With a career spanning over 1500 matches and around 21 years, which includes 14 WWE World Champions titles, fierce rivalries, and many more amazing achievements, The Viper has produced some of the most exciting and entertaining matches in WWE history. Narrowing this list down to only five matches is quite a task, but I’ve made an effort to feature the absolute best. Although Randy Orton has produced numerous entertaining bouts, only a select few have made it to this list. Keep reading to discover which Orton classics earned a spot on this exclusive list.
1. 2013 Money in the Bank:
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2013 was undoubtedly one of the most entertaining years in WWE in the last decade or so, and the 2013 Money in the Bank match involving Randy Orton, CM Punk, Sheamus, Daniel Bryan, Christian, and Rob Van Dam was no exception.
In the final moments of the match, when everyone was down and out, CM Punk was slowly climbing the ladder. Suddenly, Paul Heyman intervened, causing Punk to fall. Rob Van Dam then seized the opportunity to ascend, but out of nowhere, the ‘Legend Killer’ executed a perfect RKO. Randy Orton, with a slow climb up the ladder, heightened the excitement. Suddenly, the briefcase was in Orton’s hands, and as a passionate 9-year-old Orton fan, my emotions were through the roof.
2. Randy Orton vs. Triple H in Wrestlemania XXV (2009):
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Kids who grew up in the 2000s era must understand that the Triple H vs. Randy Orton rivalry is much more than a mere feud. Let’s rewind to the days before WrestleMania XXV for a brief overview of these two wrestling icons. In 2004, they began as a team in Evolution, but the partnership crumbled due to Triple H’s jealousy of Orton’s success. The rivalry intensified over the years, reaching a point where Randy Orton even performed an RKO on Stephanie McMahon, Triple H’s wife, and while she was unconscious, he kissed her in front of Triple H.
Although Randy Orton and Triple H faced off numerous times, their clash at WrestleMania XXV remains unforgettable. According to Vickie Guerrero’s pre-match stipulation, Triple H risked losing the title to Orton if disqualified or counted out. Holding his signature sledgehammer, Triple H symbolically discarded it before entering the ring, breaking a glass wall.
In a strategic effort to avoid disqualification, Triple H initiated the match aggressively. Orton countered with a backbody drop onto the Spanish announce table. Exploiting a turnbuckle collision that incapacitated the referee, Orton executed an RKO. Retrieving Triple H’s sledgehammer, Orton fell victim to a sudden punt kick. Seizing control, The Game reclaimed the sledgehammer, striking Orton and securing the victory with a Pedigree to retain the WWE Championship.
3. Randy Orton vs. John Cena – Breaking Point 2009:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhO_BGU9DMs&w=790&h=444]
Randy Orton vs. John Cena is undoubtedly one of the most popular and fierce rivalries of all time. The 2009 match between the Legend Killer and The Champ is renowned for several reasons. However, if you were a Randy Orton fan back then, it must have been a challenging game, as the famous ‘I Quit’ moment occurred during this match.
Randy Orton was defending his WWE title against John Cena in an ‘I Quit’ match. Prior to the game, The Viper talked big and promised to defend his title. They were given an ‘I Quit’ match as WWE believed a contest without any restrictions was the best way to yield results from this exciting matchup. Despite getting RKO’d in the last moments, Cena made a comeback, putting handcuffed Orton in a vulnerable position with the STF, ultimately forcing the magical words ‘I Quit’ out of Orton’s mouth.
4. Randy Orton vs. The Undertaker in Wrestlemania XXI (2005):
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-J533Dik7w&w=790&h=444]
Randy Orton found himself among the many wrestlers who experienced defeat at the hands of the Undertaker during Wrestlemania, contributing to the latter’s legendary streak. Despite interference from Orton’s father, Bob Orton Jr., who attacked the Undertaker from behind, The Deadman persevered in the match. As the contest progressed and reached its climax, the odds seemed evenly split between the two maestros.
In the final moments of the game, The Viper tried performing Tombstone on Undertaker. However, Undertaker ensured he wouldn’t succumb to his own move and expertly reversed it on Orton. The referee’s count reached three, extending Undertaker’s Wrestlemania streak to 13-0, and he celebrated in his classic style with his tongue out.
5. Randy Orton vs Daniel Bryan vs Batista in Wrestlemania XXX (2014):
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The triple-threat match between Orton, Batista, and Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 2014 has to be one of my favourite WWE matches from that time. The bout kicked off with Daniel Bryan charging directly at Orton and delivering a kick to the face. The match unfolded with all three wrestlers vying for glory, and it was not without surprises. At one point, when Batista and Orton found themselves down, Triple H attempted to interfere, but Bryan successfully threw him out of the ring.
During a critical juncture, the Apex Predator and his former Evolution partner joined forces to eliminate Bryan from the match, subjecting him to such a beating that he had to be taken out on stretchers. Despite this setback, The American Dragon refused to bow out and reentered the fray. He skillfully threw Orton out of the ring and, with a submission hold, forced Batista to tap out. This victory crowned Daniel Bryan as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, triumphing over Randy Orton.
Honourable Mention: Randy Orton vs John Cena in the 2013 TLC
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9A61p0tJedc&w=790&h=444]
Did you really think I was going to ignore the clash between Randy Orton and John Cena in the 2013 TLC? This 2013 TLC showdown between the two is right up there as one of their best matchups.
Orton entered the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match as the WWE Champion, while Cena held the World Heavyweight Championship. In this brutal contest, both contenders utilized an array of weapons, including ladders and chairs, in their quest for the championship belts.
Orton countered Cena’s Five Knuckle Shuffle with a vicious RKO. The intense struggle spilled outside the ring, with Orton hitting Cena before setting up a Punt Kick. Despite Cena’s resilience, Orton handcuffed him to the bottom rope, throwing away the key. After a series of brutal exchanges, Orton secured victory, becoming the first-ever WWE World Heavyweight Champion by retrieving both the belts in a dramatic ladder match at WrestleMania.