible option.

#4 The Apex Predator hasn't been WWE Championship in three-and-a-half years

Randy Orton won his last WWE Championship at WrestleMania 33.

Upon debuting in 2002, Randy Orton immediately went on to make an impact by winning championships and shattering records, becoming one of the most decorated performers in WWE history. He became the youngest World-Heavyweight Champion, he won the Intercontinental Champion early on in his career and won multiple WWE Champions. Throughout these seventeen years, the Viper has been a main-stay in the championship scene.

However, it would come as a bit of a surprise to acknowledge that Orton hasn't held the WWE Championship since mid-2017. The last singles title he won was the United States Championship, which was more than two years ago. His last WWE Championship was a forgettable one as he lost it in his first defense against Jinder Mahal.

There could be several reasons for such a long championship drought: he has transitioned into a unique part-time role, his career is winding down, and he is giving room to WWE's new crop. A mega-star of Randy Orton's calibre should be in the title picture all the time, hence the prolonged championship drought comes as an astonishment.

3. The Scottish Psychopath's days as WWE Champion could be numbered

Paul Heyman was behind Drew McIntyre's push.

Last week, WWE caught its fan-base off-guard when they relieved Paul Heyman from his role as Creative Head of Monday Night RAW. The event was met with a mixed response from the WWE Universe; the reaction backstage was unfavourable and WWE talent was disappointed. Vince McMahon has been tweaking the shows quite often these days and has made numerous roster adjustments in the past few months. For example, "The Greatest Wrestling Match Ever" between Randy Orton and Edge was McMahon's idea.

There is a deep and direct link between Heyman's removal and McIntyre's WWE Championship reign. First and foremost, Heyman was a proponent of McIntyre and was one of the driving forces behind his ascent to the pinnacle of WWE. With Heyman gone, the WWE Champion has lost a valuable supporter. The Scottish Psychopath shared a nice working relationship with Heyman. Vince McMahon is also an admirer of McIntyre's work, but as Heyman's dismissal shows, the Boss's mind could change any moment for the better or the worse. The atmosphere backstage is very uncertain; a myriad of employees have been released this year and plans keep changing. The Chairman could decide to take the title off McIntyre much earlier than initially planned.

Randy Orton happens to be one of Mr.McMahon's safest and most beloved performers. The CEO of WWE has always had Randy Orton on the top of his priority list. Hence, The Boss wouldn't mind making Randy Orton WWE Champion again.

#2 As Randy Orton is excelling in his current role, it is the correct time to capitalize on his momentum

Randy Orton is on a roll right now.

Although the likes of Triple H, John Cena and The Undertaker have gradually stepped out of the spotlight, Randy Orton hasn't transitioned into a similar role yet. The Viper can still compete at an elite level, but his role in WWE over the past couple of years has diminished in importance and stature. However, 2020 has proved to be a blessing for the malicious veteran. The Legend Killer has received much of the spotlight this year, mostly due to his rivalry with Edge.

Orton has been a key player during the first half of 2020, engaging in captivating feuds, delivering solid promos and doing some of the best work in his career. He has brought out a different side of him; going as far as to bring back the devastating Punt Kick. Orton has reinvented himself, capturing the attention of the WWE Universe in the process.

With the WWE Universe firmly invested in him, it is the best time to insert him into a more significant role on television. This is the most opportune time to make Orton WWE Champion.

#1 The possibilities with Randy Orton as WWE Champion are endless.

These two icons have unfinished business in the ring.

The coronavirus pandemic has severely affected the WWE product. Many top stars have taken hiatuses to spend time with their family, while others have fallen with injury or been released due as part of cost-cutting measures. As a result, WWE is running out of credible challengers for its World Champions. McIntyre has already defeated Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, Andrade, Big Show and Angel Garza. With such a thin roster of heels, there aren't many challenges left for the reigning WWE Champion. Randy Orton is the only credible heel McIntyre hasn't faced thus far.

The story is polar-opposite with Orton as WWE Champion; a myriad of babyfaces on the Red Brand would love a shot at the WWE Championship. Kevin Owens, Aleister Black, Ricochet, Humberto Carillo and Rey Mysterio come to mind. The Viper could engage in better feuds than McIntyre could. Moreover, Orton's feud with Edge and Christian is far from over. When the Ultimate Opportunist is medically cleared to return, he would want to teach Orton a valuable lesson. Adding the WWE Championship into the rivalry between the rivals would take it up a notch

Randy Orton versus Aleister Black, Randy Orton vs Kevin Owens, Randy Orton vs Ricochet; all of these matches sound enthralling on paper.