Why Randy Orton Needs To Feud With Drew McIntyre At SummerSlam

One can easily argue that Randy Orton is surging with more momentum and fire than any other superstar in the WWE right now.

Orton has been one of WWE's most popular, decorated and marketed superstars for almost two decades now. But the recent revival of his "Legend Killer" persona may be Orton's best work yet in WWE.

Vince McMahon and WWE creative have had to run their shows without prominent superstars such as Becky Lynch (maternity leave), Roman Reigns (on hiatus due to health concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic) Sami Zayn (choosing to stay home for safety) and Brock Lesnar.

Edge, who was in the midst of a feud with Orton, suffered a torn triceps during the taping for their match at Backlash. That left WWE without another major superstar, putting Vince and company in another bind.

But Orton has given WWE fans every reason to tune in on Monday Night Raw. He is the heel WWE needs right now in these circumstances. Orton has succeeded in making you want to root heavily against him, whereas other main event heels like "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt and Shayna Baszler have actually earned more popularity and strong babyface treatments.

Pitting Orton with Hall of Famer Ric Flair - the Viper's former mentor and partner in Evolution - was a savvy move on WWE's end. The Nature Boy will always be a major television ratings draw, and his reunion with Orton has been quite the joy for the nostalgic crowd.

That brings us to Drew McIntyre.

The WWE Champion got through Lesnar at WrestleMania 36, but it doesn't sound like the Beast Incarnate will be at SummerSlam, which means no rematch. McIntyre has already feuded with Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley. He'll next face Dolph Ziggler at Extreme Rules this Sunday, where McIntyre will most certainly emerge victorious.

After that, who is left for McIntyre to feud with on Raw? Unless WWE wants to turn a main event babyface (Kevin Owens?) heel, the only choice left is Orton.

Multiple reports indicate that Orton will indeed feud with the WWE Champion at SummerSlam. Let's hope that's the case, because this is the feud WWE needs to headline the marquee event.

With McIntyre getting past Lesnar and other major stars in Rollins and Lashley, WWE can only continue to pit him against formidable opponents. Orton checks every single box there.

In fact, Paul Davis of WrestlingNews.co detailed a pitched idea that would see Orton defeat McIntyre to become the new champion. He would then defend the title against Edge at some point after the latter returns, only for McIntyre to win it back at WrestleMania 37 in front of the fans. This would give McIntyre his "crowning moment with fans in attendance."

It's easy to get behind a plan like that. Orton is the ideal candidate to dethrone McIntyre as champion. This would set up a thrilling, can't-miss rematch with the Rated-R Superstar, and it'd be incredible to see McIntyre finally get that true WrestleMania moment by recapturing his championship.

But even if WWE doesn't go through that plan, a one-time showdown between Orton and McIntyre would make for great theater. Even if the Viper loses to the WWE Champion, he's at least helping enhance McIntyre's push.

There's no firm timeline on when Edge will be back. All WWE can do is keeping booking Orton strongly until the Ultimate Opportunist returns. A feud with McIntyre - be it short-term or long-term - would go a long way in building up the inevitable rubber match between the two WWE legends.

But chances are, the presumed SummerSlam showdown between Orton and McIntyre will be so good to the point where WWE will have little choice but to continue the program. They could very well look to keep the feud going for at least a couple of months.

When you add everything up, an Orton vs. McIntyre storyline is everything WWE needs right now. They are the two hottest stars on the Raw roster right now, and WWE cannot afford to waste all of the momentum that Orton has built up as a grade-A heel.

Orton is enjoying perhaps his greatest run yet in the WWE. This is the chance t o capitalize on an opportunity by putting your top heel in a feud with your top babyface.

All signs point to Orton and McIntyre feuding at SummerSlam. Let's just hope that WWE will book and build it up accordingly, and that the program will set the stage for more unforgettable showdowns down the road.

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