Tommy Platinum

I've decided to start these threads again, because I believe they can create a lot of good discussion if people actually put thought into their posts and justify their selections, rather than just typing out arbitrary lists. No doubt some people will just type out lists without attempting to explain their reasoning anyway, but hopefully most will understand that you have to say what was good about the matches you suggest.

Basically, give what you believe to be Randy Orton's top 5 matches, in order.

Star ratings are optional, but explanation is obligatory.

I will give my list when somebody else posts. I thought Orton would be a good guy to start with, because he is a main eventer in WWE who is often criticised for his in ring abilities, but has nevertheless had some matches which are considered great. I also thought this thread was a better fit here than in WWE discussion, as it doesn't deal with current WWE storylines.

Go!

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The Postman

1. Mick Foley, Backlash 04: The match that MADE Orton. he took an asskicking and still looked like a wrold beater at the end of it. This is the reason he started to move up to the main event. Also, I hadn't seen Cactus/HHH prior to this, so I was gobsmacked at alot of what I saw.
2. John Cena, Summerslam 07: Great wrestling match, Orton finally was back in the main event, and these guys had a great match where even the little exchanges helped tell a story.
3. Christian, Raw 05: I think this happened in Japan, or it was the week after. Easily Orton's best match as a face, and IMO, proof Orton can work as a face. Just not as effective as a heel.
4. Undertaker, WM 21: One of few Taker mania matches where I started to believe Taker might just lose. Plus, it had that swank chokeslam into an RKO reversal.
5. Shawn Michaels, Survivor Series 2007: Fantastic storytelling, and one of my all time favourite matches. The reason it's down this far is because I think the storytelling was more down to HBK than Orton.

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"Fix him up so I can break him again!"

Tommy Platinum

1. Randy Orton vs Cactus Jack - Hardcore match for the IC Title - Backlash 2004
Foley says this is his favourite match, so it's not surprising that it tops Randy Orton's list. I think both men did a lot to make this match so memorable, and it was undoubtedly the highlight of Orton's IC title run. A lot of very memorable spots and overall a great brawl. I loved the storyline of Randy Orton having to go into an environment he had never been in before, but despite taking a huge amount of punishment (thrown in tacks, thrown off the stage, bloodied with barbed wire etc) having the guts and determination to hang on in there and win. I think it helped him immensely in this respect, and it really put the belt over too. I was also surprised he took the tacks bump.
****3/4

2. Randy Orton vs Triple H - Last Man Standing Match for the WWE Title - No Mercy 2007
Yes really, an Orton/Trips match in a best of list. I think this one is often overlooked due to the circumstances of Cena's injury and the last man standing match we missed out on, but I usually give this as possibly the ONLY example of a great HHH singles match since he turned face in 2006. And by great, I mean ****+. This basically summed up to me what a Last Man Standing match should be all about. Often they are slow and boring, but this had such drama and emotion to it. Every 10 count was extremely dramatic, and I remember screaming at Orton to get up. Sure, the booking of the PPV helped a lot, as did the fact that I wanted Orton to win so much, but this was a great match all the same.
****1/2

3. Randy Orton vs Triple H vs John Cena vs JBL - Fatal 4 Way for the WWE Title - Backlash 2008
I usually don't like to include multi-man matches in "best of" lists, but seeing as Orton did so much in this match, and the one on one match between him and Trips after JBL and Cena were eliminated was so good in its own right, I felt it deserved to be included. This is another one I don't hear talked about much as a great match, but I think it was awesome. This is another match I give Triple H great credit for despite not being a fan of most of his recent matches, and he and Orton both did great throughout. The booking again played a part in its greatness and admittedly some of the more memorable moments in the match early on were down to others such as JBL and his epic heel work, but Orton definitely did enough to justify it being in his list. The elimination of Cena was great, and the Orton/HHH showdown at the end had the epic feel that so many WWE title matches seem to lack, and again was hugely dramatic and pulled you in. Great stuff.
****1/4

4. Randy Orton vs John Cena - WWE Title Match - Summerslam 2007
This was another one which benefitted from the storyline, but again was great in its own right. It definitely had a huge feel to it as Cena had held the title for almost a year, defeating everyone from Shawn Michaels to The Great Khali. Orton had left a trail of destruction in his wake, putting HBK and RVD on the shelf, and everybody seemed to want Orton to win. Seeing as Cena had only faced guys like Khali and Lashley recently, who nobody really thought could defeat him, this had more of a big feel to it as people really believed Orton could do it. The match itself was typical Cena on the big stage, and a great back and forth match with a load of dramatic near falls and counters. I remember being disappointed when he managed to FU his way to victory. Shame this feud didn't get the epic finale it deserved, but at least Triple H got a great LMS out of Orton.
****

5. Randy Orton vs The Undertaker - Wrestlemania 21
The only non-title match on the list, but the Undertaker's streak was up for grabs, and unlike many years, we were actually given reason to believe Undertaker could lose against such a young and talented wrestler with so many good years ahead of him. He didn't win of course, but this, although overrated by some, was a very good match. The two most memorable moments for me are the Chokeslam-RKO counter (obviously) and Undertaker getting hit with the running elbow by Orton after snake eyes. Very cool match with a lot of nice counters and twists and turns along the way.
****

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I need to rewatch the HBK match you gave, Postman. I don't remember it being anything epic but I've only seen it once.

