WWE Night of Champions: Exploring the History of the Randy Orton-Mark Henry Feud

A few weeks ago Mark Henry started antagonizing Randy Orton.  Whether they had match or not, every week Henry has tried to lay his hands on Orton.  The title is one reason.

His personal rage over Orton being the champ might be another.

This feud is a story about the haves and the have-nots.  Even before Henry was drafted to Smackdown, the feud began with how each man's career has played out.

Randy Orton is the youngest man to win championship gold.

Mark Henry is a 15-year veteran who hasn't ever touched the belt.

Randy Orton is a nine-time champion, and that is just with the main belt.

Mark Henry only won the ECW championship.  Once.

Randy Orton is 31.

Mark Henry is 40.

At its heart, this is a story about a man who was born with the looks, last name and natural charisma to be a champion and a man who was born to be a workhorse.

Randy Orton is a man who has worked hard, but he was also given opportunities that many in the business haven't had.  He got to take a run at the title with plenty of time to learn if it ended up being too early.  It wasn't though, and Orton hasn't taken a step back since.

Henry has had to work for much less though.  He has slowly and steadily worked for years away from the spotlight or a smaller one when one has been shined on him.  He hasn't had the same opportunities.

Until now.

Mark Henry started a tear as a heel monster the second he was traded to Smackdown.  He beat down on his opponents.  He beat down on wrestlers who weren't his opponents.  He even started abusing people who weren't supposed to be in the ring.  He started crushing competition and Kayfabe-ended Vladimir Kozlov's career.

His character portrayed the frustrated man that he has become throughout his tenure with the WWE.  

He started attacking and antagonizing Orton.  In his eyes it was going for for the title, not bullying or breaking people.  Instead Mark Henry started pushing his weight around.

Nobody else is going to help him.  If he is going to be pushed he has to do it himself.

Orton is a champion several times over.  There is a great chance he is going to win the belt several more times throughout his career.  

For Henry this might be it; he isn't going to get another chance.  This momentum he is carrying is going to either die down or explode; either way, he is 40 and on his way out.

Henry has fought Orton several times on Smackdown and each time something stops him.  Maybe it's interference.  Maybe it's just Orton's night, but Henry just can't seem to win.

And the desperation is mounting.

This is his last shot.  He won't get another.  On the other end of the table is a man who has already had almost a dozen more shots then he has.

Sunday is Night of Champions.  For Henry, it might be the last chance to be his night.