Cody Rhodes' next attacker, mentor to 20-year-old WWE star? 4 Directions for Randy Orton for the rest of 2024
WWE has a lot of major acts right now. The likes of Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, LA Knight, Bianca Belair, Nia Jax, Bayley, Rhea Ripley, Damian Priest, Gunther, Liv Morgan, CM Punk, and Drew McIntyre are just some of the biggest stars in the industry.
One name that has been a big star now for two decades is Randy Orton. The Viper burst onto the scene in 2002 and became World Heavyweight Champion at SummerSlam 2004. In the 20 years since then, The Legend Killer has become a 14-time WWE World Champion and a WrestleMania headliner.
In 2024, Orton has had a low-key year, but still one that has been very successful. He has feuded with the likes of Logan Paul, Gunther, and The Bloodline. Additionally, he formed a popular tag team with Kevin Owens.
With 2024 just a few months away from ending, many fans are wondering what else he'll do moving forward. This article will take a look at a handful of possible directions for The Viper in WWE in the final months of the year.
Below are four directions for Randy Orton for the rest of 2024:
#4. He could betray Cody Rhodes
Randy Orton doesn't have a lot of friends in WWE. He has been nicknamed The Viper for a reason. The veteran hasn't exactly been the most trustworthy performer during his career.
Despite that, he does have at least one extremely close friend who he has been linked up with for years: Cody Rhodes. The former Legacy stablemates are often seen together and have teamed up to fight off The Bloodline and others over the past year.
Unfortunately, things may soon go south for The American Nightmare. There is a chance that The Viper will turn on Cody in an attempt to become a world champion again. Cody has already lost his relationship with Kevin Owens. Could Randy be next?
#3. Randy Orton and Kevin Owens could become tag team champions
Speaking of Kevin Owens, The Prizefighter is on the minds of many in WWE right now. Following Bad Blood, fan footage saw Owens brutally assaulting The American Nightmare in the parking lot, thus turning heel for the first time in several years.
Beyond whatever happens between Kevin and Cody, The Prizefighter is also involved in a tag team known as R-KO. He and Randy Orton have bonded in WWE over the past year or so and have even become friends despite seemingly being so different.
Provided the rift with Cody doesn't mess up the relationship between Orton and Owens, the two could win tag team gold before 2024 comes to an end. Given their issues with The Bloodline, the duo dethroning Tama Tonga and Tonga Loa would be great for their morale.
#2. Orton could be a mentor for Je'Von Evans
In what is an extremely rare case, Randy Orton appeared on WWE NXT last night. This was the second-ever edition of NXT on the CW Network, and it aired live from St. Louis, Missouri, which is The Viper's hometown.
In what was a big surprise when it was first announced, Orton not only appeared on NXT, but he had a match. The Apex Predator went one-on-one with the 20-year-old Je'Von Evans. The Young O.G. has an extremely bright future, and fans already love him.
In the end, The Viper defeated Evans. However, the veteran showed Je'Von respect post-match. There is a chance that he will return to NXT more often to help Evans develop. The two could form a mentor-mentee relationship, with Randy working to get Je'Von ready for the main roster and superstardom.
#1. He could challenge LA Knight for the WWE United States Championship
LA Knight has finally done it. At WWE SummerSlam, The Megastar defeated Logan Paul to win the United States Title.
Since winning the belt, Knight has had several big title defenses. He has managed to defeat Santos Escobar, Andrade, and Ludwig Kaiser. Next, he could defend the prized belt against Carmelo Hayes.
Once he potentially defeats The A-Champion, Knight could defend his belt against Randy Orton. The Viper is a former United States Champion, but he surely wants to hold gold again. The Megastar vs. The Legend Killer would be box office, and fans would love to see which veteran is better.