UPN28/38’s Wrestler of the Week
(week ending
Randy Orton
Accomplishment:
Randy Orton earned himself a World Heavyweight Title shot at SummerSlam by beating 19 top Superstars, including Ric Flair, Batista, Kane, Chris Jericho, and Edge, in a Battle Royal this past Monday night on RAW.
Real Name: Randy Orton
Aliases: none
Height: 6 ft 4 in
Weight: 245 lbs
Hometown:
Finishing Move: RKO
Major Titles Held: WWE Intercontinental Title
Major Organizations: OVW, WWE
Years Pro: 4
PWI Ranking: #217
in 2001, #33 in 2002, #63 in 2003
Tidbits:
This third generation superstar is the son of Cowboy Bob Orton and grandson of Bob Orton, Sr. He got his start in Ohio Valley Wrestling, where he quickly won their short-lived hardcore title and was a perennial contender for the OVW heavyweight title. Orton debuted in 2002 in WWE. Shortly thereafter, Orton separated his shoulder and was sidelined for about a year. During that time he entertained the masses with his RNN updates on his recovery. Unfortunately, a few months after recovering from his shoulder injury, Orton dislocated several bones in his foot, in a match where his partner Batista tore a bicep, and again was sidelined for several months. Orton came back from this injury and quickly won the WWE Intercontinental title, holding it for the longest period of time since the Honky Tonk Man from the early ‘90’s.
Orton is now a member of Evolution with Batista, Ric Flair, and Triple H. His success as a single’s wrestler has been nothing short of phenomenal. The question now is when, rather than if, Orton will leave Evolution. His match against Benoit at SummerSlam will be the youngster’s toughest challenge to date. A win here will catapult Orton to the next level and earn himself a title that the two previous generations of Ortons could only reach but not grasp.
Sources:
2003 PWI Almanac and Book of Facts
2003 PWI 500