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- In 2024, Randy Orton is still a full-time wrestler for WWE. He is a former WWE Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, Intercontinental Champion, United States Champion, World Tag Team Champion, RAW Tag Team Champion, SmackDown Tag Team Champion, Money In The Banker winner, and two-time men’s Royal Rumble winner. This is a resume any professional wrestler would love to have. He has had numerous classic matches and continues to be one of the most popular WWE stars of all time. He has gone through numerous eras within WWE’s history and has seen a lot. His evolution has been something truly interesting.
UPDATE: 2024/02/08 07:30 EST BY BENJAMIN VIEIRA
In 2024, Randy Orton is still a full-time wrestler for WWE. He is a former WWE Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, Intercontinental Champion, United States Champion, World Tag Team Champion, RAW Tag Team Champion, SmackDown Tag Team Champion, Money In The Banker winner, and two-time men’s Royal Rumble winner. This is a resume any professional wrestler would love to have. He has had numerous classic matches and continues to be one of the most popular WWE stars of all time. He has gone through numerous eras within WWE’s history and has seen a lot. His evolution has been something truly interesting.
Randy Orton is a third-generation WWE superstar who broke out into the company in 2002 and reached legendary status in the company and the entire pro wrestling industry over the following two decades. He showcased a tremendous transformation over the years, be it physically, personally, or professionally, and has become one of the most respected members of the pro wrestling business.
RelatedHow Randy Orton Created The RKO, Explained
Randy Orton's RKO finisher is one of wrestling's best finishers, but there's a reason why the WWE star chose to use it.He's achieved tremendous success throughout his career and has become a 14-time world champion in the process. He has also sported a great physique throughout his career and didn't let himself go even once. With that said, let's take a look at Randy Orton's body transformation through pictures taken over the years.
A Young Randy Orton Was Always Around WWE Legends
Orton's Grandfather And Father Were Professional Wrestlers
- Orton is a third-generation star with his father and grandfather having wrestled.
- His grandfather is Bob Orton Sr.
- His father is "Cowboy" Bob Orton, a WWE Hall Of Famer.
Coming from the lineage of his grandfather Bob Orton Sr and his father, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Randy Orton is a third-generation superstar and grew up in a pro wrestling environment from childhood.
He's attended various wrestling events with his father during his childhood and got the opportunity to meet several wrestling legends. He's seen with Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan in the picture, and he's been up close with numerous other legends as well, which eventually led him to become a professional wrestler in the future.
Orton's Short-Lived Days As A Marine
He Joined The Marines In 1998
- Orton went AWOL on two occasions.
- He disobeyed a direct order.
- Orton was discharged because of bad conduct in 1999.
After graduating from high school in 1998, Randy Orton enlisted in the US Marine Corps. However, he wasn't a very good cadet during his time in the Marines, as he received a bad conduct discharge in 1999.
He reportedly went AWOL on two occasions and disobeyed a direct order from a commanding officer. He got tried and convicted under a special court-martial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The discharge was one of the reasons behind Randy Orton not being able to star in The Marine movie franchise in 2009 and 2013.
His Early Days In OVW
- Orton made his professional wrestling debut in 2000.
- He was in the same class of talent as Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Batista, and Shelton Benjamin.
- He is a former OVW Hardcore Champion.
After returning from The Marines, Randy Orton followed his family's footsteps into the pro wrestling business and made his debut in 2000. He soon signed a developmental contract with WWE the same year and trained at the company's then developmental facility Ohio Valley Wrestling, alongside future world champions like Brock Lesnar, John Cena, and Batista.
RelatedEvery Major Star Wrestler From The OVW Class Of 2002, Ranked Worst To Best
Ohio Valley Wrestling's graduation class of 2002 gave WWE legends for decades including Brock Lesnar, John Cena and more.He looked great for a 20-year-old rookie, and worked his way up the OVW system despite coming from an established wrestling family. He held the OVW Hardcore Championship twice during that time and impressed the right people, which opened the doors for him to venture into the WWE main roster.
Orton Looked Like THe Future In His Main Roster Debut
He Picked Up An Upset Victory Over Hardcore Holly
- Orton's first televised match was on SmackDown on April 25, 2002.
- He had a brief feud with Hardcore Holly.
- He challenged The Undertaker for the Undisputed WWE Championship the next month.
Randy Orton made his televised WWE debut on the April 25, 2002, episode of SmackDown, where he picked up an upset victory against Hardcore Holly. He then had a brief feud against Holly after his debut and even had an Undisputed WWE Championship match against The Undertaker on the May 30, 2002, episode of SmackDown.
He then got drafted to Monday Night Raw in September 2002 and made his debut on the September 23, 2002, episode of Raw, with a victory against Stevie Richards. He grew out his hair a bit during this phase, but we couldn't see more of this version as Orton suffered a shoulder injury, which took him out of action for a while.
Becoming "The Legend Killer" In Evolution
Orton Joined Forces With Triple H, Batista, And Ric Flair
Close- Evolution became a major part of Orton's ascension in WWE.
- He held the Intercontinental Championship for 210 days.
- He competed against Shawn Michaels, The Rock, and Mick Foley.
Following his return from injury, Randy Orton became part of the Evolution faction alongside Triple H, Ric Flair, and Batista. Becoming a part of the group became a turning point in Orton's career as he became a mainstay in the main event picture.