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Sir Nicky Talent

Hai tawmmy

1. Orton versus teh Underwear tkaer
2. Orton vs. all Triple Eh matches
3. Dunno spam
4. He sux
5. Repeat one

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All jokes aside, I don't find Orton a great pick for this thread. I've never really been impressed with his matches. Some of the aforementioned ones, that's it.

1. Randy Orton vs. Mick Foley - No Holds Barred - Backlash 2004

Just how great hardcore matches should be done. It turned into an all out war and just an epic back and forth, who could do more damage to one another. I've actually never closed my eyes at a lot of matches. This was maybe one of four. This really helped Orton shatter through the door.

2. Randy Orton vs. Chris Benoit - Summerslam 2004 - World Heavyweight Title

I really thought this showed Benoit's chemistry with anyone thrown into the ring with him, as well as Orton's technical prowess, ability to stay in the game, and get roughed up by the best. Definately a shot out of nowhere

3. Randy Orton vs. Undertaker - Wrestlemania 21

This had a lot of circumstances, build-ups, and tension. Randy Orton was turning heel very well. He ignored his peers, forgot about his girlfriend. He promised to end the streak of Taker. And with the victories he racked up before hand, he could have done it.There were several trademarks to admire, as well as several tiwsts, counters, and suprises.

4. Randy Orton vs. John Cena - Summerslam 2007 - WWE World Title

There wasn't a big feud heading into this match. Just the circumstance that Orton was taking out everyone in sight, and he was the last one to get a title shot. To be honest, this match did not draw me at the time, but Cena being Cena, managed to put on an excellent demonstration of magnitude and strenght. Orton gave the Cena fans dissapointment after dissapointment in the match. Just like three years earlier. Shot in the dark.

5. Randy Orton vs. The undertaker - Armageddon 2005 - Hell In A Cell

It was an outstanding bout of violence. Everyone was bleeding one way or the other. Some incredible spots that I thought I would never see in an HIAC. Very underrrated HIAC as well. Also, put an end to a year long feud, just about.

Fought between that one and Orton/HHH No Mercy 2007 LMS

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Tommy Platinum

I said Orton because his top 5 matches arn't as obvious as others, and he is not somebody whose matches everybody always talks about. I tried to pick somebody who would make people think. Everybody always thinks through, say, Taker's classics in their mind, and Cena's are brought up constantly in threads.

I forgot to say, but the Benoit match is my honorable mention.

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Sir Nicky Talent

I actually find it much challenging to do someone with several matches for a top five, like HBK or Flair or Piper, becuase I really couldn't come up with a top five.

With someone like Orton, it gets sort of desperate.

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Tommy Platinum

I'll pick someone better next time, but most of the biggest names have been done to death.

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Y 2 Jake

Tough choice. Thinking of them it got to the stage where I actually had to have a read of somebody elses post, which I don't do unless it relates to myself or something I've said.

The matches that were listed were all very good. But not what I'd consider ''classic'' matches. Obviously the Foley match will considered one and his Cena match at SummerSlam is his best one-on-one, non-gimmick match. But I wasn't impressed with the other suggestions. All good, but not of the quality I'd expect of Orton. By all accounts people rate him highly, he's WWEs top heel and he's been pushed solidly for at least 6 years now. I'd expect better than simply good matches off somebody with that perdigree.

So I've got about three that I can think of that are really good. The Backlash 2004 match, the SummerSlam 2007 match and his match with HBK at Survivor Series 2007. I liked how HBK couldn't use Sweet Chin Music. But I don't think that's actually better than any of the other suggestions, I just prefer it.

I'm probably alone in thinking the Undertaker match was brilliant.

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The Postman

Reading. It helps.

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"Fix him up so I can break him again!"

King Steventon

Good list, though I think I would have the Cena match from No Way Out above the Taker match. The Taker match was more about an unobvious result and the hot crowd whereas the Cena match was more about the story, it probably had better spots in it too. I'd also have the RAW Benoit match in the top 5 too. It was mor intense than the Summerslam match and had a better Orton performance, even with the screwy TV finish.

Come to think of it, I wouldnt have the NWO match in it, I'd have the Rated RKO vs DX match in his top five (1. it was a great match. 2. it was far better than it had any right to be with those four) and probably the Benoit/Jericho/Edge vs Evolution 6-man from RAW too.