Myles Borne Says Randy Orton Likes His New NXT Character
Summary: NXT's Myles Borne told The Finish that Randy Orton texted him support for his darker new character, Wrestling Inc reported on Nov. 10. Borne turned on Tavion Heights at NXT Heatwave and faced him at Halloween Havoc.
The quick version
- Myles Borne said on The Finish that Randy Orton "sent me a text a while back saying good stuff" about his new character.
- Borne said Orton has supported "every path" he has taken in NXT and is "the most real person I've ever met".
- Borne turned on Tavion Heights at NXT Heatwave after losing the NXT North American Championship, per Wrestling Inc.
NXT's Myles Borne says Randy Orton approves of his new, more calculating character. Borne said so in an interview with The Finish, and Wrestling Inc reported it on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026.
What Borne said
"Randy likes it. I mean, he sent me a text a while back saying good stuff," Borne said, as Wrestling Inc quoted him. "He's always been very supportive of every path that I've taken here at NXT. He knows better than anybody the path that I'm on right now."
He described Orton as straight with people. "He keeps it real with you. He's probably the most real person I've ever met. If he don't like you, you're going to know that right out the gate," Borne said. He said he respects that, and that Orton "knows this journey I'm on and he supports it."
The date of the text was not given beyond "a while back".
The character
Wrestling Inc says fans have compared Borne and Orton for years because of similar builds, and that some now liken the new character to Orton's heel runs as The Viper. That comparison is Wrestling Inc's description of fans, not a WWE statement.
Wrestling Inc ties the change to NXT Heatwave, where Borne turned on his longtime friend Tavion Heights after losing the NXT North American Championship. It says Borne later lured Heights in with an apparent apology and attacked him again, and that a Weapons Wild Match followed at NXT Halloween Havoc.
Why it is a small story
Orton is not on WWE TV after his Last Man Standing loss at Crown Jewel, and WWE has not given a return date. See our Orton story. The Borne text is background and says nothing about when he returns.
We did not find a WWE or Orton comment on Borne's remarks.
Source: Myles Borne's on-the-record comments on The Finish, as quoted by Wrestling Inc (Ella Jay, Nov. 10). We read Wrestling Inc in full. We saw the show's YouTube description and did not watch the interview, so every quote is Wrestling Inc's transcription. We did not contact Borne, Orton or WWE. Nothing in this story is a rumor.
Sources
- Wrestling Inc (Ella Jay), "WWE NXT Star Myles Borne Says Randy Orton Likes His Character", Nov. 10, 2026, 8:30 AM EST (all quotes and the Heatwave and Halloween Havoc background). https://www.wrestlinginc.com/2310317/wwe-nxt-star-myles-borne-randy-orton-likes-character/
- The Finish, "Myles Borne on NXT Halloween Havoc, WWE John Cena's Advice, Stephanie Vaquer and 'WHAT?' Chants", YouTube, date not shown (the interview, per its public description only). https://youtu.be/xGsRup-OOz0
- WrestlingNews.com, "Randy Orton Says 'I'll Be Back' After Crown Jewel Loss", Nov. 2026. https://wrestlingnews.com/story/randy-orton-says-ill-be-back-after-crown-jewel-loss/
- WrestlingNews.com staff reporting: read Wrestling Inc in full and checked the YouTube listing for the interview. We did not hear the audio.
How we credit sources: Editorial standards.