10 Biggest Breakout Stars Of WWE's Original Brand Extension

From the moment Randy Orton debuted on television, it was abundantly clear that WWE had enormous plans for the third-generation wrestler.

He was a good-looking kid with an unrivalled pedigree, a star in the making making. Injuries set him back but he was soon aligned with Triple H and Ric Flair in Evolution. With fourth member Batista also looking to achieve greatness, the group rolled over the competition en route to dominating Monday Night Raw in 2003/04.

Orton's 2004 feud with Mick Foley elevated the young competitor in the eyes of the audience. The depths to which he had to sink, the violence he had to endure, eliminated all preconceived notions that he wasn't built for the top spots. No longer was he a pretty boy whose daddy and grandpa were the reason he was in the industry. He was strong, confident and capable of succeeding under the brightest lights against the toughest opponents.

At SummerSlam 2004, Orton defeated Chris Benoit to win the World Heavyweight Championship, capping off one of the most successful years in WWE history.

Over the next six years, Orton would develop into one of the franchise players for WWE, a cornerstone of the company and a superstar who more than lived up to the lofty expectations set for him by employers, even if there were one or two hiccups along the way.