By James Caldwell, Torch assistant editor

WWE champion Randy Orton says he knows he's not supposed to be cheered and he's not trying to generate cheers as a heel, but the cheers are a subtle reminder to him that his work is appreciated by the audience.

Orton says the hardcore audience can be fickle, but when he receives a positive reaction from that audience demographic, it's a good sign to him as a performer.

"No matter how loud or how soft it is, I will always hear a group of guys chanting 'RKO.'
It's not what I'm going for but it doesn't necessarily bother me. Deep down it boosts my confidence," Orton told Simon Rothstein of the U.K. Sun.

Orton recognizes that a top heel could be cheered if the audience appreciates a wrestler's performance. Or, in the case of Triple H, if the audience wants to see the top star in the company knocked down by the top performer.

"There is that minority of people out there who have seen enough of Triple H," Orton said. "I've had fans come up to me and beg: 'Please kick Triple H in the head.'"

Orton might acknowledge the anti-Hunter sentiment in the audience, which is dangerous politically to even acknowledge, but he's quick to follow up by saying that Hunter is still an all-time great babyface.

"He's a huge babyface, probably the ultimate babyface," he said. "But no matter what the character is, there's always going to be that smart group of people who want to see the guy on top shot down."

Orton says it might happen at the Judgment Day PPV tonight when that same "hardcore audience" might want to see him taken down by Batista for the WWE Title.

"Just like right now there's probably guys telling Batista to beat the hell out of me this Sunday at Judgment Day," he said.

Link: U.K. Sun interview with Randy Orton.

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