Randy Orton has secured his place in the King of the Ring tournament final, moving one step closer to a potential 15th world title reign. On the June 20 edition of SmackDown, The Viper defeated Sami Zayn to advance in the prestigious tournament.
The final will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 28, where Orton will face the winner of the semifinal match between Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso. A victory in the tournament guarantees the winner a championship match at SummerSlam. Orton has been vocal about his ambition to capture another world title, stating he will do whatever it takes, which has fueled speculation about a potential heel turn.
Adding another layer to his current run, there is discussion about Orton forming a new version of his classic faction, The Legacy. The original group, which was a dominant force from 2008 to 2010, included Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr. A modern iteration could see Orton mentoring up-and-coming wrestlers with deep family roots in the industry, such as Zilla Fatu, son of the late Umaga, and Lance Anoa’i, another member of the Anoa’i wrestling dynasty.
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This theory gained traction after a recent interaction at Fanatics Fest where Orton shared a warm embrace with Fatu and told him, “I’ll be seeing you soon.” While Fatu is currently active on the independent circuit, Lance Anoa’i reportedly signed with WWE in 2024 but has yet to debut. Aligning with a figure like Orton would provide a significant launch for both performers. Orton has also referenced his long family history with the Anoa’i clan during a recent on-screen conversation with Jey Uso, further connecting the narrative threads.
Should Orton win the King of the Ring, a match at SummerSlam would also have historical implications. He is currently tied with The Undertaker for the most matches in SummerSlam history at 16. An appearance at this year’s event would give him the sole record with 17 matches.
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