Randy Orton’s recent heel turn on Jeff Hardy was a bit unexpected to many WWE fans but it was not surprising. That’s because Orton is known for his infamous villainy as he always finds a way to top his own personal level of viciousness.

But this time he seems to have a new partner in crime. Shinsuke Nakamura was just a bystander at first. He did nothing but observe the carnage that Randy caused and was largely unaffected by it. However now things have taken an interesting twist as The King of Strong Style is apparently forming an alliance with The Viper.

It’s curious because thus far, they have not appeared to work in a concerted effort. They each have heat with Hardy, which often puts them in the same place at the same time. But rather than turn on each other or even question each other’s presence, they just coexist.

Like two predators in the wild, Orton and Nakamura size each other up, more concerned with analyzing rather than pouncing. A mutual respect seems to happen between them but that respect is not based on trust.

Both men have a certain look in their eyes. They don’t necessarily approve of each other but they do silently acknowledge each other. It’s a game they play, to see which man can one up the other.

Jeff Hardy is the man in the middle of course. He’s the one paying the price for Orton and Nakamura’s fascination with each other. Hardy’s role as the perennial fan favorite has never really been in question and he has been tested in the past. But this is a different kind of test.

This is more mental than physical. Yes, Orton continues to punish Jeff whenever he can and yes, Nakamura still wants a piece of him. But Hardy’s biggest concern are the mind games that Randy plays with him. Fans know that once The Viper gets in a guy’s head, he’s there to stay.

Randy Orton is the master manipulator. He mentally dissects his opponents until they go mad. Orton is very good at what he does and all he does is destroy guys from the outside in. He strikes like the serpent that he is but then he plays with his prey, not because he has to, but because he wants to.

He takes pleasure from watching his opponents suffer. He loves keeping them under his heel and whenever he wants to break them down further, he does exactly that. Randy Orton may not be the most likable WWE Superstar in Vince McMahon’s company but he’s certainly the most committed when it comes to his character in the ring.

Randy looks as though he wants to completely exterminate everyone around him. One look in his eyes and fans know that he’s totally absorbed in the moment. That’s why he is such an effective heel and it’s also why he continues to be respected for his character work. Randy is in his element when he is on the hunt and right now he’s hunting Jeff Hardy.

But Nakamura’s role is not as clearly defined. Nak is a heel of course and he has proved time after time that he has no problem taking the low road to win. He too is a master of mind games and he played more with AJ Styles than anyone could have dreamed possible.

When Styles won at WrestleMania 34, Nakamura snapped. In that one moment, his character decided that losing was not an option and that the only way to keep AJ on the hook was to challenge his manhood. He did that by delivering a vicious low blow, which not only shocked him physically, but also put him on the defense.

AJ’s character likes to be in control. He believes that he can win every match he works and that he can outwrestle anyone. He also believes that he is the best in the world and that he can overcome any challenge in front of him.

But when Nakamura turned on him for no apparent reason, AJ was pushed back a few steps. Why was Shinsuke doing this? What was his agenda and what exactly was he trying to prove? Styles could never answer those questions. He knew that Nakamura was indeed testing him but he didn’t understand why.

Nakamura kept AJ right where he wanted him. He was always one step ahead and he maintained that edge even at the end of the rivalry. He may not have won the WWE Championship, but he never really seemed too interested in that. He was more concerned with being the master puppeteer.

There was never really any rhyme or reason to his actions and he reveled in that. No one knew why Nakamura did what he did and he never bothered explaining himself to anyone’s satisfaction. Nakamura is an enigma, an agent of chaos and he absolutely thrives in that spot.

Therein lays the beauty of Nakamura’s apparent alliance with Orton. They are kindred spirits. They don’t really have anything in common other than their penchant for mentally disturbing every opponent they face. However that appears to be enough to keep them not only on the same side, but in the same corner as well.

No one really knows where all of this will lead. Only time will tell if Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura will continue to encounter each other and officially join forces. But there can be no denying that they do have chemistry together. It’s an odd chemistry and one that keeps the fans guessing. But that is best part about it. Perhaps this curious alliance is one that will not only succeed, it could become the most devilishly entertaining act on SmackDown Live.