When you think of today's athletes, many from the new generation are not only into gaming but also stream to large audiences. This is a stark contrast to old-school athletes, many of whom aren't associated with gaming and even criticize younger athletes for spending their free time playing video games. For instance, in an episode of The Broken Skull Sessions with Stone Cold Steve Austin and Mark Calaway (The Undertaker), Calaway criticized Big E and The New Day for gaming during their off time. However, as the years have passed, gaming and sports—or sports entertainment—have become increasingly intertwined.
In a recent podcast called What Do You Wanna Talk About, hosted by The American Nightmare Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton revealed that he too, is a gamer. Orton, who could be considered "old school" due to him coming from an era where being tough as nails was important and getting into drunken bar fights was the cool thing to do in your off time, has now embraced gaming. Around the 19:45 mark of the episode, the conversation shifts from discussing John Cena's appearance in Mortal Kombat to Orton's new obsession: Elden Ring. Orton mentions that he's logged about 600 hours into the game. So, if you had any doubts about its appeal, remember that even professional athletes are finding time to immerse themselves in it.
