Post by #HEEL Dark Lord on Oct 26, 2006 17:13:47 GMT -5
October 26, 2006 - For six consecutive years IGN and THQ have teamed up to bring our readers an ongoing exclusive look at the superstars of the WWE, and this season is no exception. Famous the world over, our "SmackDown Countdown" chronicles each wrestler, diva, and legend that will appear in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, and comes complete with never-before-seen screenshots and direct-feed movies of every last one of them. Every day for the next nine weeks, we'll profile more than 60 different personalities (including two each on Mondays and Fridays as a special homage to Raw and SmackDown fans), and for the first time ever, will cover two different platforms with images and video from both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 versions. Hot stuff? You bet.
But enough with the formalities it's time to throw down with today's Countdown superstar, Randy Orton!
HEIGHT:
6'4"
WEIGHT:
245 lbs
HOMETOWN:
St. Louis, MO
Randy Orton has teamed up with Edge in recent weeks in an effort to dethrone D-Generation X, but even before that he had killed some of the biggest legends in sports-entertainment. Being a third-generation Superstar, Randy Orton's arrival in WWE was seemingly inevitable. After all, he was practically raised in the business that both his father and grandfather excelled in. It's no wonder he has quickly ascended to the higher echelons of the RAW roster and eventually became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion ever. Part of that success can be attributed to Orton's use of his finisher, the RKO. Orton has shown the ability to hit the lightning-quick, high-impact move out of nowhere and at virtually any time -- confounding opponents who are beaten before they even realize what has happened.
In April 2002, he began his WWE career with an appearance on SmackDown. A few months into his rookie run, an unfortunate injury put him out of action. Refusing to sit idly on the sidelines, Orton continued making appearances on WWE television, going as far as attacking targeted Superstars with his crutches and giving fans constant updates on his medical progress -- whether they wanted them or not. Upon returning to active competition in May 2003, Orton was instantly recruited by Triple H to join with the legendary "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, and the Animal Batista as part of Evolution. Orton captured his first major championship on Dec. 14, 2003, defeating Rob Van Dam for the Intercontinental title at Armageddon. He held on to the championship for an impressive seven months.
Priding himself as "The Legend Killer,'' Orton has finished off the likes of Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter, Jake "the Snake" Roberts and hardcore legend Mick Foley. Orton also displayed no fear and no respect when confronting legends such as Harley Race, asserting his claim as the true legend of sports-entertainment. At WrestleMania XX, Orton teamed with Flair and Batista to take on the reunited Rock 'n' Sock Connection (The Rock and Mick Foley). Orton delivered the RKO to Foley, enabling his team to emerge victorious. At the Backlash pay-per-view later that year, Orton added Cactus Jack to his list of "killed," pinning Mick Foley in a bloody and memorable Hardcore Rules Match.
But Orton's meteoric rise to WWE stardom came too fast for some. When Randy capitalized on an opportunity at SummerSlam 2004 - defeating Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship -- it didn't sit well with Evolution's leader. The very next night, Triple H arranged a vicious beating for his former stablemate and banished him from Evolution. Independence, however, only made Orton stronger and bolder. When Triple H threatened Orton and demanded that he "hand over" the title, Orton just spit in his face. He then went on to "kill" one of the greatest legends of them all: 16-time world champion (and his former mentor) Ric Flair in a fan-selected Steel Cage Match at Taboo Tuesday.
Orton was put on the shelf with a shoulder injury until he was drafted to SmackDown in the 2005 Draft Lottery. Orton was more focused than ever on burying the Legend of Undertaker. First, Orton interfered in the Phenom's No. 1 Contender match with JBL and caused him to lose. It was clear this rivalry would not just go away, so the two met in a grudge match at SummerSlam. During the match, an unidentified man distracted Undertaker long enough for Orton to hit the RKO and pick up the big win. The man then revealed himself to be none other than "Cowboy" Bob Orton. It didn't stop there, though. The Ortons raised money for the "Undertaker Retirement Fund" and held a mock-funeral for Undertaker's career, but the Phenom turned the tables and got in the Ortons' heads this time as he sat up inside the casket that was in the ring and cleaned house.
The Ortons then faced Undertaker in a Handicap Casket Match. Undertaker had the advantage, but the Ortons were too much to overcome. After picking up the win, the Ortons chopped a hole in the casket and poured gasoline into it. Then they callously lit the casket on fire. But Undertaker wasn't inside when the flames were extinguished. Having effectively killed the legend of the Undertaker, Orton moved on to try to recapture the World Heavyweight Championship. When Mysterio won the Royal Rumble and a spot in the main event at WrestleMania, Orton saw an opportunity. He was able to push Mysterio's buttons he finally snapped and put his world championship opportunity on the line at No Way Out.
Orton won and took Mysterio's WrestleMania main event spot. But General Manager Theodore Long did not approve and made the World Heavyweight Championship Match at WrestleMania a Triple Threat Match. When Orton, Rey and champion Kurt Angle met at WrestleMania, it was Rey that emerged as the new World Heavyweight Champion. Orton and Angle were both determined to get another crack at Mysterio, but when the two men met in the first round of the King of the Ring tournament, Angle took out all of his aggression on Orton with a series of devastation Ankle Locks and ultimately broke the young Superstar's ankle. Orton was out for several weeks, but now that he is back he's as determined as ever.
