Randy Orton's Greatest Matches

Randy Orton is known as "The Viper," "Legend Killer," and WWE's "Apex Predator."

Orton is one of the most popular wrestlers in the history of the industry because of his major personality change throughout the career and his five-star quality matches he has each and every night.

Orton is regarded as one of the most popular wrestlers in the entire world today and fans respect him for all of his accomplishments he has.

Orton's Accomplishments: Six-Time World Champion, One-Time World Tag Team Champion, One-Time IC Champion, 2009 Royal Rumble winner, and the youngest world champion in WWE history.

Randy Orton is only thirty years old so he still has plenty of life left in his career but this slideshow is a tribute to Orton's career up to this point by highlighting his greatest matches in his career.

If you have any comments or a list of his top ten matches in your opinion then leave your comments in the comment box.

Backlash '07: WWE Champion Cena vs. HBK vs. Edge vs. Orton

Randy Orton came into Backlash 2007 as a underdog due to being sent home from the England RAW show due to immature actions the night before.

When the WWE came back to the U.S for the Backlash pay-per-view, Orton was ready to prove his worth in the WWE title match.

This match was one of the best matches in 2007 and on this night, Orton showed how talented he was and how good a fatal four-way match can really be.

RAW 4-30-07: Randy Orton vs. Edge

Rated RKO was one of the hottest tag teams in early 2007 but when the duo lost the tag team titles, the team went downhill and the final fallout of this great tag team happened on the night after Backlash when Edge battled Orton in a classic one-on-one match.

Orton had something to prove to everybody in the locker room and within the WWE itself because of his poor actions the week before.

The match was action packed and it really displayed how good both Orton and Edge were inside the squared circle.

Unforgiven 2003: Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels

Randy Orton joined Evolution in 2003 when then world champion Triple H recruited him into the stable along with Ric Flair and Batista.

The stable raised hell on RAW for well over a year but Orton's rise to the top of the WWE began at Unforgiven 2003.

Randy Orton announced himself as the "legend killer" of the WWE and targeted legends like Mick Foley, Sgt. Slaughter, and his Unforgiven opponent Shawn Michaels.

The match was a solid one for Shawn Michaels but it was a great bout for Orton.

Survivor Series 2007: WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels

Randy Orton elevated his "legend killer" persona by taking out Shawn Michaels at Judgment Day earlier that year with a violent punt kick to the head and an RKO.

Michaels returned in October and even defeated Orton at Cyber Sunday by disqualification when Orton nailed a low blow on Michaels to retain the WWE title.

So when HBK met Orton at Survivor Series, there were two special stipulations that were added to the title match.

The first one was if Shawn used his sweet chin music super kick on Orton then he would lose the match and never get another WWE title shot again but if Orton got disqualified again like he did at Cyber Sunday, then Orton would lose the title to HBK.

The match was very exciting to watch and it really showed how a match should go without using a finisher.

Unforgiven 2004: World Heavyweight Champion Randy Orton vs. Triple H

Randy Orton defeated Chris Benoit at SummerSlam for the World title without the help of Evolution.

The next night, Orton again defeated Benoit to retain the World title but this time with the help of Evolution.

After Orton had defeated Benoit twice in two nights, Evolution turned on Orton and knocked the hell out of him due to jealousy by leader Triple H.

Randy Orton did not back down to Evolution by spitting in Triple H's face and thus creating all the hype at Unforgiven pitting Orton against Triple H for the world title.

Triple H defeated Orton at Unforgiven with the help of Evolution but this match was gold for Orton and it proved how bright the future would be for him.

SummerSlam 2004: World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit vs. Randy Orton

Randy Orton earned a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship come SummerSlam 2004. The only problem for Orton was that the world champion was on a major roll in 2004 and his name was Chris Benoit.

The matchup for SummerSlam was anticipated and the match was better than expected.

Orton went move for move against Benoit and in the end, Orton nailed a suprising RKO on Benoit and became the youngest world champion in WWE history.

Armageddon 2003: IC Champion RVD vs. Orton; Mick Foley Special Referee

Randy Orton received his first title shot at Armageddon when he challenged Rob Van Dam for the IC Championship.

RVD had endured Orton's sneak attacks for weeks but when the pay-per-view rolled around, RVD pummeled Orton to begin the match but Orton got the upper hand in the match and in the end, he defeated RVD for the IC title.

