They call him the Legend Killer. A young, hungry fighting machine programmed for total victory. From the moment he debuted on Raw, Randy Orton looked at the elder statesman of WWE and saw only one thing: opportunity. Other up-and-comers could bide their time, waiting for their ship o come in, Orton thought. He would seize his fame by wrestling it from the hands of those who had come before him.
For most people, legends are to be admired, to be placed upon a pedestal. For Randy Orton, legends are something entirely different.
They are something to be destroyed.
To even casual WWE fans, Undertaker is a legend. His unbeaten record at WrestleMania is the longest winning streak in the history of the event. From the moment the Deadman destroyed Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka with a Tombstone at WrestleMania VII, many have tried to topple him. Some have even come close. But, inevitably, they all have failed. Undertaker's record at WrestleMania is an astonishing 12-0 which manes him a bona fide legend. And a target for Randy Orton.
Orton's path of destruction began at Unforgiven in 2003, when he faced off against Shawn Michaels, where he vanquished him with a pair of brass knuckles. Standing over HBK's prone body, the young grappler felt a surge of adrenaline. Yes, there was the thrill of victory. But there was something else: power. The kind of power only a 23-year-old who has just taken down a top-level Superstar can feel. And like a wolf that has had its first taste of bloods, he was instantly hungry for more.
From that point on, Orton's mission was clear, his purpose unwavering. He defeated Michaels for a second time before taking on Sgt. Slaughter on a "Legend vs. Legend Killer" Match. As each legend toppled, Orton felt the power course through his body. And as he grew more confident, his disdain began to grow. To him, kowtowing at the foot of these so-called legends was a show of weakness. Offering deference to them was saying, in effect, "You are better than me." That was something Orton refused to accept.
He wore his defiance openly, spitting in the faces of Harley Race and Mick Foley. The latter incident kicked off a feud that ended when Foley lost to Orton in a punishing Hardcore Rules Match at Backlash. Again, a legend lay broken at his feet. Again he felt the rush. And he continued to feed his hunger.
After Orton was betrayed at the hands of Evolution, many assumed that would be the end of his bravado. Unfortunately for them, it was just the beginning. The rage he felt over being stabbed in the back fueled the already white-hot fires of his ambition. Orton channeled it, honed it and unleashed it upon his enemies. He set his mind to dismantle Evolution. He first by decimated Ric Flair in a Steel Cage Match at Taboo Tuesday and then crushed Triple H's team at Survivor Series to win control of Raw.
Though he reeled in one impressive victory after the other, Orton knew that there were always other mountains to conquer. More importantly, there were other legends to kill. Eventually, he came to realize that the only way he could cement his reputation as the Legend Killer was to kill the greatest legend of them all.
In his storied WrestleMania career, Undertaker has faced some incredible challenges. At WrestleMania IX, during his match with Giant Gonzalez, Undertaker fell prey to a chloroform-soaked rag wielded by Harvey Whippleman. Nevertheless, after winning by disqualification, he arose from the stretcher to clothesline his opponent. Twice, his half-brother, Kane, attempted to destroy Undertaker, only to experience defeat at his sibling's hands. In 2001, Triple H took a sledgehammer to `Taker's head, but was undone by a Last Ride powerbomb. In each and every case, his opponents have fallen, leaving the Deadman to rise victorious. Taking Undertaker down has become, in some ways, the Holy Grail for an up-and-comer. And an all-too-tantalizing prospect for the Legend Killer.
Without a doubt, this is the most crucial WrestleMania match Undertaker has ever faced. Should Orton be the victor at WrestleMania 21, it would be the most startling upset in the event's history. It would mark the end of an era the likes of which WWE will probably never see again. Most careers don't even last as long as `Taker's impressive streak. To put together a stretch of time like that would take combination of remarkable ability, unwavering consistency and the good fortune to avoid major injuries. A victory for Orton would solidify his reputation as one of the WWE elite and ensure that, come what may, his place in history is secure.
Plus, for Undertaker, a loss at WrestleMania 21 would be nearly impossible to recover from. He could go on to beat Randy Orton the next night, the night after that, and for a hundred nights to come. But he could never reclaim his record, and would most likely spend eternity replaying in his head the one match he could not afford to lose.
Orton knows this, of course, In fact, he's probably counting on it. When the two step into the ring at STAPLES Center, Orton will most likely use the psychology of the match to his advantage. While `Taker has the confidence that comes from an undefeated streak, he cannot ignore the fact that Randy Orton is unlike any other opponent he has ever faced. This spectre of doubt could prey on the Deadman's psyche, stretching the wide path of his confidence into a tightrope of uncertainty. One misstep would be all it would take for the Legend Killer to take hold of the moment.
Most importantly, a victory over Undertaker would send a clear message from Randy Orton to everyone in WWE: watch your back.
Orton has already proven that he is not intimidated by anyone. He has shown that he is willing to spit in the face of those he should respect. He has shown that he is not above crushing the faces of his enemies with brass knuckles or driving their heads into steel in order to defeat them. He has proven that he is fearless, ambitious and, above all, driven. Driven by the power he has wielded when defeating some of WWE's most heralded names. Driven by rage and frustration he felt when he was betrayed by Evolution. Driven by the unquenchable thirst for power that has fueled him since he first defeated Shawn Michaels.
And if he is able to do what Triple H, Big Show, King Kong Bundy, Big Boss Man, Ric Flair and a host of others could not, then what could stop him? Should the Deadman fall come WrestleMania, it would mark the moment when Randy Orton makes the transition from Legend Killer to legend himself.