Getting Ready to Rumble: Potential 2019 Royal Rumble winners - Randy Orton

In this new series, we assess the chances of competitors in the 2019 Royal Rumble matches.

Last time, we covered the chances of Charlotte Flair.

This time, we assess the chances of 'The Viper', Randy Orton.

Randy Orton is one of the greatest WWE superstars of all time, and a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer. JBL would often say that if he were to build a WWE superstar from scratch, he would look like Randy Orton. It is easy to see why; strong, tall, and lithe, the third generation superstar makes everything he does look effortless.

Randy Orton's list of accomplishments are too numerous to list, so let us run through the main ones. 13 world championships. Youngest ever World Champion. Mutliple time sole survivor at Survivor Series. One Money in the Bank victory. Two WrestleMania main events. And two Royal Rumble victories, one of only 7 superstars to achieve that goal.

Indeed, Randy Orton won his last Royal Rumble in 2017; two years ago. Can he win his third?

Let's find out.

Case for Randy Orton winning 2019 Men's Royal Rumble match

Perpetual winner

Randy Orton must be considered the favourite to win every single time he competes. Just look at his record. It is one of the greatest WWE records of all time. Indeed, his record alone makes a very strong case for him emerging victorious in this match.

Randy Orton has proven main event pedigree. He has been there and done that multiple times. He will be able to carry the load of a main event WrestleMania programme.

Randy Orton is taken seriously by the WWE audience at all times. He has undeniable star power. Any programme that Randy Orton is a part of is instantly taken seriously by both the WWE, and the fans. Investment by the fans and the WWE usually makes for excellent viewing.

Randy Orton is also one of the most loyal WWE superstars on the roster. Ever since he lost the WWE Championship to Jinder Mahal, he has been in the mid-card, despite his obvious main event pedigree. His loyalty may be rewarded with another Royal Rumble victory, and main event run.

The point is, you can never count Randy Orton out simply because he is Randy Orton.

Case against Randy Orton winning 2019 Men's Royal Rumble match

Winding down his career

Randy Orton is going to go down as one of the greatest of all time. However, there is a sense that he is winding down his career. Indeed, it has been reported that he has been on a reduced house show schedule for some time. The WWE has also been using Randy Orton as someone who is winding down his career, and on a limited schedule.

Indeed, he has not been a consistent part of the main-event scene since losing the WWE Championship to Jinder Mahal, all the way back in 2017. Last year at WrestleMania, the Smackdown main-event was AJ Styles versus Shinsuke Nakamura; two newer WWE superstars. Orton himself was part of the fatal four-way United States Championship match; a veritable main-eventer among career mid-carders. He wasn't even a part of Team Smackdown's Men's Survivor Series team, despite the fact that he can lay claim to being the greatest of all time in Survivor Series elimination matches.

Randy Orton and the WWE seem to have reached an agreement on his current role. There is no reason to believe that that will change.

Who would he challenge at WrestleMania 35?

The Demon versus The Viper?

Randy Orton winning the Royal Rumble match would certainly switch things up.

To switch things up more, he must go over to Monday Night RAW, and challenge the new WWE Universal Champion, Finn Balor.

Daniel Bryan is likely to retain his WWE Championship, and Randy Orton works best as a vicious heel. Besides, Bryan versus Orton at WrestleMania has already been done, and will never ever be topped.

A deranged, vicious, heel Randy Orton targeting newly minted babyface Universal Champion, Finn Balor, though? Finn Balor being forced to tap into his darker side, and unleashing 'The Demon' on Randy Orton?

That's a WrestleMania worthy feud right there.

The Verdict: Can never be disregarded, but this doesn't appear to be his year. Look for him to hit a flurry of RKOs on everyone in the ring when he enters the match.

Agree? Disagree? Let us know in the comments.