8. Mick Foley Vs Randy Orton - Backlash 2004 (Edmonton)
WWE.comIf ever a WWE writer could envision a scenario for a veteran to make a rookie a star, Backlash 2004 would be that vision. Mick Foley came out of 'retirement' to battle Randy Orton in a Hardcore match for the intercontinental title. What is best rememebered is the searing image of Foley planting Orton on to a bed of thumb tacks... that's the image that made Orton a star, his pained and bloodied face before the camera zoomed in on his pin punctured back. Suddenly fans started to view Orton as the real deal, it took toughness to take that bump. The rest of the match was more hard hitting bumps. Foley was competing as Cactus Jack and it gave proceedings a little more sizzle to have Orton's intercontinental title on the line. The conclusion saw Orton hit his patented RKO on to Foley, driving his head down into a barbed wire covered baseball bat. The bell rang and Orton emerged as a qualified main event star, a full year before John Cena or Batista exploded on to the top level.