10 WWE Stars Loved For The Wrong Match
8. Randy Orton
Loved for: Randy Orton Vs. Cactus Jack, Backlash 2004
An indictment of Randy Orton's nominally impressive WWE legacy is that many reach to the match that made him, more so than any of his matches as a made man. But what a match it was: a wincing hardcore war structured perfectly to position Orton as the Real Deal, the notorious pin cushion spot only worked as well as it did because the brash young upstart entered such a great heel performance ahead of it. It was a grand and deserved reckoning for the disrespectful 'Legend Killer', paying off both the events of the match and the wider character arc.
Deserves as much, if not more credit for: Randy Orton Vs. Christian, Money In The Bank 2011
Randy Orton, and it's often hard to remember this, considering the apathy that comes with his overexposure, has contested several awesome matches over the years. Overshadowed by the CM Punk Vs. John Cena programme and with little incentive to revisit, given how drastically terrible WWE was in 2011, Orton Vs. Christian was nonetheless remarkable. Orton excelled with an opponent of Christian's stature, both in how ragdolled him around the ring and levelled up to his athleticism, performing at Money In The Bank '11 a choice spot in which he evaded a corner charge and rolled him up with a unique pin.
Great storytelling within the matches and the storyline, Orton Vs. Christian was treasure on an island of garbage.