3 reasons why Randy Orton failed to dethrone Gunther at WWE Bash in Berlin

At Bash in Berlin 2024, Randy Orton gave everything he had to become the new World Heavyweight Champion, but it wasn’t enough, as Gunther retained his title. Their match received "This is awesome" chants from the crowd and delivered an instant classic that lasted over thirty minutes.

However, fans of The Legend Killer might be disappointed by his loss at this German premium live event. In this article, we will discuss three reasons why The Viper failed to dethrone The Ring General at Bash in Berlin 2024.

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#3. WWE never plans to make Randy Orton the new Champion at Bash in Berlin

One of the possible reasons why Randy Orton didn’t emerge victorious at Bash in Berlin is that WWE never intended for him to win the World Heavyweight Championship in this match. When Gunther won the title from Damian Priest at SummerSlam 2024, it marked the beginning of a new era.

The decision to pit Orton against Gunther was likely aimed at creating a symbolic passing of the torch between the seasoned veteran and the rising champion. This was highlighted by the post-match handshake, which underscored a moment of respect and acknowledgment of The Ring General’s growing legacy.

In essence, this match was more about solidifying Gunther’s position as a dominant force in WWE than it was about making Randy Orton the World Champion again.

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#2. Gunther will have a lengthy title reign

Another reason for Randy Orton’s loss at Bash in Berlin ties into WWE’s intention to give the Imperium leader, Gunther, a lengthy title reign. Recently, the company has shown a clear trend of extending championship reigns, as seen with Roman Reigns' record-breaking run as Universal Champion.

The same was also seen in Gunther’s historic Intercontinental Championship reign and Rhea Ripley’s dominant reign as Women’s World Champion.

It seems WWE might be aiming to replicate a similar lengthy reign for Gunther with the World Heavyweight Championship. This strategy likely contributed to the decision for Orton to lose at Bash in Berlin, further cementing The Ring General’s status as a dominant champion.

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#1. WWE could have some other big plans for Randy Orton

A feud between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton has been anticipated by the WWE Universe for quite some time. Many believe The Viper could soon turn heel on his longtime friend on SmackDown, eventually leading to a title feud between the two. If WWE decides to execute these plans on the blue brand, this could also explain why Orton lost at Bash in Berlin 2024.

If Orton had won the World Heavyweight Title, he would have had to move to RAW, disrupting any potential storyline with Rhodes on SmackDown. This scenario likely played a role in WWE’s decision to have the veteran lose at Bash in Berlin, ensuring that the potential feud between the former Legacy stablemates remains a possibility in the near future.