Examining Randy Orton's Match History at SummerSlam

Randy Orton has been a key component at SummerSlam since first entering a steel structure at the event in 2003.

As the man on the marquee, either in the form of the champion or the challenger, The Viper has produced a number of classic matches at one of WWE's premier pay-per-views. On Aug. 17, he can add to his collection as he looks to elevate Roman Reigns in their clash.

In eight SummerSlams, Orton has been in the main event three times, almost always been in a battle for a world title and produced magic several times over.

Year	Opponent	Title	Main Event?	Result
2003	Kevin Nash, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Goldberg, Chris Jericho	World Heavyweight Championship	Yes	Loss
2004	Chris Benoit	World Heavyweight Championship	Yes	Win
2005	Undertaker	None	No	Win
2006	Hulk Hogan	None	No	Loss
2007	John Cena	WWE Championship	Yes	Loss
2009	John Cena	WWE Championship	No	Win
2010	Sheamus	WWE Championship	No	Win
2011	Christian	World Heavyweight Championship	No	Win
2013	Daniel Bryan	WWE Championship	Post-Main Event	Win

His SummerSlam career began when he was aligned with Evolution—still an up-and-comer, not yet The Legend Killer.

SummerSlam 2003 concluded with a star-studded bout featuring two men who are now in WWE's Hall of Fame (Shawn Michaels and Kevin Nash) along with four others with excellent cases to join them. Triple H and Goldberg were the centerpieces of the narrative, as the former looked to retain his world title against a charging beast.

Orton showed glimpses of greatness here, contributing to the bout with hard chops and an air of nastiness.

It was just a year later that he went from supporting actor to leading man. At SummerSlam 2004, he met Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship.

It was Orton's first true shot on center stage. He thrived there, he and Benoit producing a match that received tremendous reviews.

Jason Clevett of Slam! Sports rated it an eight out 10. In the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer gave the match (h/t ProFightDB.com) 4.5 stars.

WWE crowned him champ at just 24 years old. Orton's tearful response to winning the title—clutching the belt close to him before kissing it—is one of the event's most enduring images.

Credit: WWE.com

His next two SummerSlam matches were not rated as well but showed WWE's great confidence in him. He went up against legends in two consecutive years, first tangling with Undertaker in 2005 and then battling Hogan in 2006.

Both were huge matches, opportunities that made him a bigger star, but neither was a masterwork.

Against Undertaker, a quick pace and fluid action had the audience engaged early on. The clash featured the defiant Orton standing up to the veteran, continually hopping back up after The Deadman's hard strikes.

The highlights included Orton flinging Undertaker off the top rope with an arm drag and a sequence where each man countered the other's Tombstone piledriver attempt. 

Orton's father, disguised as a fan, ran in mid-match. The distraction was enough to allow Orton time to strike, hitting the RKO for the win.

In 2006, Orton had a Hall of Famer in his sights. He thought he had the match won at one point, but The Hulkster's foot was on the rope.

This time the legend overcame The Legend Killer.

Loss or not, this was a sign of Orton's rise. WWE didn't pit Undertaker and Hogan against just anyone at the marquee pay-per-view. It chose Orton, a sign that he was stepping onto the company's highest tier.

Orton then battled for the WWE title in his next three SummerSlams.

His first go-round with Cena was the far superior one. While it was slow early on, the collision of two of WWE's top stars was both fun and memorable.

On PWTorch, Wade Keller wrote of it, "It really is clear that a lot of thought went into this match and a lot of things were done that were smart and realistic." 

In 2009, Cena and Orton met again but gave way to CM Punk and Jeff Hardy for the main event spot. The bout the longtime enemies put on disappointed this time around.

It was clunky and featured too many elements. A ref bump, a "foot on the rope" false finish and scripted fan interference overshadowed the two performers. As PWTorch's James Caldwell wrote, "WWE over-booked the crap out of this match."

The WWE Championship was again central to Orton's SummerSlam battle in 2010.

This time it was Orton's role to play the veteran elevating the rising star. He will reprise that role come SummerSlam 2014.

Forced trips into the security barricade, crashes into the ring steps and a nasty tumble over the ropes highlighted an enthralling, intense fight against Sheamus. The rage both men expressed felt genuine and radiated from the screen.

The Celtic Warrior escaped with the title after assaulting the referee got him disqualified. Orton then provided the lasting image of the contest, dishing out an RKO to Sheamus on an announce table before glaring at his fallen foe. 

A year later, Orton's classic against Christian topped the animosity that he and Sheamus created in 2010. 

The No Holds Barred bout was one of 2011's best efforts and one that ranks among SummerSlam's greatest matches ever. Their searing feud exploded as they cracked each other with kendo sticks. Orton superplexed Christian onto a table, and they left a wake of splintered wood and bent trash cans behind.

Wrestling writer Chris Cash wrote of it for Wrestle Zone, "Beg, steal or borrow a copy from someone and then sit back and enjoy." That's sound advice.

Orton didn't contribute to SummerSlam again until after the main event of SummerSlam 2013. Not scheduled to compete, The Apex Predator waited until Daniel Bryan had defeated Cena for the WWE title to saunter through the falling confetti.

Credit: WWE.com

In one of the most memorable Money in the Bank cash-ins, Triple H knocked Bryan out and Orton slid over the short-lived champ for the win. The hero to the people had fallen, becoming Orton's victim rather than celebrating inside Staples Center.

That added a heartbreaking moment to Orton's collection of quality SummerSlam matches.

To recap, Orton has faced a total of three Hall of Famers and some of the biggest stars in company history at the event. He has been a major part of nine SummerSlams and can boast a pair of bona fide classics (against Benoit and Christian) along with some excellent showings against Cena, Sheamus and the Elimination Chamber field.

With that bloated resume, one has to rank Orton among SummerSlam's greatest performers.

Cena, Bret Hart, Triple H and Hogan all belong in the discussion for the pay-per-view's Mt. Rushmore. Orton has forced way into that conversation.

In his next shot at the August event, he can further boost his record. This upcoming match is more about Reigns' rise and whether he can be the heir to Cena's throne. Orton's history, though, says the post-SummerSlam headlines will focus on him as well.

It says fans can expect viciousness and excellence—and a match to remember.