Every WWE Champion Of The 2000s Ranked From Worst To Best
6. Randy Orton
In 2004, Randy Orton would become the youngest world champion in WWE history when he defeated Chris Benoit for the big gold belt. However, thanks to that old scamp Triple H, Orton lost the title a month later, any momentum he had as a main event babyface was gone.
It would take a few years of climbing, but ultimately, Orton would have success as a world champion. From 2007 to 2009, he was a regular presence in RAW's world title scene, winning the WWE Championship five times. As a foil to the likes of John Cena, Triple H, Chris Jericho, and Jeff Hardy, Orton solidified the evolution of his character from cocksure young prodigy to ruthless sociopath, which included a change in theme song and the formation of the Legacy stable.
At a time when WWE was steadily becoming more sanitized and family-friendly, Orton remained an edgy stalwart that older fans could sink their teeth into, while to younger fans, he was an incredibly effective heel who both irritated and intimidated. It was these runs with the WWE Championship that give him the most impressive marks on his Hall of Fame resume.