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WHO WAS ORIGINALLY PITCHED TO BRING BACK APEX PREDATOR RANDY ORTON

The original pitch for what evolved into Pat McAfee's role at Wrestlemania 41 was quite different, PWInsider.com can confirm.

PWInsider.com is told that a pitch for Orton's WrestleMania role back in January involved SmackDown star Aleister Black tormenting Orton, trying to bring out the old Apex Predator version of Orton. The idea was that if Black succeeded, it would prove Orton had never changed or evolved and was still the old Orton deep inside.  We are told the idea was that Black and Orton would face off Mania weekend, with Orton would hesitate to use his punt kick and likely lose, but then later attack Cody Rhodes as a Wrestlemania angle, using the punt to bring back the old Apex Predator and prove Black right all along.

It's unclear how far the pitch progressed through WWE's creative process, but echoes of the original plan appear in Pat McAfee's role, including the return of the Apex Predator and Orton punting Cody with the kick at Wrestlemania.  So, at some point, McAfee's role effectively replaced the pitched version featuring Black.

Black worked The Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on Smackdown this week.

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