Orton/HBK Match Biggest Ever?; Legend Killer Notes; & More
The following is from WWE.com:
HERSHEY, Pa. – Sept. 21, 2003 – Randy Orton was 7 years old when Shawn Michaels first appeared in WWE.
Sixteen years later, the third-generation Superstars, now called the “Legend Killer,” defeated the Heartbreak Kid at Unforgiven. It was Orton’s first-ever singles match on pay-per-view (and only his second opportunity for in-ring action, after last month’s Elimination Chamber). One assumes that it’s the first of many, many high-profile pay-per-view matches for the 23-year-old Orton.
The St. Louis native had a knot on his forehead and appeared to be developing a black left eye, but he was in great spirits after the match.
“I feel like tonight was the biggest match in my short career, one that I’ll never forget,” he said. “I’ll probably have trouble sleeping tonight, just as I did last night, because I was so excited.”
Asked if he was nervous about the match, Orton said, “I was definitely more nervous than usual. (But) they say once you don’t have butterflies anymore, it’s time to stop (wrestling).”
Orton called the chance to wrestle Michaels, “a great opportunity. I feel like I took advantage of the opportunity to the fullest.”
Orton jumped to RAW almost exactly one year ago, so this was something of an anniversary present for him. Furthermore, one week after jumping to RAW, he tore his shoulder, the first of three fluke injuries that kept him out of action for much of his rookie year. So for Orton, tonight’s match was somewhat symbolic for him: the start of what will be the best (and injury free) year of his career.
What better way to start off the year than with a match with Michaels?
“I put him up there with the best of all time,” Orton said of HBK. “My dad (Cowboy Bob Orton) always spoke very highly of him. My dad would give me lists of guys I could learn from. Shawn was always one of them.”
Orton added, “I may be the ‘Legend Killer,’ but as far as I’m concerned, there’s no killing the legend of Shawn Michaels.”