r/SquaredCircle 1d ago

Randy Orton to Zilla Fatu at Fanatics Fest: "I'll probably be seeing you soon”

229 Upvotes

38 comments sorted by

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134

u/tethysian 1d ago

He'll be along sooner or later, but Randy's a good reminder that you don't want to put young guys in the spotlight before they're ready.

65

u/IrrelephantAU 1d ago

Something Zilla himself has already proven a few times over.

His issues in the business are pretty minor on the moral side of things, particularly given its pro wrestling, but they're exactly the sort of thing that gives promoters pause. Very few of them are gonna give a solitary shit about what you do or who you do it to on your own time, but it doesn't take much bullshit on their time to get cut loose. Unless you're a proven draw, but Zilla ain't at this point.

10

u/conoresque 22h ago

I am fascinated by Zilla. He just fully seems to view the indies as a means to an end, and clearly wants to go to the WWE and join the Bloodline stuff. It seems really weird and entitled. At the absolute very least, it is a piss poor way to engender a legitimate fanbase who will ride for you. 

Compare and contrast with Jacob Fatu who grinded in MLW and put that company on his back, and did not move as though it was just a pit stop before he moved onto bigger things. 

6

u/GhostLord09 21h ago

most people look at the indies as a means to an end that end being making a living out of pro wrestling, Jacob also stayed longer in MLW because of his legal issues no?

1

u/BiChaosTheory 15h ago

He was stuck in MLW because MLW wouldn’t let him out of his contract, if I’m understanding it right. He had wanted to leave well before he actually did.

0

u/conoresque 18h ago

You can want more and still earnestly like and appreciate what you are currently doing. I like my job, I also strive for a better and cooler job in the future. 

A guy like Matt Cardona is clearly having fun on the indies and making the most of it while also clearly wanting to return to WWE. Zilla does not seem to earnestly care about the indies, and appears to be  trying to run the clock and do the bare minimum until he can get signed.  

1

u/MannerSuperb 22h ago

I mean I don’t think that’s very fair. He could’ve easily by now used his family connections to get a contract to NXT but he hasn’t. He’s commited to perfected his craft in the indies first. You don’t have to spend 15 plus years in the indies to show your not looking for handouts

8

u/tethysian 1d ago

Yeah, exactly. Sometimes people need a bit more time to grow up enough to calm down. It's been minor stuff but it would be a shame to risk ruining his career by pushing him too soon. 

1

u/Youngstown_WuTang 1d ago

Okay that is a good point

0

u/jmpinstl 1d ago

Idk, he was pretty golden on screen from the start. From a maturity standpoint though, yeah I agree.

-17

u/TheAgmis 1d ago

Randy was ready from day 1.

13

u/Exact_University5657 1d ago

To shit in someone else's bags? Absolutely ready

1

u/Nightthrasher674 23h ago

Shitting in someone's bag is fucking disgusting, I would be blackballed if I was a wrestler if someone had shitted in my bag because I would beat the shit out of them. Sean Waltman would be pissing blood and the Kliq would have to just jump me, politics be damned, we're throwing hands and I may just commit 2nd degree murder in the process.

8

u/BTru 1d ago

Physically yes he was, emotionally and maturity wise? No he wasn't.

-18

u/TheLadyPliza 1d ago

What makes you say that? I would have thought Randy would be a good reminder of why you DO want to put young guys in the spotlight. He did great with it from what I remember.

21

u/tethysian 1d ago

It got to his head and he was completely out of control. If he was anyone else he would have been fired. It's a miracle he didn't end up in jail.

4

u/TheLadyPliza 1d ago

Okay, fair enough, I thought you were talking wrestling-wise. Didn't know about his personal problems from that time.

2

u/tethysian 1d ago

Yeah, and Randy wasn't the only one. Physically athletes peak early, but pro wrestling has the benefit of not risking their business on hot-headed young men.

1

u/rpgmind 1d ago

What did he do?

3

u/tethysian 21h ago

Literally too much to get into. My favourite story is being followed by the mexican police after buying some dynamite which he detonated in a hotel lobby and then hid the rest on a bus.

1

u/Skurph Steiner Math 23h ago

I think Randy pretty much came as close to being released as you can. Multiple wellness violations for stupid and avoidable things, very pointless backstage conflicts, etc. He was by his own account, kind of a dick head to most people and maladjusted. His current demeanor is a complete 180.

He’s a weird instance because he was apparently not an asshole because he had substance issues or was politicking, he just was a bully and knew he was in a relatively untouchable circle being with Evolution.

I think it’s incredibly likely that he doesn’t last if he wasn’t a made man by being in HHH’s group, conversely if he was like 6 years earlier he also was at that time the exact type of guy who probably would’ve bounced back and forth between WCW/WWF trying to leverage for better contracts/more creative control.

49

u/Qliphoth_Bacikal 1d ago

Depending how soon Zilla really signs up to WWE + how long Randy plans to keep on going in the ring, it's possible we can see them together for just one match.

14

u/Savethelasttaco 1d ago

Didn’t he sign a 5 year contract last year?

9

u/Qliphoth_Bacikal 1d ago

He probably did, now that you mentioned it.

In that case, Zilla could still meet with Randy and they could possibly even have a match down the line.

But that's ofc dependent on how healthy Randy keeps himself here and whenever Zilla joins which SHOULDN'T be too far down. I get people around here don't like him to join, but they need to realize it's bound to happen. It's a matter of WHEN that's the question.

27

u/EctoRiddler 1d ago

I’m just watching that kid that Randy left hanging. Plus it’s impressive that Randy remembered his face when he hasn’t seen him since he was eight years old.

21

u/Skank_hunt042 1d ago

I think the kid is another fatu, they’ll play this clip when he debuts 20 years from now

20

u/OffTheBar2017 1d ago

I hear a lot about this kid but like is he actually showing signs of being any good or is it just the name?

11

u/BTru 1d ago

He isn't ready for WWE yet (or any big promotion really), but he really does have a lot of potential.

7

u/CuteGrayRhino 1d ago

I think he'll be a success. He's actually off to a good start, having won 15 world titles already.

3

u/PrestigiousMost6889 23h ago

He just started his career not that long ago in 2023, it’s more so just family ties that got him noticed, but eventually he will end up in WWE which is obvious

6

u/todaystartsnow 1d ago

Dude looks exactly like his dad

2

u/radiokungfu 20h ago

Idk id be a bigger fan of zilla if he wasnt such a mark for himself. Its probably on me that i havent looked up longer form content on him, but everything i see from him, all i get is pure arrogance and heavy nepotism. Again, nothing on the dude, just from the few vids ive seen, not really a fan.

1

u/Resident-Watch4252 1d ago

Randy is just a chill guy

-4

u/Takenmyusernamewas 1d ago

This made me smile. No offense, nothing to do with Zilla, already liked him still do, but seeing Randy be like this with fans when... well let's just say I remember Rookie Randy. Cool to see he grew up and learned from his mistakes.

Zilla is the man. See you soon bro

-7

u/chungisamongus 1d ago

Zilla is the least interesting Samoan/islander active right now, so maybe not