Truth be told, the Irishman will have his hands full when he battles Orton in a WWE Championship Match at SummerSlam. While Sheamus attempts to retain his second WWE Championship, The Apex Predator has his flickering eyes hoping for his sixth.

But this time, by order of the Raw General Manager, if anyone interferes in the WWE Championship match, it’ll equal an indefinite suspension. And if Orton loses at SummerSlam, he’ll get no rematch, and will go to the back of the line.

For each Superstar, the path to a WWE Title Match has proven demanding. Sheamus was forced to best John Cena at Money in the Bank in a controversial Steel Cage Match that witnessed the meddling influence of The Nexus. Meanwhile, Orton earned his opportunity by defeating Edge and Chris Jericho in a punishing Triple Threat Match on Raw. The common thread between these two competitors being that each appears to straddle the tenuous line between aggression and transgression.

In the end, though, The Viper offers his opponent a thorny set of challenges as slithery and unpredictable as any in WWE history. And while Sheamus may appear as fair as his beloved Cliffs of Moher, he’s also just as rugged and unforgiving – and leaves Orton with a task equally as steep.

But WWE’s Apex Predator wasn’t about to slip down the food chain. Appearing on Edge’s talk show “The Cutting Edge” on the May 3 edition of Raw, an infuriated Orton silenced the former SmackDown Superstar, delivering an RKO not only to Edge, but to “Let’s Make a Deal” star Wayne Brady. When it comes to these two bitter rivals, not even Raw guest hosts are safe. (PHOTOS)

Before Orton put an abrupt end to the Raw return of “The Cutting Edge,” The Ultimate Opportunist suggested that the two Superstars once again join forces. As Rated-RKO, Orton and Edge became World Tag Team Champions in 2006, waging a series of battles with D-Generation-X before breaking up the following year. Given the last few tumultuous weeks, a Rated-RKO reunion seems unlikely to happen anytime soon.

Will The Viper be defanged, or will Orton make Edge regret being drafted to Raw? Find out at Over the Limit, live Sunday, May 23, only on pay-per-view.

Like a rough Irish whiskey, WWE Champion Sheamus has proven that, when trifled with, he’s more than capable of leaving even the toughest man flat on his back. At the Royal Rumble, however, The Celtic Warrior must face a particularly sobering prospect: Defending his title against five-time WWE Champion Randy Orton.

While The Viper’s inclusion in the WWE Title Match may seem unexpected, it should come as no surprise to those familiar with his methods. Orton recognized an opportunity during a Triple Threat Match on Raw to determine the No. 1 contender and, as usual, he quickly seized it. As he battled with his opponents, John Cena and Kofi Kingston, his henchmen from The Legacy, Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, caused enough of a distraction to allow the scheming Superstar the victory.

While Orton has never seemed interested in clothing his naked ambition, he should be careful what he’s gotten himself into. Sheamus’ rabid aggression and overwhelming strength promise to be a powerful antidote to the cold calculation and athletic agility of The Viper.

Will The Celtic Warrior be able to prevent Orton – with a possible assist by Legacy – from regaining the precious WWE Championship? Or will the pipes, the pipes be calling for the insistent Irishman?

To find out, be sure to catch all the action live on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 8 PM/5 PM PT, exclusively on pay-per-view.

Though Orton may be more experienced than Kingston, the athletic Superstar has shown in recent weeks that he has exactly what it takes to hit The Viper where it hurts. As retaliation for Orton viciously attacking him after a match, Kingston sought out his nemesis’ personalized NASCAR racer and defaced it while The Legend Killer looked on, helpless to stop the automotive carnage. The two’s rivalry then expanded during a Six-Man Tag Team Match on Raw when Kingston and Orton were joined by fellow Survivor Series combatants, MVP & Mark Henry and Cody Rhodes & Ted DiBiase, respectively.

In addition to R-Truth on the side of Kingston and the devious CM Punk teaming up with Orton, two of the top competitors in the Land of the Extreme, ECW Champion Christian and William Regal are also joining the fray. For months, The British Brawler has struggled to get the upperhand against Captain Charisma, and he might just have that chance when he joins up with Team Orton to face the ECW Champion and the rest of Team Kingston in a 10-Man Tag Team Match.

Don’t miss the epic confrontation between Team Kingston (Kofi Kingston, MVP, Mark Henry, ECW Champion Christian & R-Truth) and Team Orton (Randy Orton, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Ted DiBiase & William Regal) at the 23rd annual Survivor Series on Nov. 22, at 8/7 CT, live on pay-per-view.

source: wwe.com