Randy Orton has revealed that he plans to continue competing inside the ring for the next decade, proclaiming WWE as his ‘home’.
During a recent appearance on Steve Austin’s ‘Broken Skull Sessions’, the 14-time WWE World Champion discussed his long and illustrious career. From his beginnings in Ohio Valley Wrestling to becoming a respected veteran and locker room leader.
Although a third generation Superstar and son of legendary ‘Cowboy’ Bob Orton, Randy admitted that initially, professional wrestling wasn’t his calling:
“I don’t talk about it a lot. I’ve done a lot of interviews where they talk about you know, ‘did you always want to be a wrestler?’ and the easy answer is yeah, you know, I always wanted to. But the truth is, and this is really the first time I’ve ever spoke on it in front of a camera is that I wasn’t a wrestling fan.
“When I was a junior/senior in high school I definitely got into wrestling and I loved it from a fan’s point of view. Early on, I wasn’t living and breathing the business like so many guys that I work with did. I’m so fortunate to be where I’m at because early on – it was just what my dad did for work.”
Despite his early feelings toward sports entertainment, Orton explained the creeping desire eventually came to enter the squared circle, whilst he was working at a gas station at age 19. He soon signed with WWE, appearing at Ohio Valley Wrestling alongside Batista, John Cena, Shelton Benjamin, and Brock Lesnar.
Randy Orton, who turns 41 this year, has gone on to become one of WWE’s most decorated Superstars. In 2004, less than two years into his main roster run, he would become the youngest ever World Champion at that time. In 2021, Orton’s Hall of Fame-worthy career has secured his position as one of WWE’s biggest attractions.
A two time Royal Rumble winner, Orton has held Tag Team, Intercontinental, United States and Heavyweight Championships within the company. Despite these and countless other accolades, the ‘Viper’ has no plans to slow down as he approaches his twentieth year with WWE:
“At 40, I want to wrestle another decade if I can. So I know, it’s [working out] not about getting my pecs out here like Bobby Lashley and Batista’s. It’s about making sure my shoulder stays in its socket. I just need to maintain. It’s all about longevity for me man, I wanna be able to do this as long as I can.
I don’t see branching off to do this, or that, or the other like a lot of guys do. This is my home, this is what I wanna do. I am a professional wrestler.”
Notably, Randy Orton has appeared in various films and television shows. Most recently, in 2019’s comedy-drama ‘Changeland’ alongside Macaulay Caulkin and Seth Green. Despite his occasional venture onto the silver screen, Orton’s latest comments solidify the ‘Apex Predator’ as a mainstay inside a WWE ring.
Randy Orton is set to face ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt at WrestleMania 37 in Tampa, FL.
Credit for Interview: Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions