Chris King takes a look back at some of the most iconic feuds of Randy Orton and his 24 years in WWE.

Twenty-four years ago, Randy Orton made his debut on the April 25th episode of Friday Night SmackDown against the veteran Hardcore Holly. ‘The Viper’ has had a decorated career in WWE: grand slam champion, a fourteen-time world champion, two-time Royal Rumble winner, former Money in the Bank, and multi-time tag team champion. Here are some of Orton’s most iconic feuds in WWE. 

Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley 

The ‘Legend Killer’ was so disrespectful to Mick Foley by verbally abusing him and spitting at him. Foley retired in 2093 but made his shocking return at the 2004 Royal Rumble, eliminating Orton. The two superstars would begin a heated rivalry at WrestleMania XX, where Evolution (Randy Orton, Batista, and Ric Flair) would face off in a six-man tag team match against The Rock and Mick Foley. Orton’s victory would continue his ascension through the WWE, but it also continued his feud with Foley. Foley would take Orton to hell with him at the 2004 Backlash PLE. 

Both superstars would have a No Holds Barred Falls Count Anywhere match, which Orton himself considers one of his favorite matches of his career. 

The legend helped solidify Orton as a top heel in the company, where people had some misconceptions that a pretty boy couldn’t get hardcore and messy against the hardcore legend. Without their iconic feud, perhaps Orton’s greatest achievement may not have happened. 

Randy Orton vs. Triple H 

Evolution’s leader Triple H had been telling Orton that he was the diamond in the group. Orton was so appreciative of his mentor’s support as he challenged Chris Benoit at the 2004 SummerSlam PLE. Orton would shock the world by becoming the youngest world champion in WWE history. The very next night after a successful defense, Evolution came out to celebrate with him. With Orton on Batista’s shoulders, his world turned upside down with the iconic “thumbs down” moment. HHH went from friend to rival in seconds, bloodying up his protege out of pure jealousy and rage. The two would have a mini feud where HHH would take the world title away from Orton. 

The rivalry was restarted after ‘The Viper’ hit Vince McMahon (HHH’s father-in-law) with a vicious punt kick after he was about to fire him. Orton, along with his two Legacy stablemates Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr., made it his life’s mission to destroy the McMahons, including

Shane McMahon and HHH’s wife Stephanie McMahon. The Viper blamed IED for his actions, but in reality it was Orton getting his ultimate revenge against his former mentor when he was viciously kicked out of Evolution. 

Randy Orton vs. The Undertaker 

In 2005, The Legend Killer was looking to do the impossible when he challenged The Undertaker to a match at WrestleMania 21. Orton was young and arrogant and was trying to do everything to break his rival’s undefeated streak at WrestleMania, but The Phenom got the job done. During the match, Orton’s father Bob Orton Jr. tried to help his son win. At SummerSlam, Orton and Undertaker would do battle again; this time, Orton’s dad would be disguised as a fan, and The Legend Killer would get the victory. 

At No Mercy, both Ortons would face Undertaker in a casket match. Orton won the contest, and as his rival lay in the casket, they lit it on fire. 

A few months later, The Deadman would make his shocking return at the 2005 Survivor Series PLE after Orton was named the sole survivor for his team. Taker rising through the fire and kicking the casket open was one of the coolest moments in WWE history. Orton thought he had the last laugh, but in true Taker fashion, he challenged him to a Hell in the Cell match. Orton with nowhere to hide inside the demonic structure, as The Phenom finally got his revenge. 

Randy Orton vs. John Cena 

This rivalry was the next generation’s Stone Cold vs. The Rock because it spans throughout the years. Orton vs. Cena was simply both GOATs trying to prove who was at the very top in the company. This storied rivalry began in 2007, when Cena was the WWE Champion and Orton was challenging him at SummerSlam. Cena would retain it, and The Viper struck back, delivering a vicious punt kick to Cena’s father, who was at ringside. They would feud for a few months until Cena got injured and needed surgery. 

All throughout 2008, both rivals would go their separate ways until the following year. After Orton’s vengeance was successful at the 2009 Backlash with winning the WWE Championship, his and Cena’s rivalry was restarted. They competed in a series of matches throughout the summer. Their iconic I Quit Match, a 60-minute Ironman Match, will go down in history as one of the greatest of all time. Cena would finally get his comeuppance inside Hell in the Cell by winning the WWE Championship. This would put a pause on their rivalry. 

Both superstars would find their way back to each other in 2014, when Orton won the WWE Championship after cashing in his MITB briefcase on Daniel Bryan. The Viper was the focal point of The Authority (Triple H, Randy Orton, and Stephanie McMahon), and Cena once again was the thorn in his side. Cena had won the World Heavyweight Championship, and this was building to a huge title unification ladder match. Both superstars would utilize everything in their arsenal, but Orton handcuffed his rival’s hand to the ring ropes. Cena went crashing through the table, and The Viper claimed both titles. 

In 2025, Cena would do the unthinkable and turn heel, which shocked the world. Mr. ‘Never Give Up’ actually gave up on his fans and verbally attacked everyone for wanting to be like him. While the self-proclaimed GOAT was gloating about defeating Cody Rhodes to become a seventeen-time WWE champion, an old rival snuck up behind him and gave him an RKO! The two longtime rivals would face off one final time at Backlash inside Orton’s hometown. Their match wasn’t incredible because Cena was still trying to find his footing as a top heel. Cena would retain the title, and sadly, this is how one of the greatest rivalries in WWE history ended.

