Randy Orton's Contract Talks Were Delayed For Months
Added 2019-11-18 18:47:51 +0000 UTCAs noted in the Weekly, though the initial report of Randy Orton being re-signed had touted it as a "high priority" for WWE, we had actually heard quite the opposite for a while leading up to the signing. Preliminary discussions for the deal were to have started as far back as the Spring, but meetings kept getting pushed back for months. Of course, eventually, the deal came together, but it wasn't as quick and smooth as initially indicated. We weren't given any of the details of Orton's deal, but word backstage was that he'd been paying for his own bus since he got it a decade ago.
Orton utilized whatever leverage he could, especially talking openly backstage about his willingness to hear AEW out, and dropping hints on social media. This was the talk of talent backstage who knew of his meetings being postponed and delayed, with the talking point of "if they'll do that to Randy, they'll do it to anyone" being brought up several times.
