Defining the career and legacy of Randy Orton in WWE

“The scary thing is he doesn’t know how good he is” – Christian to John Cena backstage during one of Randy Orton’s matches. 

Randy Orton is in a rare position where his legacy is both defined and established.

The 17-year veteran has had one tremendous career in WWE. His tenure has comprised of 13-World Title victories, and a prominent spot for a solid 15 of those 17 aforementioned years.

Orton is in this grand position both for him and WWE currently: he can’t be defined by wins and losses. In essence, the Randy Orton character is so established and henceforth respected, that Orton could have a big loss at a PPV and on the following edition of SmackDown Live – be in the exact same position he was prior to the loss.

For instance – rewind back to SummerSlam 2016. Orton had just been destroyed by Brock Lesnar in the main event (including Orton receiving a hard way cut), despite the booking of this match and proceeding angle, being no doubt atrocious (as it was done to build up Lesnar for a planned Shane McMahon feud) – Orton would appear on TV two weeks later – in the equivalent position of prior to the Lesnar match occurring.

It’s hard to pinpoint another time in history where this has happened with a top guy. The closest I can compare this to is Shawn Michaels’ second run between 2002-2010, as Shawn himself had all the traits that Orton does currently within the confines of the WWE product.

My attention to Randy Orton was first drawn way back in 2003. Orton was apart of the acclaimed Evolution stable alongside Triple H, Ric Flair and fellow newcomer Batista.

It’s no secret that Orton’s in-ring work from 2003 onwards was of significant quality. The matches in his early few years with the likes of Mick Foley and The Undertaker (both who made great strides in positioning Orton as the next top guy), were of supreme quality for someone just a few years into the wrestling business.

Orton, from 2006 onwards, became undeniably reliable to WWE. He was the guy that WWE could easily position the entire company/brand around within a moments notice – this is, and will always be, insanely valuable to WWE.

Orton currently works as a heel on the SmackDown Live brand. Over the past 12 months or so (since once again turning heel, a role that Orton himself will admit he feels most comfortable), he seemed to really found a new lease of life and happiness in the role given.

Orton took part in a tremendous feud with the legendary Jeff Hardy in the summer months of 2018, which culminated in a very underrated Hell in a Cell bout at the HIAC PPV.

Orton would be partnered with AJ Styles for his WrestleMania 35 program – the TV build was a masterpiece of simple storytelling. The feud revolved both men believing they were the face of their respective brand, with both men delivering on the mic to sell the match and put over the rival opponent at the same time.

Orton has managed to place all the key elements together. His mic work has always been remotely competent,  but now he just seems so much more comfortable in delivering dialogue. Orton’s in-ring work, which has always been credited as being amongst the smoothest in history – is able to keep up with the likes of Ali, Andrade and the rest of the young, hungry roster.

More importantly, Orton has clearly found his personal safe haven. Orton’s clearly enjoying life. His social media is full of him bantering with his co-workers and posting pictures and videos of himself and his family just really enjoying and appreciating life.

That’s ultimately the main thing – Orton has found his happiness, and the former Legend Killer has solidified himself as the established legend.