By Chris Newth, PWTorch contributor

WWE's solid headlining rivalry found some heavy strengthening yet again this week as the company intensified the narrative backing of the feud. The foundation at this point lies exclusively in the emotionally charged dynamic between the cunning Randy Orton and the incensed, vengeful Triple H.

At the moment, the WWE Title need not be the center of this storyline; in fact, this personal rivalry could become diluted by introducing the title element this early. WWE has made clear the direction they want to take the Orton-Triple H feud as the company gears up for its most prominent event of the year—and the biggest milestone of said event in WWE history as WrestleMania clocks in its 25th anniversary.

Other feuds to watch, of course, include the Edge-Cena feud that's building some significant traction following Raw this week. Their upcoming match, which will fill the second top slot on the card in terms of importance, is WWE's way of compensating for the lack of title focus in the Orton-Triple H clash. You'll notice that the entire premise of John Cena's storyline is to find his way back to the World Heavyweight Championship because of how important the title means to him.

Two other notable WrestleMania fights feature the likely legend vs. legend match between HBK and The Undertaker as well as the brother vs. brother brawl, which will serve as the culmination of the sibling tensions that have rifted the Hardys as of late.

Now back to Orton-Triple H. This week we witnessed a few distinct moments of minimal and predictable, yet incredibly important progression. The first moment occurred on Friday Night Smackdown when Jim Ross attempted to have a sit-down interview with The Game so that viewers could begin to grasp what was going through Triple H's mind amid the latest Orton attack.

Triple H began to relay his thoughts, but he couldn't even put into words a summary of what Randy Orton, now his fiercest nemesis, had done the Monday prior. With sheer emotion overwhelming him, the self-proclaimed King of Kings stood up, tore off his microphone, and abandoned JR in mid-interview.

The more visibly entertaining moment concluded Raw last Monday night as Orton and his fellow Legacy lackeys narrowly escaped a brutal assault by the sledgehammer-wielding Triple H. The scene played out like a cross between a really brightly lit horror flick and a chase-ridden action thriller, except the end found no satisfying punch as Orton and both of his cronies—Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase—got away completely unscathed.

So, what happens now? As I mentioned last week, the biggest challenge facing WWE in its continuation of this specific storyline is going to be keeping the flames burning as hot as they currently do. A week ago, Triple H's raging emotions after Stephanie found herself on the wrong end of an RKO mid-ring raised the tensions dramatically. This week's chase sequence upped the proverbial ante. But it's important to keep in mind that WrestleMania 25 doesn't take place until April 5, leaving five lengthy weeks to fan the flames.

Here's what I would do: It's time to throw something (other than pure momentum) in Triple H's direction. WWE probably wants Orton to gain the upper hand in the feud in the week or two directly preceding the PPV event so that viewers clamor for Triple H to seek revenge and retain the WWE Title at WrestleMania. The next few weeks, however, should be given to Triple H.

The guy is ready to tear someone apart, so I'd throw him Cody Rhodes or Ted DiBiase. The hidden sledgehammer didn't pay off for The Game this week as all three heels escaped unharmed in an awaiting vehicle, but next week could be different. Triple H could pick off the Legacy faction one by one, just as Orton has done to the McMahons in recent weeks.

Would that solve the need to maintain the ever-escalating tension? Absolutely. The only element that would then be missing is Orton's fearless attitude, which is already in short supply. People don't usually associate Randy Orton's current character with the stereotyped cowardly heel figure; his intensity and bravado make him the most powerful heel on any WWE roster. But this week he dodged Triple H, entirely consumed by fear.

Although his panic was truly justified—Triple H was capable of doing anything in his fit of rage—Randy Orton will eventually have to become as strong as his rival in order to provide a continual threat. Right now, Orton's acting like a frightened kid who just struck a bee hive with a stick. But now that the idea of Triple H's seething disposition has been made abundantly clear, it's time for Randy Orton to go back to outsmarting his babyface counterparts and pushing their buttons once more. Running was the smart and instinctive response this week, but now he needs to regain his strength for the sake of the feud's ongoing health.



Comments? Suggestions? Thoughts on the storyline? Feel free to email me at newthtorch@hotmail.com

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