No Way Out 2008: Randy Orton vs. Shane McMahon; No Holds Barred Match

Randy Orton punt kicked Vince McMahon on RAW in January 2009. Shane McMahon felt obligated to take up for his father by returning to the WWE and beating the hell out of Orton any chance he got so when No Way Out came around, the no holds barred match was set between Shane McMahon and Randy Orton.

The violence level was at a max in this match as these two men took each other to the limit but in the end, Orton defeated McMahon with a nicely done RKO.

The match was simply amazing and it also showed how Orton can make anybody he works with look like a five-star performer.

Backlash 2004: IC Champion Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley; Hardcore Match

Backlash 2004 was a magical night with so many wonderful moments happening at this pay-per-view.

Chris Benoit retained his world title in a WrestleMania XX rematch over Triple H and HBK, Edge returned to action by defeating Kane, Victoria and Lita battled over the women's title, and the biggest moment of the night was Randy Orton defeating Mick Foley in one of the most violent hardcore matches in the history of professional wrestling.

Randy Orton versus Mick Foley was one of the best matches in 2004 and it was an amazing moment for Orton because he went from a pretty boy to a tough guy on the roster.

WrestleMania 21: Randy Orton vs. The Undertaker

In 2005, Randy Orton had such a major run against then world champion Triple H that the fans loved Orton as one of the top babyfaces in the WWE.

Orton felt like he needed a change though so he decided to turn heel by RKO'ing his girlfriend Stacy Kiebler and then challenging the Undertaker to a match at WrestleMania 21. O

rton proclaimed that he was going to end the undefeated WrestleMania streak of the Undertaker.

When WrestleMania came, these two men gave it all they had in a stellar match that saw an amazing RKO, a Hall of Fame dad interference, and a pissed off Undertaker but in the end, the deadman defeated Orton in a classic bout.

Armageddon 2005: Randy Orton vs. The Undertaker; Hell in AaCell Match

Hell in a cell is where careers die and feuds come to a head.

The hell in a cell structure was needed when the feud of Undertaker and Randy Orton had gotten out of control. Randy Orton had tried to end the Undertaker's career on many occasions so when Armageddon came, Undertaker had demanded Randy Orton meet him in Hell in a cell to end this feud.

The match was violent and very bloody but in the end, Undertaker ended this issue with Orton with a win but Orton did win over many fans in the WWE and proved that he was a main event player.

Night of Champions 2009: WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. Cena vs. Triple H

WrestleMania 24 had an amazing main event with Randy Orton defeating Triple H and John Cena in a triple threat match to retain the WWE Title.

Fast forward a year later, Orton was in the same situation when Night Of Champions came around.

Orton once again retained the WWE title at the event and had a classic match against the two top babyfaces in the WWE.

RAW 2-15-10; WWE Champion Sheamus vs. Randy Orton

Sheamus and Randy Orton had a good match at the Royal Rumble but their match on RAW was better than the Rumble event match between these two heels.

Orton tried everything to put down Sheamus but the Celtic Warrior kept coming back for more with a hard hitting style that Orton had a hard time adjusting to.

Legacy cost Orton the matchup but in the end, Orton proved why he is the viper.

No Mercy 2005: The Ortons vs. The Undertaker; Handicap Casket Match

The feud between The Undertaker and Randy Orton and "Cowboy" Bob Orton began at SummerSlam. At the event, Randy faced off against Undertaker. During the match, "Cowboy" Bob (disguised as a fan) came into the ring and interrupted the match. Afterwards, Randy pinned Undertaker after he jumped and pulled Undertaker's head down over his shoulders, a move dubbed the RKO, to win.

After the match, Randy peeled off the latex mask of the fan and revealed him to be his father, "Cowboy" Bob.

On the September 16 episode of SmackDown!, Undertaker defeated Randy. During the match, "Cowboy" Bob drove a U-Haul truck down to the ring and unloaded a casket.

As Undertaker went to put Randy inside the casket, he opened it and found a mannequin of himself inside. Despite this distraction, Undertaker pinned Randy after he drove Randy's head into the mat in an upside down position, a move called the Tombstone Piledriver.

The following week, druids wheeled out a casket. Undertaker appeared on the TitanTron and urged the Ortons to look inside. The Ortons opened the casket and found mannequins of themselves inside.

