Randy Orton has made it known he prefers to play the role of heel to the babyface he has worked as throughout the 16 years he has been part of the WWE machine. On Tuesday night, we saw possibly the best promo “The Viper” has ever delivered.

SmackDown Live opened with Orton’s explanation of why he turned on Jeff Hardy in a gruesome assault last week that was more old school than new, more destruction that finesse. It was the perfect reversal for today’s flashy antics and performance over perfection.

“I have busted my ass for 16 years for you people,” he told the fans. “I am the one constant in the WWE. Yet. I get no respect…I don’t get the respect I deserve.”

Orton said he is now “The Legend” and will take Jeff Hardy apart. The change in direction for Orton, who missed WrestleMania 34 because of injury, is the perfect storm for a veteran who had been standing in quicksand, looking for a way out of the muck.

Orton has always been one of those underrated superstars in my opinion. Always puts on a solid match, always gives the fans just enough to want more. While the younger third-generation superstar was harder to work with, selfish to a fault and believed he was the best WWE had to offer, the wizened veteran has a new role, where he a bridge from the past to the future.

Jeff Hardy may not present an “old vs. new” feud, but it does help Orton establish himself as the man who feels disrespected and wants to prove he is still the lead dog amongst a pack of young pups.

Orton’s character change also presents more opportunity for WWE to book different storylines, which may lead to a feud with A.J. Styles or Daniel Bryan.

Orton’s rise with the company is closely related to the shift toward the John Cena Era of this company. Cena is the glorified Hulk Hogan if his generation. Orton may be Randy Savage, the accomplish superstar who could carry the promotion but Vince McMahon stuck to a script he did not want to vary from.

It’s hard to argue explain how someone who has won 13 world titles in 16 years is underrated, but that is exactly what he has become. If the plan is for Orton to become the lead villain on Tuesday nights, how does that tie in with The Miz as the great protagonist? How does the company rework Shinsuke Nakamura’s sinister twist? Can he and Samoa Joe exist as two alpha males on a show that needs a dominant villain?

Bob Orton, Jr’s son deserves this spot. He has earned this spot. I’m curious to see what WWE does with this spot, and how they book Orton. It’s not about winning titles anymore for the superstar. It’s about delivering the best character role of his career. This is the time he will become the best star he has ever been.