I was pondering on making a thread in the WWE section but I couldn't think of an idea. With all this talk in the WWE section about Sting and Undertaker, I was looking to shy away from that for now and look to create some good discussion on another topic. Then it hit me, a series where I go through superstars on the WWE roster and look back and post my opinion on what feud truly established them as a main eventer. In my first edition we will be looking at Randy Orton. Now I considered what most of you will post and say his feud with Triple H when he left Evolution. However, I don't believe that is correct. You see, after this feud was all said and done I don't think Randy Orton really reached his full potential. The feud that really solidified him as a main eventer came the following year in 2005.
Randy Orton was still on the Raw roster but he called out the legendary, Undertaker and layed down the challenge for an interpromotional match at Wrestlemania. Orton was still potraying the, "Legend Killer" gimmick and was looking to kill the legendary streak at Wrestlemania. Randy did not get the job done but put on a decent match with the Deadman. Taker became 13-0 and Orton stayed in the mid-card on Raw. That summer, the draft came around and Orton was drafted to Raw. If I can remember the night correctly, I believe Taker was facing JBL. Randy Orton ran out and RKO'd Undertaker to cost him the match. The biggest pay per view of the summer came around and Orton was placed in a Wrestlemania rematch against the Undertaker. During the match a masked individual ran in and distracted Taker. Orton hit the RKO and pinned him. When the match was over, it was revealed that the mask man was WWE Hall of Famer and Randy's father, "Cowboy" Bob Orton. Since Bob Orton wanted to get involved, it was announced that the first ever Handicap Casket match would take place at No Mercy. Randy and his father didn't only win the match but afterwards set the casket Undertaker had been put in on fire. Undertaker was out of action (kayfabe) for a month or two. Orton helped his Smackdown team defeat Raw at Survivor Series as he was the soul survivor. That was short lived as Taker returned after the match. These two were placed in a final match to end the feud. The devil's playground Hell in a Cell is only fitting for these two as it was made for Armageddon. Undertkaer won but Orton brought out the best of him in a brutal match.
I believe that feud brought out Randy Orton's potential and placed him into the main event. A couple months later he even main evented Wrestlemania. His feud with Taker is arguably his best feud and is one that will be remembered for quite sometime. If it wasn't for this feud Orton might not of main evented Wrestlemania 22 and he might of stayed in the mid-card for a while longer.
In your opinion, which feud established Randy Orton as a main eventer?
Randy Orton was still on the Raw roster but he called out the legendary, Undertaker and layed down the challenge for an interpromotional match at Wrestlemania. Orton was still potraying the, "Legend Killer" gimmick and was looking to kill the legendary streak at Wrestlemania. Randy did not get the job done but put on a decent match with the Deadman. Taker became 13-0 and Orton stayed in the mid-card on Raw. That summer, the draft came around and Orton was drafted to Raw. If I can remember the night correctly, I believe Taker was facing JBL. Randy Orton ran out and RKO'd Undertaker to cost him the match. The biggest pay per view of the summer came around and Orton was placed in a Wrestlemania rematch against the Undertaker. During the match a masked individual ran in and distracted Taker. Orton hit the RKO and pinned him. When the match was over, it was revealed that the mask man was WWE Hall of Famer and Randy's father, "Cowboy" Bob Orton. Since Bob Orton wanted to get involved, it was announced that the first ever Handicap Casket match would take place at No Mercy. Randy and his father didn't only win the match but afterwards set the casket Undertaker had been put in on fire. Undertaker was out of action (kayfabe) for a month or two. Orton helped his Smackdown team defeat Raw at Survivor Series as he was the soul survivor. That was short lived as Taker returned after the match. These two were placed in a final match to end the feud. The devil's playground Hell in a Cell is only fitting for these two as it was made for Armageddon. Undertkaer won but Orton brought out the best of him in a brutal match.
I believe that feud brought out Randy Orton's potential and placed him into the main event. A couple months later he even main evented Wrestlemania. His feud with Taker is arguably his best feud and is one that will be remembered for quite sometime. If it wasn't for this feud Orton might not of main evented Wrestlemania 22 and he might of stayed in the mid-card for a while longer.
In your opinion, which feud established Randy Orton as a main eventer?