10 Wrestling Matches That Were Way Better Than Anyone Expected
1. Cactus Jack Vs. Randy Orton - Backlash 2004
The feud between retired hardcore icon Mick Foley and 'The Legend Killer' Randy Orton was built quite well in the early months of 2004, but seemed to hit a snag at WrestleMania XX. At that show, Foley and The Rock teamed up in a loss to Orton, Batista, and Ric Flair that felt like an anticlimactic waste of talent.
Orton was pleased that he had pinned Foley, but the legend was there to rain on his parade, reminding him that he beat a retired author. If Orton really wanted to prove himself, he'd take on Cactus Jack in a hardcore match at Backlash. It was a tall order, but Orton accepted.
The excitement of seeing Cactus Jack back in the ring gave way to skepticism when fans realized that it had been four years since Foley's last major match, and that Orton didn't have any classic outings to his credit. Still, the two men made magic, with Foley and Orton both taking a beating en route to Orton going over in war - à la Triple H at the 2000 Royal Rumble. Foley made Orton that night, and there's no doubt that Orton's performance played a major role in his becoming World Heavyweight Champion four months later.