1- Randy Orton Promo and Bray Wyatt Backstage Segments
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Grade: 7/10 for both
This was a relatively short promo that was used only to introduce the idea of Orton searching for Wyatt throughout the show. Wyatt continues to use the same material, stating he is a ‘god’, despite not picking up many victories. A match involving one of the two men could have been more useful to open the show, but this at least set the tone for a number of backstage segments that would occur.
Orton is still incredibly over, receiving a huge pop from the Cleveland crowd despite the lack of matches as of late. Overall, a short, decent segment that distinguished the theme for the Orton-Wyatt backstage scenes that would follow.
The backstage segments throughout the show emphasised the Predator or Prey paradox of the Orton-Wyatt rivalry, with Orton searching for Bray backstage. The ‘mind games’ from both men were strongly emphasised, although the lack of physicality in this feud has left it without a strong story.
If Wyatt had been attacking Orton for weeks, this search by Randy would have seemed bolder. The commentators attempted to put over Wyatt’s dangerous nature, but bad booking has seen his credibility suffer. A win over Orton at No Mercy would help re-establish Wyatt as a viable character.
