WWE's Randy Orton Passes 'Legend Killer' Torch to Anthony Edwards During NBA Playoffs

After Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves took down the LeBron James Los Angeles Lakers 4-1 in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs—coming off last year’s run where they eliminated Kevin Durant’s Suns and Nikola Jokic’s Nuggets—WWE legend Randy Orton is ready to pass the torch.

The "Legend Killer" torch.

The original Legend Killer, Orton, earned his name by carving a path to stardom much like Edwards is on his way to do—taking down the icons who came before him to forge his own legendary legacy.

For Orton, it all began when he aligned with Ric Flair, Triple H and Dave Bautista in the iconic faction known as “Evolution”—a group symbolizing the past, present and future of professional wrestling.

It was during that rise that Orton began to develop the persona of the "Legend Killer." Turning heel and stepping out of the shadows of wrestling icons, he made his mark by systematically taking down legends like Mick Foley, Flair, The Undertaker, Triple H and more—cementing his legacy by ending theirs.

Edwards, in his own right, began carving out his “Legend Killer” path during the 2024 NBA Playoffs by leading the Timberwolves to a first-round sweep of Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal and the Suns, averaging an electric 31 points per game.

He followed that up by taking on the defending champion Nuggets, going toe-to-toe with Jokic and Jamal Murray in a grueling seven-game series—and closing them out with a statement win on their home floor. Edwards dropped a series-high 44 points against Denver.

This season, Edwards and the Timberwolves jump-started their playoff run with a dominant sweep over James and Luka Dončić, with Edwards averaging 26.8 points per game in the series.

Edwards and the Timberwolves now turn their focus to another all-time great, facing Stephen Curry along with Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler III and the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals—another golden opportunity for Ant to take down a legend on the playoff stage.