Undertaker then proclaimed that this would be their fate at No Mercy. The match at No Mercy was simply amazing because of the high octane action that these three men provided.

The Ortons won the match and burned up the casket with the Undertaker was inside.

WrestleMania 26: Randy Orton vs. Ted Dibase vs. Cody Rhodes

In early 2009, Randy Orton had formed a contingency known as The Legacy also featuring Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes.

Later in that year, Orton had grown frustrated with his group, leading to a number of verbal confrontations and an assault on DiBiase, leading to the three of them having their membership being tested in matches under the threat of expulsion and a beatdown.

The tension was staved off until Royal Rumble, which saw DiBiase and Rhodes accidentally prevent Orton from winning the WWE Championship.

Similar results occurred the next month at the Elimination Chamber event with Rhodes trying to aide his partners in their Elimination Chamber match for the title as Orton was caught in the crossfire, leading to DiBiase eliminating Orton.

The following night on Raw saw Orton turn on his associates, leading to the announcement on the March 15 edition of Raw of the three of them will face each other at WrestleMania in a Triple Threat match.

WrestleMania 26 provided the fans with an excellent triple threat match that saw the breakdown of Legacy.

Orton faced huge odds but in the end he punted Cody Rhodes in the skull and RKO'd Ted to win the match and prove who the true leader really was.

WWE Fatal 4-Way: WWE Champion Cena vs. Edge vs. Sheamus vs. Orton

The fatal four-way matches in WWE were simply amazing but when the WWE made the match a pay-per-view theme, the match was taken to the ultimate intensity level.

The match was simply amazing to watch and even though Orton lost, he showed that he still is one of the top wrestlers in the WWE.

Bragging Rights 2009: WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena

The main rivalry from the Raw brand heading into Bragging Rights was the continuing conflict between Randy Orton and John Cena over the WWE Championship.

The two had faced at the three previous pay-per-view events, with Orton retaining the title at SummerSlam, Cena winning the title at Breaking Point in an "I Quit" match, and Orton reclaiming the title at Hell in a Cell in the event's eponymous match.

The following night on Raw, Cena challenged Orton to one last rematch for the title, this time a 60-minute Iron Man match where the competitor with the most decisions at the end of that time would be named the victor.

In order to accept the challenge, Orton added two more conditions to the match, that Cena would leave the Raw brand if he loses and that the match would be "anything goes."

Four minutes into the match, Cena took the first decision when Orton immediately tapped out to the STF.

Five minutes later, Randy tied it up when he hit the RKO when Cena tried for the You Can't See Me.

The match got bloody a few minutes later when Orton hit Cena with a microphone. Around 17-minute mark, the men had a simultaneous fall as the RKO and Attitude Adjustment were made at the same time and both men landed on their backs with their arms draped over each other.

Medics entered the ring and fixed Cena's cut. Two minutes later, Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment off the middle rope to go up 3-2.

During the intermission, Legacy entered the ring and beat up Cena. After DiBiase gave Cena Dream Street, Orton win the next fall to tie it up.

Legacy was run out of the ring by Kofi Kingston. At around the 25-minute mark, Orton took the lead when he pinned Cena after throwing him through the lighting grid of the set.

Orton then tried to figure out how the pyrotechnic stand worked. He hit Cena with a chair and then placed him over the spot where the pyro comes out of the stage. Cena rolled out of the way of the pyro blast.

33 minutes in, Cena stole a fall to tie it 4-4 when he rolled up Orton with a small package despite being beaten silly for the past few minutes.

Two minutes later, Orton hit the dangling DDT from the apron to the floor to get the 5-4 lead.

With a little less than 10 minutes left, Cena hit the Attitude Adjustment off the ring steps and through the announce table to tie the match up at 5 apiece.

With about 2 minutes left, Orton hit an RKO but the referee was knocked out so he didn't get a fall. When Cena kicked out, Orton beat up the second referee.

With a minute left, he missed the punt and Cena put him in the STF. Orton tapped out with only a few seconds left which gave Cena the victory six falls to five.

WrestleMania 24: WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena vs. Triple H

WrestleMania 24 was highlighted by the triple threat match for the WWE title. Randy Orton had tried to end both Triple H and John Cena's careers in the past and successfully took both men out of a period time. So when WrestleMania 24 came around, these three men were ready to declare war on each other all for the WWE title.