Chris King takes a look back at one of the most surreal wrestling events of all time, 2020’s WWE WrestleMania 36!

As we get geared up for WrestleMania 42, one of my favorite things to do is go back and watch previous Manias and find that special magic again. Six years ago, we were living in a worldwide pandemic and nothing felt the same.  WrestleMania 36 was supposed to be held in Tampa Bay but, unfortunately it took place inside of the Performance Center. 

For the first time in WWE history, WrestleMania was split into two nights, which would become a constant going forward. Each night would feature a plethora of matches including Goldberg vs. Braun Strowman for the Universal Championship, Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens, AJ Styles vs. The Undertaker in a Boneyard Match, and Brock Lesnar vs. Drew McIntyre for the WWE Championship. 

On Night one, one of the greatest bouts with an incredible build would be ‘The Messiah’ Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens. Rollins had been fighting for the greater good flanked by The Authors of Pain and Buddy Matthews and blatantly destroying Owens on multiple occasions. Rollins portrayed the perfect manipulating heel here.

The resilient ‘Prizefighter’ was so sick of Rollins’ crap that he challenged him to a match at Mania. What started as a simple match, quickly turned into an all out brawl with no disqualifications. Both superstars fought all over the ringside area, and KO would climb off the huge WrestleMania sign and hit a massive elbow drop! Owens would pick up the huge victory over The Messiah. 

Braun Strowman would challenge Goldberg for the Universal Championship in what was relatively a squash match. Roman Reigns was supposed to challenge Goldberg, butdue to health concerns, he took a hiatus from WWE. ‘The Monster Among Men’ would take four massive Spears from the veteran and retaliate with four running power slams to win his first Universal Championship! 

The main event of night one saw The Undertaker battle AJ Styles in a really fun and chaotic boneyard match. This dream match was supposed to take place in front of 75,000 screaming fans but, this was truly the perfect ending to Taker’s illustrious career. Styles had some massive balls calling out his opponent by calling him by his official name and disrespecting his family. ‘The Phenomenal One’ just kept poking the bear all the way into their match. Watching Styles arrive in Undertaker fashion inside of a coffin and give a maniacal laugh was hilarious. All the games were over after Taker rode in on his motorcycle to beat his ass! 

The Deadman would have to face off against The OC, and even his druids to shut his opponent up once and for all. Taker delivering a massive chokeslam and tombstone piledriver on the roof was a sight to see. Taker kicked Styles right into his own grave and rode off into the darkness, as usual! The Undertaker cross symbol blaring through the fire while Metallica plays was iconic! Taker would be so satisfied with the cinematic match that he would formally retire later that year! 

Night Two of WrestleMania 36 was awesome and electric, as Edge faced off with his greatest former friend now rival Randy Orton in a last man standing match, John Cena faced off with ‘The Fiend’ Bray Wyatt inside the Firefly Funhouse, and Drew McIntyre looks to win his first-every WWE championship from ‘The Beast Incarnate’ Brock Lesnar! 

Edge made his shocking return at the 2020 Royal Rumble, after a career-ending neck injury. Randy Orton was excited to see his former Rated-RKO partner but he quickly put a stop to a reunion in a disgusting manner. Orton delivering a vicious Concerto to Edge and hitting an RKO on Beth Phoenix brought back flashbacks to ‘09 Orton and his feud with Triple H! 

‘The Viper’ came out of nowhere disguised as a cameraman to hit an RKO to start the match. Orton was a mastermind here playing the sinister antagonist to Edge’s comeback story. Both superstars went to war throughout the performance center in a hard-hitting performance. Orton choking out Edge while saying “I’ll always love you, man” was just vile and really fun to watch. Edge finally got the advantage in the gym area using the machines to gain some revenge. 

They fought through the backstage areas, a boardroom all the way to the top of an NXT production truck. Orton hitting his signature draping DDT on the bed of a pickup truck was nasty. The Viper tried to Punt Edge’s lights out but, got hit with a massive spear. Edge got the final shot hitting Orton with a devastating Concerto to win the match! 

John Cena entered The Firefly Funhouse for one of most spectacular cinematic masterpieces of all time. This match was a cinematic journey of John Cena’s history within the company, and looking back at his greatest failures. It was so interesting to see how his future could have been way different had he turned heel, instead of maintaining being a babyface who was shoved down our throats for years! Bray Wyatt as ‘The Fiend’ finally got his comeuppance after Cena refused to put him over at Mania 30. 

Wyatt was red-hot at that time but, Cena gave him his greatest defeat of his career. The Fiend may not have been created if it wasn’t for this loss on the grandest stage of them all. Wyatt would defeat Cena and go on to become the Universal Champion months later. 

The final match of the grand event was Drew McIntyre defeating Brock Lesnar to win his first WWE Championship. After Lesnar’s impressive performance at the Royal Rumble, McIntyre humiliated him by eliminating him and punching his ticket to the biggest match of his career. The way WWE hyped McIntyre is very similar to how they are hyping Oba Femi right now. They made him look like an unstoppable beast. 

The match started with a free trip to Suplex City followed by a F5 for a kickout at one! Lesnar’s eyes grew wide as his opponent kept coming back. ‘The Scottish Warrior’ would not stay down and, The Beast was getting pissed. McIntyre would ultimately slay the beast hitting four massive Claymore kicks to win his first WWE Championship! Paul Heyman has a look of shock and disappointment as McIntyre poses with his title. What a way to end WrestleMania 36!