Some people find it hard to watch Chris Benoit matches but, for the most part, I'm able to separate the wrestler from the man so that's why this match made the cut. In 2004, Randy Orton was still learning and developing and, going into SummerSlam 2004 against World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit, it seemed unlikely that the youngster would walk away with the gold. Especially after his Evolution leader/Orton mentor Triple H was keen to get his championship back. The match itself was hard-hitting, dramatic and everything you want in a main event World Ttle match. At one point, The Crippler nailed Orton with seven German suplexes, some ten years before Brock Lesnar made it a trend. The Legend Killer held his own throughout, even trying to make the Canadian Crippler tap with a sharpshooter at one point in the match. In a shocking finish, as Benoit went for his signature Crippler Crossface, Randy escaped, hit an RKO and won the match and the gold. That night Orton put in a terrific performance in a memorable match and became the youngest World Champion in WWE history at the time. Not bad for a 24-year-old kid from Missouri.
Kenny is a successful podcast host with Inside The Ropes, promotes exciting Q&A events in the UK with the likes of Sting and DDP, has interviewed the big guns like Foley, Jericho, Bruno and Austin and enjoys cheese a great deal.
