ESPN.com‘s Brian Campbell recently conducted a new interview with 2017 Royal Rumble winner Randy Orton; you can read a few excerpts below:
Randy Orton comments on how much he’s changed since winning his first Royal Rumble in 2009:
“A lot has changed since 2009 for me. I have a very big, very beautiful family. My wife, three stepsons, my daughter Alanna, who is eight now, and of course, my two-month-old baby that we just had. So a lot has changed in that regard. I’m more grounded, and I think a lot more centered. I think I’m a better person because of my family.”
Orton is happy with his win, but says he wasn’t hoping for a certain spot like that in advance:
“Very little is up to me and hope isn’t worth anything, as far as I’m concerned. Whether I’m given a match with X, Y or Z, or winning the Rumble or out first, it doesn’t matter. You are going to give your all. I think our locker room, everyone gives it their all. We are all working together to put on the best show you can.
“When you start hoping too much, you start believing your own hype, and the next thing you know, you can’t do that here or you’ll get buried and get kicked out of the door. You can’t change in the locker room if you are one of those guys. The attitude has to be on point here.”
Orton comments on being a two time Royal Rumble winner:
“I have heard the fun facts about my career, but when it comes down to it, I want to be in one piece when I get home, cash that paycheck and come back and put on the best match. I have been blessed. I’m a third-generation [wrestler]. I said, ‘Hey Dad, give Vince [McMahon] a call. I want to give this a shot.’ Yet guys like this [pointing to AJ Styles, who was standing next to him] were busting their ass for years.
“But all those little facts and accomplishments, they are cool. All of that is important to the fans because it should be. But once it’s important to me, I become one of those big-head egos. It’s a family back here.”
