Athletes - Randy Orton

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	Athletes - Randy Orton

Randall Keith "Randy" Orton (born April 1, 1980 in Knoxville, Tennessee), is an American professional wrestler, currently working for the SmackDown! brand of World Wrestling Entertainment .

A third-generation professional wrestler, Orton comes from a family of professional wrestlers, ranging from his grandfather, Bob Orton, Sr., to his father "Cowboy" Bob Orton. His uncle, Barry O, was also a former wrestler.

Career

After graduating from Hazelwood Central High School, Randy Orton made his professional wrestling debut in 2000 with the MMWA-SICW in his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri. In MMWA-SICW or South Broadway Athletic Club as it is known in St. Louis, he was trained by such wrestlers there as Ron Powers, Gary Jackson, Mark Bland, Jeremy Lightfoot, Phil E. Blunt and promoter Tony Costa as well as father, Cowboy Bob Orton. This is an organization that was an off-shoot of the old Wrestling at the Chase headed by Sam Munchnick between 1950-1983. Randy Orton then had a match with another St. Louis group, Central Championship Wrestling, with O.G. Stevie B. Not long after, he signed a developmental deal with WWE and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling.

The Legend Killer

Orton trained at Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville, until he was brought up to the main roster. Orton debuted on WWE programming on the April 25, 2002 episode of SmackDown!, defeating Hardcore Holly. He made little impact as a face on SmackDown! before being drafted to RAW, where he became a heel.

Orton's heel turn was drawn out over several months. While sidelined with a separated shoulder, Orton launched the "Randy News Network", a weekly vignette which featured Orton explaining the current status of his shoulder. He also provided an e-mail address by which fans could contact him to express their support (GetWellRandy@wwe.com). His smug, self-centered attitude gradually turned the fans against him.

Upon his return on January 20, 2003, Orton helped Triple H, Ric Flair and Batista beat down Scott Steiner, a rival of Triple H's. Triple H later called the foursome Evolution. At this point Orton was given the gimmick of "The Legend Killer" which saw him defeat or humiliate numerous "legendary" wrestlers and celebrities. Orton gained infamy when he spat in the faces of wrestling legends Mick Foley and Harley Race. At Unforgiven 2003 on September 21, Orton defeated Shawn Michaels with the help of Ric Flair.

Orton went on to defeat Rob Van Dam for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at Armageddon 2003 on December 14. He became one of the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champions of recent years, holding the title for seven months.

World Heavyweight Champion

On the July 26, 2004 episode of RAW, Orton won a twenty-man battle royal last eliminating Chris Jericho to become the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship. On August 15, 2004 at SummerSlam 2004, Orton defeated the World Heavyweight Champion Chris Benoit by pinfall following an RKO to capture his first World Heavyweight Championship, making him the youngest ever World Heavyweight Champion in the WWE at the age of twenty-four. After the match, Orton and Benoit shook hands in which Benoit encouraged Orton to "be a man." The match was held in Toronto, Ontario at the Air Canada Centre.

After successfully defending the belt against Benoit on RAW the next night, Orton and Evolution celebrated the win. During the celebration, Batista had Orton on his shoulders and Triple H gave him a thumbs-up; which then turned into a thumbs down. Orton was then brutalized by Batista, Flair, and Triple H. He was thrown out of Evolution the next week on RAW after he refused to hand his World Heavyweight Championship over to Triple H when requested, instead spitting on Triple H and striking him in the face with the belt. Orton became a face as a result, and began using new entrance music, "Burn In My Light" by Mercy Drive. He feuded with Triple H over the World Heavyweight Championship for a month before losing to Triple H on September 12, 2004 at Unforgiven 2004.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Randy Orton ]

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Athletes - Randy Orton

Career

The Legend Killer

World Heavyweight Champion

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