Friends in high places

Sulking after losing the WWE Championship during an impromptu match up with Triple H at No Mercy didn’t stop the Legend Killer Randy Orton from pulling a fast one on The Game that very same night. In an interview in wwe.com, Bryan Robinson shares some of Orton’s thoughts on his recent victory.

Robinson wrote:

“My time is now. I’m in my prime,” Orton said. “I’m in a state of mind I’ve never been in before. Everything around me is just right. I’m focused. I’m healthy. I’m on my game. And when I’m on my game, I beat The Game.”

Don’t you just love it! “When I’m on my game, I beat The Game.” Now how redundant is that? You can even take it a bit further and say, “When I’m on my game, I play the game, then I beat The Game.” Just playing…

Robinson’s interview also mentioned the intricacies of rematch clauses in the WWE.

Robinson wrote:

“It was unfair,” (referring to the aforementioned impromptu match up with Triple H at the beginning of No Mercy) Orton continued. “And Mr. McMahon knows this. That’s why we have rematch clauses. And in a Last Man Standing Match, I knew I would have the speed, agility and most importantly, the endurance that Triple H doesn’t have. Triple H has two bad legs for chrissakes.”

Yeah, and a last man standing match to boot! It really helps if you have friends in high places (let’s just give him the name, Mr. McMahon), an opponent that’s already had two matches that evening, and the best part—two bad wheels (e.g., legs).

Vindication (Results and Fallout of No Mercy 2007)

Who would have guessed that WWE Chairman Vincent Kennedy McMahon would award the WWE Championship outright to Randy Orton? I didn’t see it coming but I surmised that Orton would eventually become a two time champion (one time World Heavyweight Champion and now WWE Champion) – but not without a fight.

It turns out that Orton didn’t have to wait long for a match as Triple H immediately challenged him and won his 11th WWE Title (5 time World Heavyweight Champion and 6 time WWE Champion). That sucks, but Orton had the last laugh as evoked his rematch clause (ala the ultimate opportunist Edge) later that night and defeated Triple H (who has just come off a match with The Samoan Bulldozer Umaga) for the WWE Championship in a Last Man Standing Match.

Two Last Standing Matches for Randy Orton in the span of a week – that is if you include the drubbing he gave an injured John Cena at the end of RAW last week.

What I Think Series -- Featuring Randy Keith Orton (WWE)

Randy Keith Orton has called himself many things: “A Legend Killer;” The youngest World Heavyweight Champion” in the history of the WWE; “A third generation WWE Superstar.” While others have referred to him as gifted with natural athletic ability; an opportunist; and unfortunately, sadistic as well.

But what makes the antagonist (a “heel” in wrestling lingo) Orton so popular among WWE fans? Personally, I believe that it has nothing to do with his gimmicks, great entrance song, “Burn My Light” (by the defunct rock band Mercy Drive), or his wrestling skills. Sadly, it boils down to man’s own inner demons. Their Jungian shadow. Basically, that part in each and every one of us that finds joy in the misfortune of others.

People love Orton because he is able to actualize his inner demons in a number of ways: Beating and humiliating old male and female wrestlers; deliberately injuring his opponents via a maniacal move known as “the legend killer,” which involves a premeditated strike (essentially a “football kick” backed with a lot of “oomph”) aimed at a fallen opponents head.

Basically, what Orton does in the ring is what some of us “can only wish we could do” to those that have hurt us. But in the end, is it really worth it? Are we learning the proper values from this enterprise? And are you wearing a Randy Orton t-shirt because it looks cool on you or because it allows you—even for a moment—to be like Randy Orton.

Randy Keith Orton's - The Legend Killer Tour List

After the debut of the Randy Orton - Legend Killer Tour World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) shirt in 2003, I have yet to see an updated list of Orton's "victims" online. This list hopes to put an end to that endeavor and will start on the RAW Episode (9/17/07)--hopefully be completed retroactively.

The working definition of a "victim" is that the opponent, in a match or otherwise, must suffer a completed "RKO" or a completed "Legend Killer Punt Kick." Once added to the respective lists, the opponent is no longer eligible for future entries.

The Legend Killer's RKO Victim List:

2003

1) The Fabulos Moolah (RAW; 9/15/03)

2) "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels (Unforgiven; 9/21/03)

3) "Stone Cold" Steve Austin (Survivor Series; 11/16/03)

4) Rob Van Dam (12/14/03)

5) King Booker T (12/29/03)

2004

6) Mick Foley (3/14/04); as "Cactus Jack" (Backlash; 4/18/04)

7) The Rock "The Rock and Sock Connection: (Wrestlemania XX) (For Verification)

8) Harley Race (4/26/04)

9) Chris Benoit (Summer Slam 8/04)

10) Ric Flair (Taboo Tuesday 04)

2005-2007 (For Edit)

11) Jake "The Snake" Roberts (RAW; 3/14/05)

15) The Undertaker (Summer Slam 8/05)

16) Jerry "The King" Lawler (RAW; 8/07/06)

17) Sergeant Slaughter

18) Stacey Keibler

19) Hulk Hogan

20) John Cena

21) Mr. Cena (9/17/07) (Raw; Nashville, Tennessee)


The Legend Killer's "Concussion City" Legend Killer Victim List: (Dates and Order - For Edit)

1) "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels

2) Rob Van Dam (One Night Stand; 2007)

3) "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes (Great American Bash; 2007)

4) Sergeant Slaughter (RAW; 7/30/07)

5) Mr. Cena (RAW 8/07)