Randy Orton recently spoke with Josh Barnett for USA Today’s For The Win while promoting his appearance on the USA Network series Shooter.
Orton will appear on Tuesday’s episode, playing James Richards, a former Navy SEAL and militia group leader who comes into contact with lead actor Ryan Phillippe’s character. You can read a few excerpts below:
Randy Orton talks about how he got the role on Shooter:
I got an opportunity while I was out of action in the ring after shoulder surgery in December. I was a couple of months away from being cleared and was still at home. Basically, that made me one of the candidates. They talked to a couple of other guys and wanted to give me the opportunity. You don’t really get to audition. USA Network talks to our people and the network wanted me to play the role. It was really cool that they picked me. It does make you feel good. I was really impressed with the director. He was willing to work with me. I needed a little extra in terms of pointers because I’m not as experienced as the other actors. It was a great group of people. The crew was awesome. Ryan Phillippe was great. Just a man’s man. He talked to me on the same level. There was no big-leaguing anybody on the set.
Orton comments on he and Bray Wyatt both being third generation stars, how well they work together:
That’s definitely a fact worth pointing out. There is a lot of back story and things we can do to give our characters more layers. Working with second- and third-generation guys like when I worked with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase in Legacy, those guys get it. They have a leg up on everyone else. We were raised in the wrestling business and pick up a few things like etiquette, how you talk around the guys and respect for the guys who have been around longer and paved the way. It’s cool to be in there now with a guy who has old school in his blood.
Looking back, does Orton think his Summerslam match went the right way?
I think with Lesnar, it’s always going to be him coming him every few months as a monster who destroys guys who work 200 days a year. There is a tendency for that to get old. I could have looked a little better that night and that would have helped me a lot regardless of the finish and not hurt Brock’s character at all. But the fact that you’re asking me about it three-four months later, means we created a buzz. But the fact that I had a concussion and was out for three weeks and wasn’t able to do anything pissed me off.
We say this a lot in the back when someone gets hit harder than intended, we knew what we were signing up for. It’s a rough sport. It’s a rough business and very physical. A few more people need to respect how things can go sour out there.
