Post by King:$noopy on Apr 1, 2006 7:21:22 GMT -5
Randy Orton Interview
Is The Legend Killer a legend in the making?
by Jon Robinson
March 17, 2006 - He spit in the face of Harley Race, rolled on thumbtacks for Mick Foley, and dropped Jake "The Snake" Roberts with the RKO. He was the future of Evolution, and for the WWE, that future might be starting at Wrestlemania 22 as "The Legend Killer" Randy Orton takes on Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio in what looks on paper to be the match of the night.
But is it the match that will elevate Orton himself to the status of legends?
To me, there are only a few wrestlers in WWE with the potential to carry the sport the way a Hogan or a Rock or an Austin did back in the day, and Randy Orton is one of them, if not at the top of the list. He has the look, he has the finisher, and over the last couple of years has proven to have the in-ring ability to leave fans booing his every RKO, even if they're doing it with a smile on their faces.
What's funny is, the match that sold me on Orton wasn't his championship win, or even a win at all. It was his match at Wrestlemania last year against The Undertaker. On a card where the main events seemed to disappoint, it was HBK/Angle and Orton's RKO out of a Taker choke slam that have lived on in my memory.
And if Orton proves once again to be a big-game performer at Mania, the game might belong to this third-generation wrestler, even if the nickname is already taken.
IGN Sports: Every decade or so, a wrestler or two comes along who elevates the sport of wrestling to new heights. You had Hogan, you had The Rock and Austin. Are you next in line to help carry WWE?
Randy Orton: Wow, what a question. I have confidence in myself, but The Rock, Austin, and Hogan, those guys are rare. I think there are a few of us like Cena, like Lesnar was before all of that went down, myself, Batista, I think there are some guys like that who have all come along at the same time and now are working out way up. Maybe the next era won't be led by an individual like a Rock or an Austin, but a group of guys who are going to bring the business to a new level, the future of the business.
IGN Sports: Could we see that new era ushered in at Wrestlemania?
Randy Orton: I believe if it hasn't started already, then these main event matches featuring myself and Cena are going to be big for us. Of course, last Wrestlemania was big for Cena as well and I had a great match with Undertaker, but a lot of us are moving up in the card and gaining those top spots. I remember five years ago, the same group of guys, Batista, Cena, Lesnar, we were all in the same group starting out, so it's nice to see everyone graduating to that next level.
IGN Sports: How much did you learn from Ric Flair and Triple H when they took you under their wing?
Randy Orton: Besides being born in the business, that was the best thing to ever happen to me. Teaming up for Evolution, I think Batista and I credit a lot of our success to Ric Flair, but especially Triple H. He has an amazing psychology for the business. He understands how to tell a story, and you just pick his brain the best you can while riding with him. It was a great advantage for us in terms of learning our craft.
IGN Sports: Batista told me they never pulled any pranks on him when you guys were traveling, but you had some stories to tell…
Randy Orton: It would always involve women and sticky situations I needed to work my way out. [laughs] If those were pranks, then dammit, I want to be a victim of pranks every day.
IGN Sports: At Wresltemania this year, you're featured in one of the main events against Kurt Angle and Mysterio. What can fans expect out of the match?
Randy Orton: I'll tell you what, me and Rey tear the house down with each other in singles competition. Kurt Angle and I have yet to go toe-to-toe in the squared circle, and I was hoping Wrestlemania would be that day, but when you throw in the triple threat element and Rey Mysterio is that extra man, I think it's an equation that's going to equal Match of the Year potential, I really believe that. I think me and Kurt would've been an excellent singles match, but now that Rey is involved, it's going to be a different kind of match, but it's going to be great in so many ways.
Is The Legend Killer a legend in the making?
by Jon Robinson
March 17, 2006 - He spit in the face of Harley Race, rolled on thumbtacks for Mick Foley, and dropped Jake "The Snake" Roberts with the RKO. He was the future of Evolution, and for the WWE, that future might be starting at Wrestlemania 22 as "The Legend Killer" Randy Orton takes on Kurt Angle and Rey Mysterio in what looks on paper to be the match of the night.
But is it the match that will elevate Orton himself to the status of legends?
To me, there are only a few wrestlers in WWE with the potential to carry the sport the way a Hogan or a Rock or an Austin did back in the day, and Randy Orton is one of them, if not at the top of the list. He has the look, he has the finisher, and over the last couple of years has proven to have the in-ring ability to leave fans booing his every RKO, even if they're doing it with a smile on their faces.
What's funny is, the match that sold me on Orton wasn't his championship win, or even a win at all. It was his match at Wrestlemania last year against The Undertaker. On a card where the main events seemed to disappoint, it was HBK/Angle and Orton's RKO out of a Taker choke slam that have lived on in my memory.
And if Orton proves once again to be a big-game performer at Mania, the game might belong to this third-generation wrestler, even if the nickname is already taken.
IGN Sports: Every decade or so, a wrestler or two comes along who elevates the sport of wrestling to new heights. You had Hogan, you had The Rock and Austin. Are you next in line to help carry WWE?
Randy Orton: Wow, what a question. I have confidence in myself, but The Rock, Austin, and Hogan, those guys are rare. I think there are a few of us like Cena, like Lesnar was before all of that went down, myself, Batista, I think there are some guys like that who have all come along at the same time and now are working out way up. Maybe the next era won't be led by an individual like a Rock or an Austin, but a group of guys who are going to bring the business to a new level, the future of the business.
IGN Sports: Could we see that new era ushered in at Wrestlemania?
Randy Orton: I believe if it hasn't started already, then these main event matches featuring myself and Cena are going to be big for us. Of course, last Wrestlemania was big for Cena as well and I had a great match with Undertaker, but a lot of us are moving up in the card and gaining those top spots. I remember five years ago, the same group of guys, Batista, Cena, Lesnar, we were all in the same group starting out, so it's nice to see everyone graduating to that next level.
IGN Sports: How much did you learn from Ric Flair and Triple H when they took you under their wing?
Randy Orton: Besides being born in the business, that was the best thing to ever happen to me. Teaming up for Evolution, I think Batista and I credit a lot of our success to Ric Flair, but especially Triple H. He has an amazing psychology for the business. He understands how to tell a story, and you just pick his brain the best you can while riding with him. It was a great advantage for us in terms of learning our craft.
IGN Sports: Batista told me they never pulled any pranks on him when you guys were traveling, but you had some stories to tell…
Randy Orton: It would always involve women and sticky situations I needed to work my way out. [laughs] If those were pranks, then dammit, I want to be a victim of pranks every day.
IGN Sports: At Wresltemania this year, you're featured in one of the main events against Kurt Angle and Mysterio. What can fans expect out of the match?
Randy Orton: I'll tell you what, me and Rey tear the house down with each other in singles competition. Kurt Angle and I have yet to go toe-to-toe in the squared circle, and I was hoping Wrestlemania would be that day, but when you throw in the triple threat element and Rey Mysterio is that extra man, I think it's an equation that's going to equal Match of the Year potential, I really believe that. I think me and Kurt would've been an excellent singles match, but now that Rey is involved, it's going to be a different kind of match, but it's going to be great in so many ways.