Not every future WWE Champion has to be destroyed by Mick Foley to prove his worth, but it certainly seems to help. Randy Orton's legend-killer gimmick was in full flow by the time he ran into the hardcore icon; Shawn Michaels, The Rock & Sock Connection, and Harley Race all falling foul of the young upstart. Despite this, he wasn't as over as he should have been. Fans saw him as a spoiled pretty-boy, lacking the grizzled toughness to cement himself among the Steve Austins and Undertakers of the industry. Orton proved these doubts wrong by taking perhaps the most visually sick bump of this list during his 2004 bout with Foley. Whereas most of Mick's opponents tend to try and keep the match a straight wrestling contest, reacting with horror as Foley introduces more and more hardcore elements, Randy fought fire with fire. Fully embracing the no disqualification stipulation, Orton brought weapon after weapon into the fold. Most of them worked to his advantage - the thumbtacks didn't. In truth, most thumbtack bumps are underwhelming. One can easily become desensitised after watching TNA's Abyss miss almost all of the tacks, only for him to roll over and reveal two or three embedded in his heavy leather vest. The WWE, perhaps sensing danger, decided to use thumbtacks in moderation - but made sure that the bumps were properly taken. That's why Orton was shirtless when he found his RKO attempt reversed into a horrifying back-first slam. Few images in wrestling are more striking than that of the clean-cut youngster rolling over to reveal dozens of thumbtacks stuck in his back. Just like Edge, Orton's willingness to take a horrific bump allowed him to progress to the upper reaches of a card. The things people do for a promotion. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7OgrDS3-Dg
