Randy Orton Shoots On ‘New School’ Wrestling

13-time WWE World Champion Randy Orton has once again given his candid thoughts on “new school” wrestling and how it differs from the traditional style.

Speaking with Vibe of Wrestling, Orton discussed how, despite the changes, similarities between the old and new do exist.

Randy Orton said (before SummerSlam):

“I think there are obvious differences in the way I was taught by the guys from the old school that is taught today, although, psychology has not changed. I think the basic ideas when it comes to telling a story haven’t changed since my father’s or my grandfather’s time. It’s the good guy, and the bad guy, and you play with the emotions of the audience. The good guy comes on the scene, the conquering hero, with the WWE World Heavyweight Championship around his waist.

“In that sense, Drew is old school too. He’s been doing this as long as I have. So, on Sunday at SummerSlam, I’m going to try to tell a story, but don’t tell a four-minute story, a 10-minute story. It’s going to be a novel. I’m going to be out there for 25, 30, 35 minutes, or maybe more, and I think that’s when magic can happen – when you get comfortable and you can build, and build, and build, to a point in the match where you put people on the edge of their seat. And that is the goal that we all pursue, and it does not happen every match.

“I think nothing has changed in that regard between old school and new school. I think the new school is more about the mentality of independent wrestling. We have a lot of people coming from independent companies and are called by NXT and WWE, many who can tell good stories. They are perhaps counted in a faster way, it is a little more – I think the most careful way to call is ‘dangerous’. I think that if people realized what these guys risk many times, and the times they put their neck on the line just for one night a year to try to attract attention or to grab the torch, I think they would understand a little better. It’s definitely an exciting style, but I think the new school, the fast speed they move at, the bumps they take, the false finishes, the nonstop action, I think in the long run it hurts the story you’re trying to tell.

“In general, the psychology has not changed. These athletes of today are more and more athletic. They have great physical ability and capacity to do things better than past generations. They do things that have never been seen before, especially in the past, and are reaching heights unknown to date. I enjoy watching the guys from the new school, and I can recognize when one of them can tell a story with the new school style. I don’t think it has changed too much.”

Transcription via Wrestling Inc