This year’s special John Cena entrance consisted of a marching band playing his theme song. As is the case with most triple threat matches, several times during the match a wrestler would be incapacitated outside of the ring and would reenter the match when it appeared that someone might win.

The match ended when Triple H hit the pedigree on John Cena. Orton broke up the three count attempt by punting Triple H in the head. He then covered Cena to retain the title.

No Way Out 2008: WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena

Randy Orton tore John Cena's pectoral muscle back in October 2007. John returned at Royal Rumble 2008 to win the Royal Rumble match and a title shot at WrestleMania 24. John Cena however decided to use his title match at No Way Out instead against Orton for the title.

When the event came, Cena had the fire to become champion again and Orton wanted to prove that he was for real as WWE champion.

Orton and Cena battled until Orton got disqualified to retain the title. The match was one of Orton's finest performances in his career.

SummerSlam 2009: WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. John Cena

The Raw brand's main event at the 2009 SummerSlam event was announced on the July 27th 2009 episode of Raw by the show's guest host and storyline matchmaker, Shaquille O'Neal.

Randy Orton would defend the WWE Championship against the winner of a Beat the Clock challenge, which was determined by who of the five competitors could defeat their opponent in the fastest time: Mark Henry, Montel Vontavious Porter (MVP), Triple H, Jack Swagger, or John Cena.

Henry set the pace by defeating Carlito in 6:49, while MVP, Triple H, and Swagger failed to defeat their opponents. Cena beat Henry's time by defeating
The Miz, and become Orton's opponent at SummerSlam.

During the match, Orton hit the referee to get himself purposely disqualified. While he was leaving the ring with his title, Lilian Garcia announced that Mr. McMahon ordered the match would restart and that Orton would lose the title if he was disqualified.

A few minutes later, Orton left the ring and got himself counted out. Lilian Garcia then announced that Mr. McMahon was restarting the match and that Orton would lose the title if he was counted out.

When the match restarted, Orton escaped an Attitude Adjustment and rolled up Cena. He used the ropes to get the pin. A second referee came out and after explaining what happened the match was restarted again.

Cena then put Orton in the STF but a “fan” entered the ring and attacked the referee. The match was restarted yet again and this time Orton used the ropes to clothesline Cena and then hit the RKO to get the win.

No Mercy 2007: WWE Champion Triple H vs. Randy Orton; Last Man Standing

On RAW, the main event scene has totally changed this week due to the injury of John Cena.

The main leading rivalry scripted into the event on the Raw brand was between John Cena and Randy Orton over the WWE Championship.

At WWE's August pay-per-view event SummerSlam, Cena successfully defended the championship against Orton, and the following night on Raw, one of WWE's primary television programs, Orton interfered in Cena's match with King Booker and cost him the match.

After the match ended, Orton attacked Cena's real-life father, in storyline, by kicking him in the head. As a result of Orton's actions, the two met in a championship match at WWE's September pay-per-view event Unforgiven, in which Cena was disqualified for ignoring the referee's commands; as per WWE rules, a title can only change hands via pinfall or submission, Orton was not awarded the title.

Following their match, Cena's father gained revenge on Orton by kicking him in the head the same way Orton had done to him earlier.

Later in the night after the event went off the air, authority figure Jonathan Coachman made a rematch between the two at No Mercy in a Last Man Standing match, which involves two competitors fighting until one can not stand up on his feet before the referee counts to ten.

On the October 1 episode of Raw, Cena legitimately tore his right pectoral muscle during a match with Mr. Kennedy and attack by Orton. Due to the severity of his injury, Cena was forced to vacate the title.

Although Cena's match against Orton was canceled, World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon stated that there would be "a new WWE Champion crowned at No Mercy."

The match was a last man standing one that pitted Triple H versus Orton for the WWE title.

This brutal match featured both men getting counted to nine on several occasions. The conclusion saw Triple H attempt a pedigree on the table. Randy reversed it and hit the RKO. Triple H was unable to answer the ten count.

SummerSlam 2007: WWE Champion John Cena vs. Randy Orton

The main rivalry heading into SummerSlam on the Raw brand was between John Cena and Randy Orton over the WWE Championship.

At The Great American Bash, Cena defeated Bobby Lashley to retain the WWE Championship. T

he next night on Raw, one of three main television programs of WWE (along with WWE SmackDown and ECW on Sci Fi), after a handicap match involving Cena, Orton came out and executed an jumping cutter on Cena.

