Editor's Note: At PWTorch.com we strive for our content whenever possible and practical to be original and unique (i.e. not published on other sites), therefore Guest Editorials submitted to PWTorch.com should be submitted only to PWTorch.com. If you submit a Guest Editorial for consideration, please state at the top of your editorial that you submitted it only to PWTorch. com. For more details on submitting Guest Editorials, check out a detailed submissions guide following today's Guest Editorial below.

GUEST EDITORIAL
By Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev., PWTorch.com Reader

After Monday night's WWE Raw, there seems to be a major consensus that Randy Orton is being systematically buried. After Raw, a good Devil's Advocate could convinced of something else: that Randy Orton is the prime tool for systematically taking out Stephanie McMahon's biggest
company threats.

It all comes down to one sentence, from Stephanie to Randy (said with a smirk): "We've got BIGGER plans." That statement has been repeated more than enough times to become a subliminal element in the story.

Exhibit #1: Vince McMahon. This whole thing between Stephanie and Randy is for show. The camera catches Stephanie slapping Randy, seemingly setting off Randy's so-called IED reaction. This tete-a-tete goes on for a bit, with the Billion Dollar Princess probably giving Vince some sort of "Daddy, he's giving me trouble" speech. Vince has a known track record for spoiling Stephanie, and comes to the show in a show of family and company solidarity. Randy gives Vince The Punt and Exhibit #1 is no longer a threat. Randy's "Holy Sh-t!" reaction afterward could be seen as "Wow! I really did it! I took out the boss!"

Exhibit #2: Shane McMahon. Shane is another creature of habit when it comes to family. Daddy's been punted, and Stephanie's playing the grieving daughter. Harking back to the memory of Kane attacking mother Linda McMahon, he vows to avenge what has befallen the family. Randy really meant it when he said that he/Legacy were pulling punches and
saving themselves. That moment then wasn't the right one to strike. Anyone referencing on their own to Randy taking out Shawn Michaels back in 2007 will remember that before the final strike, Shawn had been primed to be taken out first leading up to Judgment Day and Randy
finishing the job. And thus, last Monday - after doing plenty of damage the Sunday before -Exhibit #2 joins Exhibit #1 off the threat list. The RKO to Stephanie (lesser on his arsenal list than The Punt) needed to happen to continue the charade of the Orton-McMahon feud. Could easily be explained later as a cover-up that "it was a reflex action."

Exhibit #3: Triple H. With Vince and Shane out, it wouldn't take much for Linda to fall in line, so next on the hitlist is hubby Triple H. Smart fans have known it all along that there was a real marriage there, but for storyline purposes it had been kept clandestine. Putting it out in the open on TV exposes a vulnerability. For the third time, Stephanie becomes crux and linchpin of "the BIGGER plan." Yet again, it seems as though Randy is playing the cowardly role. But is he really?

What seems to be an odd analogy may be worth exploring here. What made Columbo such an effective detective was that he lulled his suspects into a false sense of security. Same could said of Monk. Both have these quirks that suspects misread as hindrances to their investigations, when in fact the quirks are strengths. By the time bad guys realized they've been caught it's too late: they made the mistakes that cost them their freedom. Putting a heel spin on this, Randy Orton is also lulling his prey into a false sense of security before going in for the kill. The IED is a cover to confuse and frustrate; he knows exactly what he's doing.

Devil's Advocate could be wrong, but WWE my be playing Columbo here, too.

You are invited to submit a "Torch Guest Editorial" for possible publishing on this site in future days. For submission guidelines and the current email,click here.

We suggest these recent related articles...

10/5 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Natalya vs. Paige, Owens vs. Cara, Stephanie McMahon, Sasha Banks, Xavier Woods

COLLECTIBLES COLUMN: The History of Foam Hands in Pro Wrestling

9/28 WWE Raw Hits & Misses: Kane's Split Personality, Divas Revolution, Heyman & Big Show, Reigns vs. Wyatt