10 Most Damaging WWE Defeats

Monday Night Raw's Evolution Era is fondly remembered by wrestling fans - at least those prepared to overlook the vice-grip Triple H had on the World Heavyweight Championship - but there's a big caveat: the implosion in mid-2004 was mishandled to an almost comical degree.

Having captured the World Heavweight Championship, and in the process "become a man", at SummerSlam, Randy Orton was all set to step into the role of WWE's top babyface, the only obstacle left to negotiate being his divorce from The Game's dynastic stable.

From there, the writers conspired to get just about everything wrong, culminating with a hugely damaging defeat for the Legend Killer at Unforgiven the following month, cutting short his title reign before it really began, and reaffirming that HHH was the rightful heir to the throne.

They had their reasons for putting the belt back around the King of Kings' waist - namely, that they were preparing for a mega-feud between him and Evolution's other bright young thing, Batista, at WrestleMania 21.

But Orton being made the casualty left a bad taste - and it would be years before he ever really recovered.