Chris King: Was Randy Orton Simply Repeating History At WrestleMania 42?

Could the WWE WrestleMania 42 results for Randy Orton lead to repeated history at Backlash?

WrestleMania 42 Night One is in the rear view, as Cody Rhodes retained his WWE Undisputed Championship. While Pat McAfee tried to involve himself in the title match, Jelly Roll took his ass out. Randy Orton utilized every single move in his arsenal and even the champion’s to win his fifteenth championship. Unfortunately, due to Pat’s shenanigans, Orton was unable to get the job done, and Rhodes secured the victory. 

There have been rumors about Orton and Pat vs. Rhodes and Jelly Roll in a tag team match at this year’s Backlash PLE. It wasn’t until after last night that got me thinking, what if they repeat history when Orton won the championship in 2009? Orton, along with Legacy (Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Ted DiBiase Jr.), made it his life’s goal to destroy HHH and the McMahon family all the way up to WrestleMania 25. Orton punted both Vince and Shane and even hit a DDT on HHH’s wife. Stephanie. The psychological games weren’t enough though, as Orton didn’t win the title then either at Mania. 

The next night on Monday Night Raw, Batista made his long-awaited return to the ring to help HHH against Legacy. In the weeks leading up to the event, Rhodes, Orton, and DiBiase Jr. would get the upper hand, destroying everyone. HHH would put his title on the line in a massive six-man tag team match alongside Shane and Batista versus Legacy. If Orton’s team won the match, then he would win the championship. 

What if this huge stipulation were placed on the rumored tag team match, and Orton found a way to win the WWE Championship at Backlash? The WWE Universe might not be happy about the way Orton wins the title, but as long as Orton gets his fifteenth title, does it really matter? Maybe punting Rhodes was just the start of Orton listening to the voices and doing whatever he has to do to win the championship?