Randy Orton is having the time of his life with Riddle, showing off a different side of himself that fans aren't used to after years of watching him be a methodical viper.
How has Riddle brought this side of Orton out?
"One of the main reasons me and Riddle come across as so happy in the ring together is...he's the one guy that can grow my favorite strain. I'm not lying," Orton said on The Ringer Wrestling podcast.
Orton continued, providing more color as to why and how he's having fun.
"Seriously, I'm having fun out there. Monday, they had me put on a graduation cap and gown. Whenever they are tasking me some with kind of ridiculous stuff, you wouldn't think you would see Randy Orton in a cap and gown. I laughed because I was excited because I knew the fans were going to be like, 'what the hell is he doing?' After the career that I've had and all the somewhat monotonous intensity, I did that for so long, if I crack a smile and break the fourth wall or whatever, if you can tell I'm having fun at this point in my career, I feel like it draws you in more because I was so against letting people in before. It was just 'character, character, character. I have to be mean and angry and intense and they have to believe I want to rip this guys head off.' Now, I can still do that, but I've been around long enough to where, I get let off easy when I break character or when I do things that maybe a babyface wouldn't do. There might be a sign in Gorilla that says 'no eyepokes,' and even though in parenthesis it doesn't say 'except Randy Orton,' I know it's still there. I can get away with this, but compared to the stuff I used to get away with, if I get away with an eyepoke, it's okay. I'm having fun and staying true to who I am as a heel, which is what brought me to the dance, but I'm able to have more leniency with how I do that," said Orton.
On the most recent episode of WWE Raw, Orton competed in a spelling bee alongside Riddle against Otis & Chad Gable. He also defeated Gable in singles competition.
Elsewhere during the interview, Orton discussed his feud with 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt and how he tried to make it as real as possible. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
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