13 Triple H WWE Projects That Failed Miserably

2. Randy Orton As The Next Stone Cold Steve Austin

In 2002, Triple H had the idea to form a Four Horsemen style stable. The aim of it would be to mentor the next great WWE superstar, with cynics saying that Hunter did this just to take credit for making someone. The plan came together in late 2003, with Randy Orton as Triple H's chosen one. He was pushed hard and fast, progressing soundly in 2004 with a high profile feud against Mick Foley. WWE internal media started referring to him as the next Stone Cold, the next franchise star of the industry. To put an exclamation mark on his status, he was made the youngest world champion in history at SummerSlam 2004. Then the wheels came off. Triple H turned on Orton the very next night, defeating him for the title a few weeks later. The plan had been for Orton to get the win back at WrestleMania 21, but then Batista emerged as a babyface monster. So Hunter ditched the Orton project and jumped to Batista. It left Orton struggling and he's never fully reached the potential of being a Stone Cold level star.