Respect is something that’s earned in professional wrestling, an art that’s been lost over the years according to Randy Orton.
14-time WWE World Champion Randy Orton recently spoke with BT Sport’s Ariel Helwani and explained how the level of respect between the athletes in professional wrestling has “dwindled” over the years. He argued that some performers who have entered the business recently don’t “get” it the same way his peers used to.
“When I first came into the business, that level of respect was apparent. What I see now is guys kinda get the contract, go put in some time at NXT, and this isn’t everybody. And I would never make any names, but you see the general attitude coming out of NXT is like alright, I’m here. Where’s my stuff, where’s my music? Okay, I’m gonna go do my thing. Like you gotta, you have to respect everybody that came before you. You have to respect everybody that you’re in there with. If I’m out in the ring with you, I have to be able to know that you’re gonna put my body first, and you’re gonna protect me in everything that you’re doing. And you have to know that about me, and with that comes respect.
“And I just feel like sometimes now, that level of respect has dwindled. And if anything, that’s what’s upsetting to me as an old-timer, an old-timer in the locker room. That’s what I see, that level of respect is just slowly dwindling. And I don’t think it’s malicious. I think you got guys that maybe weren’t fans of the business that found you know, a sport that they excelled in, maybe have an appearance or a look or an accolade that got them here. But now they don’t really get it. They don’t understand that when you’re so big, you don’t have to take any bumps because you’re the giant and you got that guy in the ring opposite you bumping all over the place and wearing his body down to make you look like a giant. Like you owe him a steak dinner. You owe him, you need to thank him every chance you get.”
Orton mentioned that back in the day, if your opponent’s job was to bump and take a bunch of your offense to put you over, you’d grab them a bag of ice and make sure they’re OK, something that’s not done in the current era. He shared his belief that nowadays, some performers take for granted the inherently damaging nature of wrestling and taking bumps.
“If he needs a bag of ice after the match because he took all these moves because you’re a big son of a bitch and he was trying to make you look like a killer, then you go get that ice for him,” said Orton. “See if he’s okay, check on him. And I feel like guys take for granted how much we’re beating each other up because when you’re new and you start in this business, you’re fresh, you’re durable. But it quickly adds up, and I think guys take for granted how grueling this business can be, especially if you’re in it for the long haul.”
The future Hall of Famer compared the locker room to being in the military and described how close-knit everyone is, or at least used to be. He then emphasized the importance of trust during a match.
“Taking care of each other, it’s like a band of brothers,” said Orton. “You’re with your brothers, it’s a band of brothers and you got each other’s back. And it’s the same thing in a WWE locker room, and when you can tell guys don’t get that or it’s not as much of a team player mentality but it’s more, ‘Me, me, me, me,’ there’s a time and a place for that. But when it’s all the time, then that’s not a good look. When I can’t trust you to respect me enough to be thinking about my body and my health rather than you knocking my head off on live TV and making it look like you killed me, then we got a problem.”
Orton is currently locked in a feud alongside tag partner Riddle against Chad Gable and Otis of Alpha Academy.
Related: Randy Orton Believes His Longevity Will Be His Legacy In WWE
