5 Startling signs that Randy Orton IS being used at WWE Survivor Series 2018

Randy Orton is perhaps one of the most decorated champions in WWE history and has undoubtedly cemented his place as one of the all-time greats in the professional wrestling industry. The Viper truly is a force to reckon with in the WWE, and when we approach Survivor Series season, his reptilian instincts seem to be at an all-time high!

With that in mind, the entire professional wrestling world is currently quite shocked that the WWE has left Orton off this year's Men's team for the Traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series Match. Now, him being left off the team would've been understandable if Orton held a notable title which he was obligated to defend at the Survivor Series PPV.

However, since Orton is presently not a champion, nor is he involved in any high profile rivalry, the fact that WWE has still left him off the Men's team truly is dumbfounding. Worry not though!

The WWE may very well have planned a swerve for us at the Survivor Series PPV which takes place on November 18th, 2018. Today, we examine a few rather startling reasons which prove that the WWE could potentially have it's secret plans for Randy Orton at the highly-awaited event which takes place in at the Staples Center, in Los Angeles, California, this Sunday...

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#5 The numbers don't lie, and they prove that Randy Orton is the G.O.A.T at Survivor Series

The numbers don't lie, and they prove that Randy Orton is the Greatest Of All Time at Survivor Series

Randy Orton has performed at the Survivor Series PPV on 13 different occasions, starting at his Survivor Series debut back in 2003, until his performance at SS 2017. One ought to note that Orton didn't compete in the 2014 and 2015 editions of the event, owing to filming obligations in '14 and injury issues in '15 respectively.

Furthermore, Orton has a record 5 wins in the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series matches and was the sole "Survivor" on his team in 2003, 2004 as well as 2005. The deliverer of RKOs also holds the record for the highest number of eliminations in the event's history -- at 15 eliminations.

I'd also like to add another interesting point here, that every Survivor Series event which saw Orton compete in a match other than the 5-on-5 Survivor Series elimination matchup, was a WWE Championship Match! Orton defeated Shawn Michaels in 2007, Wade Barrett in 2010 and Big Show in 2013 -- thereby succeeding in all three of his WWE Title matches at Survivor Series...

#4 The WWE adding layers to Randy Orton's legend before Survivor Series, with his unexplained sneak attacks

The RKO Outta' Nowhere can come at any moment

One of the biggest criticisms against professional wrestling is that most of the angles, matches, etc which seem as though they are building towards something more meaningful, ultimately turn out to be nothing more than a random angle or a random match.

I've got to confess that I received several questions from the WWE Universe over the past few weeks regarding Orton's role at Survivor Series, and why exactly the WWE is choosing to book Orton in random sneak attack segments on SmackDown Live. Regarding the same, I'd like to clarify that the WWE has historically presented Orton's character as an unstable psychopath, who doesn't really need to explain his actions.

However, that isn't the case with his recent sneak attacks! I truly believe that the WWE could have a huge swerve in store for us, by having Orton attack one of the current members on the SmackDown Live Men's Survivor Series Team (The Miz, Shane McMahon, Samoa Joe, Jeff Hardy & Rey Mysterio) -- most probably attacking Mysterio, and taking his spot in the team.

After all, Mysterio has been the biggest target of Orton's recent sneak attacks on SmackDown Live, especially after Orton ended his rivalry with Jeff Hardy. Mysterio would have to be extremely cautious heading into Survivor Series, as The Viper will surely be coiled, ready to strike him down with a venomous RKO and take his spot on the team this Sunday...

#3 The Men's Survivor Series Team needs Randy Orton

Team SmackDown needs Randy Orton

Let's reassess the current SmackDown Men's Team for the 5-on-5 Survivor Series Match. First off, we have Shane McMahon, who isn't really the best 'wrestler' in the world, regardless of him winning the meaningless World Cup at Crown Jewel. Secondly, we have The Miz, who is a decent performer, but may face huge problems against the heavy hitters on Team RAW (I'll get to that in a minute!).

The third member on Team SmackDown is Samoa Joe, who is one of the most intimidating wrestlers in the world, but has unfortunately been dealing with a few alleged leg injury issues as of late. Then we have Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio, who are both excellent performers but may still run into problems against the big guys on Team RAW.

Speaking of Team RAW, its 5 Superstars include Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, Dolph Ziggler & Finn Balor! Well, needless to say, McIntyre, Strowman and Lashley are perhaps three of the most powerful individuals in pro-wrestling today. Add to that the intelligence and amateur wrestling background of Ziggler, as well as the high-flying magic of Balor, and you have the perfect Survivor Series team!

Let's face it, Team SmackDown desperately needs a Superstar like Randy Orton, who is highly experienced in dealing with deadly behemoths such as McIntyre, Strowman and Lashley. Orton's vicious style of wrestling has often helped him break the bigger opponent's cardio, after which The Viper gradually beats them at their own game...Orton has to replace Mysterio on Team SmackDown, by hook or crook...

#2 Team SmackDown lost Daniel Bryan, but will gain Randy Orton

With Daniel Bryan out of the team, Randy Orton would be the perfect replacement rather than Rey Mysterio

I may catch a bit of heat for this one, but hear me out. Daniel Bryan is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, one of the greatest professional wrestlers in the world today. However, while Bryan may be an excellent submission artist and technical mat wrestler, The Flying G.O.A.T isn't anywhere close to Randy Orton when it comes to pulling out the win out of nowhere.

Both Orton, as well as the WWE Creative Team, have embraced the "Randy Orton RKO Outta' Nowhere" meme, which has been in vogue on the internet over the past few years! While I'm not too concerned about the aforementioned meme right now, I have to note that the WWE has excellently capitalized on the meme, and Orton is now known for hitting RKOs out of any and every angle in the blink of an eye!

In a nutshell, Orton can end a match at any given moment, no matter how dazed or hurt he is. Besides, after Daniel Bryan was removed from Team SmackDown, won the WWE Championship and is now facing Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series; it's only logical to fill his spot by bringing in a legitimate megastar like Orton to the team...

#1 Lack of other booking options, and fan demand for Randy Orton

The fans demand that Randy Orton be booked at Survivor Series 2018

As noted earlier, since his Survivor Series debut back in 2003, Randy Orton has competed at the event on 13 separate occasions -- with 10 of them being the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series matches. Regardless, another piece of trivia we'd revealed is that he notably won the WWE Championship matches he was a part of -- against Shawn Michaels (2007), Wade Barrett (2010), and Big Show (2013).

Nevertheless, despite the aforementioned accolades as well as Orton's monumental success in the traditional 5-on-5 Survivor Series matchups, Orton hasn't been booked to be a part of his brand's Men's team this year. In fact, The Viper doesn't even have a title match, and for that matter, isn't even booked to appear on the Survivor Series 2018 Kickoff Show!

Needless to say, the WWE Universe has been quite vocal with their displeasure as regards WWE not booking Orton for an event at which he is indeed the G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time). Honestly speaking, the WWE doesn't have too many booking options for Orton on the Survivor Series card this close to the event, and with all the popular demand for them to book The Viper in a prominent role at the event; the likeliest booking option is for him to attack a current member of the Team SmackDown, and take his spot on the team!

Which current member of Team SmackDown (Men's) would you like to see Randy Orton replace? Please give us your thoughts in the comments section below!