The Randy Orton storyline at WrestleMania 42 almost looked completely different, and the version fans saw was not the original creative pitch. According to PWInsider, WWE's early plans for Orton's WrestleMania role centered around Aleister Black rather than Pat McAfee, with a much darker psychological concept at the heart of the story.
"A pitch for Orton's WrestleMania role back in January involved SmackDown star Aleister Black tormenting Orton, trying to bring out the old Apex Predator version of Orton," the report states.
The concept was built around Black targeting Orton in the weeks leading into WrestleMania, attempting to prove that Orton had never truly changed from his most dangerous self. The story would have escalated into a WrestleMania weekend match between the two, with Orton wrestling with an internal struggle throughout and hesitating at a critical moment.
"The idea was that if Black succeeded, it would prove Orton had never changed or evolved and was still the old Orton deep inside. The idea was that Black and Orton would face off Mania weekend, with Orton hesitating to use his punt kick and likely losing," the report notes.
The pitch did not end there. A post-match angle was planned that would have tied directly into the Cody Rhodes storyline, with Orton ultimately snapping and using the punt kick on Rhodes to prove Black right all along.
"But then later attack Cody Rhodes as a WrestleMania angle, using the punt to bring back the old Apex Predator and prove Black right all along," according to the report.
The core of the idea survived the creative process even as the vehicle for it changed entirely. McAfee's role replaced Black's in the manipulation of Orton, and the end result remained the same: the return of the Apex Predator, the punt kick on Rhodes, and Orton embracing his dangerous persona.
"So, at some point, McAfee's role effectively replaced the pitched version featuring Black," PWInsider noted.
It remains unclear how far the Black and Orton pitch progressed through WWE's creative process before the direction shifted. What is clear is that the destination stayed the same even as the road to get there changed completely.
