Pro Wrestling

Randy Orton’s Blood Opens A Door

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By @nickmarsico

Getty Images

Getty Images

Last Monday night on RAW, the show closed with The Authority laying waste to former member Randy Orton, who had spent weeks at odds with Triple H’s new Golden Boy, Seth Rollins. As described in a recent column, Triple H reluctantly gave the go-ahead to finish the destruction while Orton lay prone at his feet, struggling to remain conscious and bleeding from a nasty gash on his forehead. WWE has, for years, shied away from showing blood and has instituted policies that has outlawed bleeding and requires referees to get involved and sometimes pause matches if it begins flowing freely. On Monday, the cameramen made sure to focus on Orton’s bloody noggin from a number of different angles.

It was tough to tell, but I found myself wondering whether or not that blood was shed intentionally. Yes, there’s a policy in place that is intended to prevent that, but the angle featured two of the highest members of corporate management, two agents and two long-term upper-card veterans along with a new, highly featured young talent who they are working very hard to keep in an advantageous position. The timing was rather convenient, I would say. Nothing appeared to have been a possible culprit in the slashing of his head and it occurred during an intense turning point in a long-running story.

Whether it was a very timely coincidence or a rule being broken by the people who made the rules, the fact that the director didn’t shy away from showing blood, even at times focusing on it, the possibility for situations in which blood would truly add to the intensity and realism of a match or angle is now a reality. If someone has a ladder repeatedly whacked into his head during the TLC pay-per-view, it’s okay if he bleeds. The situation allows it, as long as it fits the situation. If it’s a throwaway match that’s on the card for the sole purpose of having a ladder match on the Tables, Ladders and Chairs PPV, then spilling blood is wasteful and makes no impact. If being left bloodied and battered on the floor leaves one member of a team out and his partner alone to be decimated by their opponents, an argument can be made that it makes sense.

Should there be more blood? No, not necessarily. There should simply be a legitimate possibility that leaves a door ajar just a slight bit, waiting for a situation in which the door can be pushed open with force in a meaningful manner. Just knowing that blood is not out of the question adds to the mystique for when it does occur. Other than massive amounts of ugly scars tattooing their foreheads, many wrestlers from the past have no other long-lasting effects that are directly connected to years of intentional bloodletting.

WWE should test for certain diseases that can be contracted in the event that blood is introduced into the mix to make sure the wrestlers are protected, then simply follow the true golden rule and reap the benefits.

Everything in moderation.

Nicholas A. Marsico is a pro wrestling writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter and Like him on Facebook!

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