Randal "Randy" Keith Orton (born April 1, 1980), is an American professional wrestler currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment wrestling on its RAW brand.
Orton is a third-generation professional wrestler; his grandfather, Bob Orton, Sr., father, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, and uncle, Barry O, were all professional wrestlers.
Orton made his professional wrestling debut in 2000 with the MMWA-SICW in 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 his 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.
Before long, Orton signed a developmental deal with WWE and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville. His earliest appearance on WWE television was in a match against Billy Gunn, on the May 6, 2001 edition of Sunday Night HEAT.
After training at Ohio Valley Wrestling, he was then 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. In Orton's debut match for 'RAW' after praisingly being introduced by Jim Ross he defeated Christian and Lance Storm. He eventually 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. 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. The stable was briefly disbanded shortly thereafter when both Orton and Batista were sidelined with injuries, but reconvened in May 2003. 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 face of wrestling legend Harley Race. It is during this time that he began using what would become his signature finisher, the "RKO". Its name taken from his initials, it is a cutter performed by Randy jumping up before grabbing his opponent in the cutter hold and dropping them down.
This was also the year in which Orton would begin to get involved in high profile matches. At SummerSlam 2003, he would compete in the Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship against stablemate and defending champion Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Bill Goldberg, Chris Jericho, and Kevin Nash. Orton held his own in the match, though he basically was in it to help Triple H keep the title. At Unforgiven 2003 on September 21, Orton defeated Shawn Michaels in what would be the first of many a high profile match billed as "Legend vs. Legend Killer", with the help of his stablemate and mentor Ric Flair. Orton went on to defeat Rob Van Dam for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at Armageddon 2003 on December 14. Two significant things about this night were that all the male-owned titles on Raw were in Evolution's grasp, and that this reign with the Intercontinental Title he became the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in the past seven years, holding the title for seven months.
Orton is a third-generation professional wrestler; his grandfather, Bob Orton, Sr., father, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, and uncle, Barry O, were all professional wrestlers.
Orton made his professional wrestling debut in 2000 with the MMWA-SICW in 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 his 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.
Before long, Orton signed a developmental deal with WWE and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling in Louisville. His earliest appearance on WWE television was in a match against Billy Gunn, on the May 6, 2001 edition of Sunday Night HEAT.
After training at Ohio Valley Wrestling, he was then 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. In Orton's debut match for 'RAW' after praisingly being introduced by Jim Ross he defeated Christian and Lance Storm. He eventually 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. 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. The stable was briefly disbanded shortly thereafter when both Orton and Batista were sidelined with injuries, but reconvened in May 2003. 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 face of wrestling legend Harley Race. It is during this time that he began using what would become his signature finisher, the "RKO". Its name taken from his initials, it is a cutter performed by Randy jumping up before grabbing his opponent in the cutter hold and dropping them down.
This was also the year in which Orton would begin to get involved in high profile matches. At SummerSlam 2003, he would compete in the Elimination Chamber match for the World Heavyweight Championship against stablemate and defending champion Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Bill Goldberg, Chris Jericho, and Kevin Nash. Orton held his own in the match, though he basically was in it to help Triple H keep the title. At Unforgiven 2003 on September 21, Orton defeated Shawn Michaels in what would be the first of many a high profile match billed as "Legend vs. Legend Killer", with the help of his stablemate and mentor Ric Flair. Orton went on to defeat Rob Van Dam for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at Armageddon 2003 on December 14. Two significant things about this night were that all the male-owned titles on Raw were in Evolution's grasp, and that this reign with the Intercontinental Title he became the longest-reigning Intercontinental Champion in the past seven years, holding the title for seven months.
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