38-year-old WWE star to unexpectedly turn his back on Randy Orton? Exploring the possibility 

Randy Orton hasn't yet demanded a title shot despite not having both his shoulders pinned to the mat when Gunther defeated him at King of the Ring. Fans speculated he would have some reaction to it, but The Viper has seemingly been understanding about the situation.

Had Orton won, he would have been the challenger for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam 2024, most likely against Cody Rhodes. The Viper ran out to the arena after Rhodes' match against AJ Styles at Clash at the Castle to save The American Nightmare from The Bloodline's ambush. So, one can assume The Apex Predator does not intend to prey on his friend, but maybe the twist is it will be Cody Rhodes who will turn on Randy Orton.

The scrutinizing eyes of the WWE Universe noticed that The Viper was eyeing The American Nightmare's Undisputed WWE Championship belt after saving Rhodes from Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Tonga Loa. If the fans noticed it, it's possible Cody Rhodes noticed it too. Therefore, to save himself from an unexpected betrayal, Rhodes could turn on Randy Orton first. However, it does not need to be an ambush.

Currently, Randy Orton and Kevin Owens are involved in a rivalry with The Bloodline. Usually, a rivalry with The Bloodline means ambushes and assaults, and Solo Sikoa's Bloodline is ruthless. So, in Owens' absence, The Bloodline can assault The Viper, and Cody Rhodes could decide not to save his friend from the villainous faction. He can simply turn his back on The Apex Predator and let The Bloodline continue their business.

This unexpectedly cold action could set up a fiery feud between Orton and Rhodes. Their rich legacies and history are the perfect combination for a SummerSlam match!

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Former WWE Champion opens up about Randy Orton's backstage behavior

The Viper has played the role of a ruthless villain on-screen and has also been the beloved babyface. The way he attracts the crowd, regardless of whether he is a babyface or heel, speaks volumes about his skills as a WWE Superstar.

However, Randy Orton is a superstar both on and off-screen, and former WWE Champion Ryback showered praise on The Apex Predator about the same.

"Randy [Orton] is a straight-up guy. We follow each other still. He was one of the people that messaged me when I walked out. A lot [of people] did but he was one of the bigger names that did, very kind words on that and I've always had nothing but great respect for him. I think he's one of the all-time greats but he's one of the all-time greats behind the scenes in the sense that his status in the ring does not determine how he treats people backstage."

Even though there are stories from Orton's younger days that paint him differently, Ryback revealed he has never had any of those experiences with him.