Is Orton the lesser champ now?

[Kevin Hamilton]

I'd assume it's because Batista is a face and Randy isn't.

[deadmanlfc]

IT'S ME, AUSTIN!!

[The OP]

I disagree that Cena was in the main event spot more than Orton. First of all, it's too soon to really make a comparison. Second of all, Cena's match was sometimes in the middle of a RAW or second to last on a PPV.

[The OP]

I disagree that Cena was in the main event spot more than Orton. First of all, it's too soon to really make a comparison. Second of all, Cena's match was sometimes in the middle of a RAW or second to last on a PPV.

jackrabbitslim said:

I'd assume it's because Batista is a face and Randy isn't.

That too. But please, don't let me stop you from making generic comments like this:

cmpunkybrewster said:

if orton were so terribly bland in every aspect of the wrestling buisness, i would care about him as champion.

I love the irony of these bland comments. This one's even funnier though, because I'm pretty sure it was supposed to say "weren't".

[KingPopper]

Now that all ppvs are tri-brand ppvs, they try to send fans home happy. Remember it was only a couple years ago most ppvs would end with HHH beating RVD, Kane, or whoever the the random face of the month.

[ilikeRusso.]

His match vs HBK was amazing at Cyber Sunday the Finish was the best way to LOSE * seriously Johnny Cage Soughta shit!

[Mr. Mediocre]

I do believe that right this moment, Smackdown has the bigger deal of a champion for the first time since around Mania 19. That said, the fact that Orton is a heel (and is not HHH) does enter into it.

[Loki]

Batista and Taker went last at CyberSunday because the match had a clean finish, and the Champion (face) went over. So the crowd could leave happy.

Having Orton v HBK closing the PPV with that cheap [functional yes, but still cheap] finish would have pissed the fans off. And fans want to go home happy, with a moment that has "the end" written on it.

Moreso, Orton has been champ for less than a month, and is probably regarded by many fans as the one who holds Cena's belt (also physically). So, no matter how well HBK can put him over, Orton has still a long way to go before getting full credibility back.

Orton isn't the lesser champion, he's just the Heel Champion who "lucked into" a title reign thanks to Cena's injury.

Give him time, and some good angles. But the fact of being heel (and not having Triple H's pedigree as main eventer) will prevent him from becoming the "major" champion, as long as Batista (or Taker) holds the belt on SD.

[pathogen]

They need to give him a proper title belt instead of a toy from a christmas cracker, that way it'll mean something again.

[wrestlecrapcrap]

I think, after one PPV we can't judge who the top champ is. The only reason Orton's match was earlier in the night was because it was ending with a DQ finish, just like the Orton/Cena match at Unforgiven. It doesn't mean Mark Henry is now suddenly a bigger draw than Orton, it just means they want to end an event with a clean finish to make the fans feel like they got value for money. Very rearely will a PPV main event title match end with a DQ, and I would hazard a guess that you could count on one hand the amount of times that has happened since Booker joined the WWE.

[The F'N Captain]

It'd be hard to answer this question unbiasedly since I don't enjoy Orton when he ISN'T champ much less carrying around Cena's belt keeping it warm for him.

That and Randy, for the most part, hasn't acted like the World Champion. He doesn't really have that commanding presence.