On Episode 66 of Tom Clark's Main Event podcast, one half of the SmackDown Tag Team Champions and New Wyatt Family member Randy Orton talked about having a newfound lease on life since beginning to team with Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper. He's even considering possibly changing up his ring gear for the first time in a decade. Orton did admit to being apprehensive about the faction in the beginning, but now he's really enjoying himself. Orton also spoke about taking the young team of American Alpha under his wing and imparting his wealth of pro wrestling knowledge to Chad Gable and Jason Jordan.
One of the most important things for Orton at this point in his career is "keeping things new and refreshing at work. Like right now I have a new pep in my step, I feel, because I'm working with guys that are fun to work with." Orton continued, "This whole angle with The Wyatt Family, I'm really enjoying it. At first, I wasn't quite sure, but now that we're in the middle of it and me and Bray and Luke are tag champs, everything's feeling right. And I get to do what I love to do best and that's be a heel. So each week is a little different. It's not getting stale. Nothing against Sheamus, but it's not working Sheamus every night for six months.
"It's like, American Alpha, I've been working live events with those guys & Kane against Luke, me, & Bray, and they're just amazing. They're so smooth and they've got that heart that you were talking about. It's making me have a little more heart because I'm in there with guys that feel that way and they want to do things and when they're doing something wrong, I tell them and it's not like a conversation that lasts an hour. They get it. Do you know what I mean?"
Another guy who "gets it," according to Orton, is fellow Wyatt stable-mate Luke Harper.
"[Harper]'s great. Like, before I was injured, I was supposed to work with him in a singles match, I think in the pre-show of Hell In A Cell in 2015. And I was looking forward to that."
Orton was just starting a program in October of 2015 where he was teaming with Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose against, ironically, Bray, Harper, and Braun Strowman, when he injured his shoulder, requiring surgery. He was out until July of 2016, and as a result, that planned match with Harper never took place.
"We've never touched. And somewhere down the line, I'm sure that'll happen too. But for now and the next long while, I see my future being with them and dominating SmackDown."
Some have said that Orton doesn't look like he fits in with the Wyatts. He's got some thoughts about that, too.
"I almost want to change up my gear, but I'm not quite sure where to go with it. Like, I need to find out who made Bray's stuff. It's kind of like a Baron Corbin-esque like thing he's got going on. I should say Baron's got a Bray Wyatt thing going on, but either way, I've been in the same gear for well over a decade. It's cool to see guys kind of evolve and that are always changing things up and I've never been like that.
"I might introduce a new move here and there or a new attitude here and there, but what I'm starting to realize is the creativity is, there's no limit to it and it can always pull you back if you're not willing to really think about your character and make those changes. And I just really haven't for my whole career because I've always been third generation competitor Randy Orton. Wrestling's in my blood. This is what I do. This is what I was born to do.
"I've got my own style. Yeah, I don't do flips and s--t, but when it comes down to it, I know how to tell a story and that's what I've tried to get over doing. And being with the Wyatts now, that creativity, I feel a little spark. I feel lighter on my feet, like there's a bounce in my step again working with these guys."
Click here to listen to the full interview.
