Would the Authority storyline with Orton have worked better

[thelonewolf527]

Had Ryback never turned heel and was put in Orton's place? You can have Ryback mad that Bryan was the one to finally pin The Shield, a guy who's never been champion get the nod, and there'd be a legitimate newer guy being pushed as the future

[Sparkybob]

No because the matches will be worse.

[thelonewolf527]

Jan 5, 2014 14:50:38 GMT -5 Sparkybob said:

No because the matches will be worse.

It's not like the Orton/Bryan matches from the pay-per-views were all that amazing, not to mention Bryan and Ryback have worked well together in the past AND Ryback vs. Big Show would probably be more justifiable than what Orton/Big Show did

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Ryback would've been good as hired muscle, but not as the centerpiece.

Imo if anyone were to be put in Orton's place, it should've been a heel Cody Rhodes or someone more along those lines. Imo what the Authority angle needed as a chosen champion was just a not too established (I.e. No Cena, no Miz, etc.) non descript looking guy who looks good in a suit/trunks and can just wear the belt while HHH and Steph gush over how awesome he is.

[Hit Girl]

I would used Ziggler or Miz as the corporate champion. Both of them could portray the cocky, obnoxious, corporate sell out better than Orton, who is just too dull and boring to convey anything like that.

[tekkenguy]

I honestly think Del Rio would've worked well in that role.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Jan 5, 2014 15:00:37 GMT -5 tekkenguy said:

I honestly think Del Rio would've worked well in that role.

Maybe, but personally I think guys like Del Rio, Miz or even the oft romanticized heel Cena are too established and being a corporate avatar for HHH would feel like a step down; it kinda felt that way for Orton. Also, Del Rio seems like the type of character who thinks too highly of himself to be in that role. Like being a corporate puppet is beneath him and something that a "pessant" would do.

[Kevin Hamilton]

A healthy Sheamus woulda been great. Good matches, a refreshing change for him, hell go meta and acknowledge that he&H are workout buddies and that Sheamus has the 'look'

[Bootista]

Hell No.

[Sparkybob]

Jan 5, 2014 15:09:25 GMT -5 Kevin Hamilton said:

A healthy Sheamus woulda been great. Good matches, a refreshing change for him, hell go meta and acknowledge that he&H are workout buddies and that Sheamus has the 'look'

Yea that would have been fun but that long-term injury ruin that.

[Deleted]

Man...

If I had this angle, I would've definitely had Ryback as the Authority's hired gun to keep Punk distracted with Heyman.
Miz would've been their (True) Corporate Champion after Orton flaked out because Stephanie and Hunner wouldn't have completely strangled Miz's character to death with garrote wire.

ADR would've been a "wild card" during all that, considering he was the top champion of the promotion but felt like it was horseshit how Stephanie and Hunner overlooked him.

#BadNewsBarrah would've actually been an assistant and representative of Vince McMahon.
The "Bad News" he would deliver would be decrees that may or may not be from Vince...

But enough about my crazy-ass armchair booking stuff...
To answer the OPs question specifically?
I feel like Ryback was in the middle of hitting his stride as a heel and "Daniel" Bryan Danielson's "bad match" is everyone else's average. So...eh...he'd be somebody new. He wouldn't have to rely too heavily on cutting his own promos and he'd be able to work with DBD so I'm assuming he'd only be able to improve. It wouldn't be bad. I'd have given Ryback a shot.

[Hit Girl]

They needed a younger star on the rise, like Ziggler, rather than someone already established, or someone stale like Orton

It could then be explained that Ziggler is simply doing what he needs to do to get ahead, and may be more naive. It could then set up the inevitable face turn when Ziggler gets sick of being a corporate puppet.


Picking Orton accomplished nothing. The spot should have been used to build a new star. Not re-heat an established one.

[BigWill]

I feel like I'm the only one that likes Orton in his current role.

[The Ichi]

Jan 5, 2014 15:21:00 GMT -5 BigWill said:

I feel like I'm the only one that likes Orton in his current role.

Nope, I do too, and I'm not an Orton fan generally.

[Deleted]

Orton's role is...it's not what it should be and I think the way his character is...?

I think Orton works better as the Corporate Champion they're stuck with not the Corporate Champion they want.
Like, he works for the time being because he's effective in the ring and he's the devil Hunner and Stephanie knows but an alliance with Orton should've never been their first choice.

I mean, they should've tried to get John Cena to play ball then settled with Orton as a holdover until their real choice is brought to the forefront and they put the machine behind him.

[Chip]

Jan 5, 2014 15:21:00 GMT -5 BigWill said:

I feel like I'm the only one that likes Orton in his current role.

I don't like him in that role but I'll admit it's the one that made the most sense on paper on multiple levels. Here's a guy that has been a complete asshole to the McMahon family on multiple occasions, to the point that his mere existence should make them sick. Instead they reward him and push him as their champion and face of the company. It really solidified Hunter and Stephanie as being complete scum bags now in a way I don't think any other talent could have done.

[CATCH_US IS the Conversation]

Jan 5, 2014 15:35:17 GMT -5 Chip said:

Jan 5, 2014 15:21:00 GMT -5 BigWill said:

I feel like I'm the only one that likes Orton in his current role.

I don't like him in that role but I'll admit it's the one that made the most sense on paper on multiple levels. Here's a guy that has been a complete asshole to the McMahon family on multiple occasions, to the point that his mere existence should make them sick. Instead they reward him and push him as their champion and face of the company. It really solidified Hunter and Stephanie as being complete scum bags now in a way I don't think any other talent could have done.

In real life Orton IS the guy they'd prefer on top over Cena , so he fits in that sense.

But what has always bothered me is that his character had been long established as some psychotic "snake man" and they seemingly had to water that down just to get him to fit in his current role. Like Orton would be a better fit if the Viper/Apex Predator never happened.

[RIHT]

Any Ryback heel turn would've been bad. WWE should've kept the title on Orton and hired some goofy cronies to take hits and look stupid while HHH, Steph, Orton, and Shield were being evil and bad ass. Miz as the "voice" and "most must-see corporate assistant" or something and Wade Barrett as Triple H's deliverer of bad news. WWE could've easily made this much better, but once again, they squandered another opportunity.

[rnrk supports BLM]

If Ryback had stayed face until Summerslam and been booked remotely strongly over that period, trying to turn him heel would've flopped even worse.

But it would've provided the hilarious sight of heel Ryback overwhelmingly getting cheered over babyface Bryan and smarks whining about how live crowd reactions aren't really an accurate reflection of wrestlers' overness.

[sportatorium]

Ryback should have been HHH's bodyguard/hired gun. The angle would have worked better if they didn't do the MITB thing, had Bryan win & slowly turn HHH heel as Steph tried to change DB & make him more corporate.

Orton could have wormed his way into their good graces. DB & Cena could have been in the unification match w/the foreshadowing of The Authority helping Cena. Orton cashes in to make it a triple threat for the unified title. HHH screws Cena over, Orton gets the title, Bryan never was pinned for his belt- protecting their hottest babyface.

No Big Show, no held up title.