Shortly thereafter, Executive Assistant Jonathan Coachman announced Orton as the new number one contender to the WWE Championship. Before that, Orton claimed that he had never faced Cena in a one-on-one WWE Championship match.

On the July 30 edition of Raw, Carlito defeated Cena in a non-title match after Orton interfered and distracted Cena.

Three weeks later, on the August 18 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, Cena faced off against Carlito in another non-title match, which Cena won.

After the match, Orton came out and attacked Cena, which led to a jumping cutter from Orton through a steel chair.

Randy targeted the head of Cena during this match and came close to winning the title. However, after kicking out of an RKO, Cena gave Randy the FU to get the victory.

Royal Rumble 2008: WWE Champion Randy Orton vs. IC Champion Jeff Hardy

The main feud on the Raw brand was between the Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy and Randy Orton, with the two feuding over the WWE Championship, which was held by Orton.

Orton retained the title at Armageddon against the returning Chris Jericho after being disqualified, when the then-SmackDown! broadcaster John "Bradshaw" Layfield ran-in, and booted Jericho in the head.

Orton retained the championship, as a result, due to titles not changing hands on disqualifications.

On the same night earlier, Jeff Hardy had defeated Triple H to earn the opportunity to face Orton at the Royal Rumble for the WWE Championship.

The following night, on the December 17, 2007 edition of Raw, Hardy teamed up with Shawn Michaels to take on Orton and Mr. Kennedy.

Hardy gained advantage over Orton, and pinned the champion after a Swanton Bomb to earn the victory for himself and Michaels.

Two weeks later, on the last Raw of 2007, Hardy and Orton met face-to-face in an in-ring segment. Orton looked set to RKO Hardy, but Hardy countered, and delivered the Twist of Fate to Orton.

Later in the night, Hardy looked set to defeat Santino Marella, until Orton appeared on the Raw TitanTron and stated that he had kicked Jeff's brother Matt where his appendix used to be, proceeding further to punt him in the head.

The following week on a special "Raw Roulette" edition of Raw, Hardy defended his Intercontinental Championship against Umaga in a Steel Cage match.

Hardy managed to overcome the odds in the cage, jumping off the top of the cage onto Umaga and hitting a Whisper in the Wind to defeat Umaga.

On the January 14, 2008 edition of Raw, Hardy agreed to face Orton that night with his Intercontinental Championship on the line. However, as soon as the bell rang for the match, Orton immediately low-blowed Hardy, getting himself disqualified.

Orton tried to deliver an RKO to Hardy on the concrete floor outside that he had exposed by removing the black floor padding but Hardy retaliated and the two began to brawl up the ramp.

When Orton looked set to kick Hardy in the head, the Intercontinental Champion countered and back-dropped Orton onto the arena floor below. Hardy then climbed 30-feet above on the Raw set, and then Swanton Bombed off the side of the set onto Orton below.

The following week on Raw, Hardy and Orton were scheduled to "shake hands," but Hardy instead shook the hands of "people he respected more than Orton," like Lilian Garcia, Jerry Lawler, Jim Ross, and several fans in the crowd before re-entering the ring to confront Orton.

A frustrated Orton ordered Hardy to shake hands with him, but Hardy performed a Twist of Fate on the WWE Champion instead. Hardy hit most of his signature suicidal moves and had the champ reeling.

When he went for the twist of fate, Orton hit his RKO out of nowhere to get the win.

Vengeance 2004: IC Champion Randy Orton vs. Edge

Randy Orton and Edge were at odds against each other for the IC title in 2004.

Orton had been IC Champion for seven months going into the event but Edge was ready to take the damn title from Orton. The predominant match of the night was for the WWE Intercontinental Championship between Randy Orton and Edge.

The match started off with Edge getting the upper hand by locking in an armbar on Orton and knocking him out of the ring.

Near the end, Orton attempted to jump and grab Edge's head to slam him down, which Orton calls an "RKO," but Edge countered by pushing Orton into the ropes.

Edge then went to hit Orton with his shoulder, a move called a "spear," but Orton jumped over Edge. Orton went for another RKO, but was countered into a backslide pin.

Edge then executed a spear and pinned Orton to become the new WWE Intercontinental Champion.