10 Times Randy Orton Was Actually As Good As WWE Says He Is
4. The Legend Killer
We’ve briefly covered aspects of the 'Legend Killer' run and will go into detail for a specific match during it later, but it cannot be overstated just how fundamental the character was for Orton. Without the moniker at this point in his career, who knows if he would have made it to becoming a 13-time world champion.
During his time as part of the Evolution stable, the young Randy Orton started off on a path of total darkness, showing intense disrespect to the veterans and legends of the past as he was the new generation. He would decimate, humiliate and obliterate the older workers that WWE fans loved and respected, generating nuclear heat for every new legend he’d break. It was a distinctive character trait for a new heel who could have easily been lost in the shuffle, invigorated fans towards the young Orton and ensured he’d get to work with some of the most experienced men in the business.
His matches with Shawn Michaels and Mick Foley were essential for establishing Orton as a future star. The 'Legend Killer' gimmick is something that Orton’s come back to over the years, incorporating elements of it into his current masterful heel run, but it was truly perfect in 2003-04.