Source: WWE.com
Stats
Strength: 8
Submission: 7
Durability: 8
Technique: 8.5
Speed: 7.5
Charisma: 8.5
Hardcore: 8
Stamina: 8
Overall: 88
FINISHERS
RKO
Super RKO
But enough with the formalities it's time to throw down with today's Countdown superstar, Randy Orton!
HEIGHT:
6'4"
WEIGHT:
245 lbs
HOMETOWN:
St. Louis, MO
Randy Orton has teamed up with Edge in recent weeks in an effort to dethrone D-Generation X, but even before that he had killed some of the biggest legends in sports-entertainment. Being a third-generation Superstar, Randy Orton's arrival in WWE was seemingly inevitable. After all, he was practically raised in the business that both his father and grandfather excelled in. It's no wonder he has quickly ascended to the higher echelons of the RAW roster and eventually became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion ever. Part of that success can be attributed to Orton's use of his finisher, the RKO. Orton has shown the ability to hit the lightning-quick, high-impact move out of nowhere and at virtually any time -- confounding opponents who are beaten before they even realize what has happened.
In April 2002, he began his WWE career with an appearance on SmackDown. A few months into his rookie run, an unfortunate injury put him out of action. Refusing to sit idly on the sidelines, Orton continued making appearances on WWE television, going as far as attacking targeted Superstars with his crutches and giving fans constant updates on his medical progress -- whether they wanted them or not. Upon returning to active competition in May 2003, Orton was instantly recruited by Triple H to join with the legendary "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, and the Animal Batista as part of Evolution. Orton captured his first major championship on Dec. 14, 2003, defeating Rob Van Dam for the Intercontinental title at Armageddon. He held on to the championship for an impressive seven months.
Priding himself as "The Legend Killer,'' Orton has finished off the likes of Hall of Famer Sgt. Slaughter, Jake "the Snake" Roberts and hardcore legend Mick Foley. Orton also displayed no fear and no respect when confronting legends such as Harley Race, asserting his claim as the true legend of sports-entertainment. At WrestleMania XX, Orton teamed with Flair and Batista to take on the reunited Rock 'n' Sock Connection (The Rock and Mick Foley). Orton delivered the RKO to Foley, enabling his team to emerge victorious. At the Backlash pay-per-view later that year, Orton added Cactus Jack to his list of "killed," pinning Mick Foley in a bloody and memorable Hardcore Rules Match.
But Orton's meteoric rise to WWE stardom came too fast for some. When Randy capitalized on an opportunity at SummerSlam 2004 - defeating Chris Benoit for the World Heavyweight Championship -- it didn't sit well with Evolution's leader. The very next night, Triple H arranged a vicious beating for his former stablemate and banished him from Evolution. Independence, however, only made Orton stronger and bolder. When Triple H threatened Orton and demanded that he "hand over" the title, Orton just spit in his face. He then went on to "kill" one of the greatest legends of them all: 16-time world champion (and his former mentor) Ric Flair in a fan-selected Steel Cage Match at Taboo Tuesday.
Orton was put on the shelf with a shoulder injury until he was drafted to SmackDown in the 2005 Draft Lottery. Orton was more focused than ever on burying the Legend of Undertaker. First, Orton interfered in the Phenom's No. 1 Contender match with JBL and caused him to lose. It was clear this rivalry would not just go away, so the two met in a grudge match at SummerSlam. During the match, an unidentified man distracted Undertaker long enough for Orton to hit the RKO and pick up the big win. The man then revealed himself to be none other than "Cowboy" Bob Orton. It didn't stop there, though. The Ortons raised money for the "Undertaker Retirement Fund" and held a mock-funeral for Undertaker's career, but the Phenom turned the tables and got in the Ortons' heads this time as he sat up inside the casket that was in the ring and cleaned house.
The Ortons then faced Undertaker in a Handicap Casket Match. Undertaker had the advantage, but the Ortons were too much to overcome. After picking up the win, the Ortons chopped a hole in the casket and poured gasoline into it. Then they callously lit the casket on fire. But Undertaker wasn't inside when the flames were extinguished. Having effectively killed the legend of the Undertaker, Orton moved on to try to recapture the World Heavyweight Championship. When Mysterio won the Royal Rumble and a spot in the main event at WrestleMania, Orton saw an opportunity. He was able to push Mysterio's buttons he finally snapped and put his world championship opportunity on the line at No Way Out.
Orton won and took Mysterio's WrestleMania main event spot. But General Manager Theodore Long did not approve and made the World Heavyweight Championship Match at WrestleMania a Triple Threat Match. When Orton, Rey and champion Kurt Angle met at WrestleMania, it was Rey that emerged as the new World Heavyweight Champion. Orton and Angle were both determined to get another crack at Mysterio, but when the two men met in the first round of the King of the Ring tournament, Angle took out all of his aggression on Orton with a series of devastation Ankle Locks and ultimately broke the young Superstar's ankle. Orton was out for several weeks, but now that he is back he's as determined as ever.
Source: WWE.com
Stats
Strength: 8
Submission: 7
Durability: 8
Technique: 8.5
Speed: 7.5
Charisma: 8.5
Hardcore: 8
Stamina: 8
Overall: 88
FINISHERS
RKO
Super RKO
