Did Randy Orton negotiate with AEW before re-signing with WWE? Exploring the truth

Modified Aug 13, 2024 23:16 GMT

Randy Orton will face Gunther at Bash in Berlin [Image Credits: wwe.com]

Along with a World Heavyweight Championship match at SummerSlam, Randy Orton earned himself a new contract with WWE. As per reports, The Apex Predator has committed his future to the Stamford-based promotion by signing a five-year contract.

Since reports of Orton's new deal went viral, there has been a lot of talk on social media. Many wondered if Randy Orton considered moving to a promotion like All Elite Wrestling before re-signing with WWE. The answer to this question is seemingly no. Before re-signing this time around, there hasn't been many mention of AEW.

As per a report from Fightful Select, the 14-time World Champion had flirted with the idea of moving to AEW before his prior contract, but this time around, things were different. The report stated:

"Orton had publicly flirted with the idea of going to AEW in 2019, but we’re told nothing of that sort was discussed this go around."

This new deal Orton has signed with the promotion means that fans will see him compete for five more years. While Randy Orton has already established his legacy as a WWE Superstar, it will be interesting to see if he is able to break the record for the most World Championship reigns in the next five years.

Wrestling veteran says Randy Orton is heading into enemy territory ahead of match with Gunther

The only way Randy Orton can top the news of his contract renewal is by beating Gunther to win his 15th World Championship. However, this won't be an easy task as The Viper will be competing in Berlin, where Gunther is expected to have a lot of support.

Recently, this issue was raised by wrestling veteran Tommy Dreamer. During an appearance on Busted Open After Dark, Dreamer mentioned that Orton is heading into enemy territory and also said Gunther will be the favorite at Bash in Berlin.

Tommy Dreamer said:

"Randy Orton [is] going into enemy territory, like I said because I think Gunther will get an amazing reaction. But I would love to see Gunther be what he's supposed to be in a heel, and Randy will just kind of work Randy style, which is amazing. Those two guys will have an epic, epic battle."

While Dreamer's assessment of the match isn't wrong, Orton has been famous for defying the odds. Hence, it won't be surprising to see him pull off a victory in Berlin, even if the odds are against him.

About the author

Varun is a Golf and WWE journalist for Sportskeeda with over 4 years of work experience in his bag. Currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, he worked for many sites, including EssentiallySports, FanSided, Khel Now, Get Football, and a few others.

Varun is a fan of golfer Scottie Scheffler due to the latter’s mindset, and he admires Roman Reigns’ ability to keep moving forward in life regardless of any obstacles. As a purist golf fan, he would love to compete at the Masters if given the opportunity, but is also happy with LIV Golf driving more eyeballs towards the sport. If he could go back in time and be a manager for someone in the WWE, it would have been Big Show.

Varun’s mantra for writing factually correct feature articles is thorough verification. Another key element in his writing is staying updated with both sports through the official websites of pro wrestling and Golf. He has had the privilege of interviewing MMA legend Greg Jackson in his career so far.

Varun likes to spend his free time reading or writing poetry and fiction. He also plans to learn and play golf in his spare time.

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Edited by Jacob Terrell