10 WWE Moments That Prove Ruthless Aggression Era Was Best

10. Cactus Jack Returns To Fight Randy Orton At Backlash 2004

The mere sight of Randy Orton being chased around by a barbed-wire yielding Mick Foley is enough to get me through even the harshest Winter months. Of course, the brief return of hardcore legend Cactus Jack in 2004 was about much more than that. This match signified a willingness and dedication from WWE's creative to really groom their young talent, and give them an opportunity to steal the show. Rather than fall to complacency and exploit the return of Cactus Jack as a simple ratings gimmick, they instead used it as a launching pad for Randy Orton. It was a brutal match filled with blood and spectacle, but above all that, this was a clear showcase for the guts and fearlessness of a budding young superstar. Foley was as sadistically dazzling as ever, but it was really Orton who stole the show that night. Though he was still a member of Evolution, there was no interference from his mates. This performance was centered entirely around these two--one a hardcore legend, one a self-described legend killer--and Orton showed some outstanding grit to the world. This violently dynamic match not only helped cement Orton as a serious contender on the main stage, it's pretty much the definition of Ruthless Aggression.