He then established himself as the Legend Killer and even defeated Shawn Michaels in a Legend Vs. Legend Killer match at Unforgiven 2003. He also captured the Intercontinental Championship during this time and had a lengthy 210-day run with the title.
The WrestleMania 20 three-on-two handicap match against The Rock and Mick Foley, and the Hardcore Match against the latter at Backlash 2004 raised Orton's stock to the next level, and he eventually won the World Heavyweight Championship at SummerSlam 2004 and got kicked out of Evolution.
Orton Becomes The Leader Of Legacy
"The Viper" Became Head Of His Own Faction
- Orton and Edge were World Tag Team Champions as Rated-RKO.
- He became one of WWE's biggest main eventers during this time.
- Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr. joined him in Legacy.
- Manu was also a member for a brief period.
Following his exit from Evolution, Randy Orton had feuds against his former teammates before he moved on to have a lengthy feud with The Undertaker. He also became part of the Rated-RKO tag team with Edge and continued to hold a significant spot on WWE television, which eventually led to him capturing the WWE Championship.
However, he went from being the student to the master when he formed his own faction called Legacy with fellow multi-generational superstars Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. He had already transitioned from being the Legend Killer to The Viper during this phase, and the voices in his head led him to win the 2009 Royal Rumble and have a personal rivalry with the McMahon family.
2009 Sees Evil Bald Randy Orton
This Was Orton At Most Evil In WWE
Close- Orton feuded with John Cena over the WWE Title during this time.
- He feuded with Kofi Kingston which resulted in the infamous "Stupid!" comment from Orton.
- WrestleMania 26 saw the end of Legacy.
Randy Orton then shaved his head bald in mid-2009, which the fans still claim as the scariest version of The Viper. He became more vile and evil during this phase and became WWE's biggest heel and resumed his feud with John Cena over the WWE Championship.
Related10 Best Wrestlers Who Beat Randy Orton For A Championship
Randy Orton is one of the most decorated wrestlers in WWE history. Some of the greatest of all time have defeated Orton for a championship.He also had rivalries against the likes of Kofi Kingston and then had a falling out with his Legacy teammates Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase. It led to Orton turning face and facing his former proteges in a triple-threat match at WrestleMania 26, in which he emerged victorious.
Joining The Authority And The Wyatt Family
Orton Joined Two More Factions, With Familiar And New Faces
Close- Orton cashed in his Money In The Bank contract on Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam 2013.
- He main evented WrestleMania 30 against Bryan and Batista.
- He entered a long term story with Bray Wyatt.
Randy Orton continued to occupy the main event picture in WWE and went on to have multiple runs with the World Heavyweight Championship. He also grew his hair a bit and sported a new bearded look during that phase, and he had that same look during his run with The Authority. Randy Orton then held the WWE Championship and became the first unified WWE World Heavyweight Champion. He main evented WrestleMania 30 alongside Batista and Daniel Bryan.
He also feuded with The Shield as part of the reunited Evolution and then went on to turn on The Authority and feud against Seth Rollins. He then continued his run before starting a storyline with The Wyatt Family and defeated Bray Wyatt to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 33.
Orton Goes Off On His Own
"The Viper" Faces Foes New And Old
Close- Orton won his first United States Championship against Bobby Roode.
- He reignited feuds against Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio, and Kofi Kingston.
- He had a long feud with Drew McIntyre, which saw him become a 10-time WWE Champion.
After losing the WWE Championship, Randy Orton spent a brief time competing in the mid-card and captured the United States Championship for the first time in his career. He looked a lot like his younger version during this phase, as he had fully grown out his hair and didn't sport much facial hair.
Orton then turned heel and feuded against Jeff Hardy and Rey Mysterio and also challenged Kofi Kingston for the WWE Championship. He then had a brief face turn against AJ Styles before turning heel once again against a returning Edge. He also captured the WWE Championship from Drew McIntyre before he feuded with The Fiend, which lasted until WrestleMania 37.
A RAW Tag Team Champion With RK-Bro
Orton Joins A Comedic Team With Matt Riddle
- Orton and Riddle joined forces after WrestleMania 37.
- He sported a new look during this time, with different facial hair than he ever had before.
- They became two-time RAW Tag Team Champions.
Randy Orton became part of the RK-Bro tag team alongside Matt Riddle following WrestleMania 37 and slowly loosened himself a bit to finally get used to Riddle's hilarious antics.
Orton also sported a new look during this phase with a mustache and goatee, and had lots of fun working with Riddle during this phase. The two had two runs with the Raw Tag Team Championship and had a good run together before Orton sustained a back injury.
"The Viper" Returns To WWE At Survivor Series 2023
Orton Enters WarGames And Goes After The Bloodline
RelatedRandy Orton's WWE History With Roman Reigns And The Bloodline, Explained
Randy Orton is back in WWE after 18 months away due to injury. Now he looks for revenge on The Bloodline and the Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns.In 2023, fans finally got to see “The Viper” return to WWE at Survivor Series. Alongside Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Sami Zayn, and Jey Uso, they defeated The Judgment Day and Drew McIntyre. Afterward, Orton asserted that he was back to take on The Bloodline. Orton ended up signing with SmackDown. When Reigns interrupted a Number One Contender’s match, it was announced that he would defend his WWE Championship against L.A. Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton.
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