Randy Orton vs Mick Foley

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Its been a couple months since this event took place, that being said its Orton's best match to date and Foley's best match since No Way Out 2000. Alot of people say it was just Orton taking a bunch of sick bumps but I disagree. For a match built on sick bumps alone look no further than King of the Ring 1998 with the Undertaker vs Mankind 'Hell in a Cell' match. The thing that seperates this match from that in the terms of "just another sick bump" match is the fact that the speed and pace of the match continues for Orton and Foley. Its not 8min of match with about 20min of paramedics and what have you mixxed in.

 

In my opinion Orton showed that he can be a future headliner so long as he works with another good wrestler. He's not capable of carrying a match on his shoulders yet, but maybe he's getting there.

 

Thoughts and opinions?

 

EDIT: to remove direct link to copyrightted material

 

FrigidSoul Edit: The link to the match is it at BNW. You can still get it from there if you join.

Edited May 20, 2004 by FrigidSoul

[Only The Strong Survive 0]

If anything, this match made a lot of people gain a lot of respect for Orton. The constant bashing seems to have died down a bit, and I think Orton took the first step in proving that he's more than just a generic, green rookie and may be worthy of some kind of recognition, but the path towards that is still long.

 

The match did rely a lot on Foley's bumps, but at the same time, the story was there: Orton insulted Foley one too many times, and Orton was out there to prove he had what it took to defend his coveted title in a match that was the specialty of his legendary opponent. Orton took a bump that many thought he would never take, and the match was able to show the improvements that Orton is just starting to develop.

 

This match and his continued work is solidifying his role on the Raw roster and his place as a main eventer in the coming years, but like everything else, change is inevitable, and anything can happen.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

This match actually felt more like a real Cactus Jack match than 2000's Cactus Jack matches were. If you enjoy that, you'll like it.

[Guest TigerDriver91]

I was surprised when this turned out to be a really good match.

[Tawren 0]

In regards to the Foley's best match since NWO 2000 comment, I think Foley/Kawada has potential to be better than this but I'll wait until I get the tape in to say

 

As for this match, I feel calling it ****+ is a terrible statement. I'd say it is ***, as it is certainly a good match. However, Orton bumping for 20 minutes does not a classic make (although his selling is fantastic-I love how when Foley hits him with the cookie sheet (?) he just bends backwards and collapses). I can't find a substainable story other than "they hate each other", which is a good story but they do a pretty bad job of portraying it. Also, Orton is the one taking all the bumps, as aside from a couple of weak drops on the barbed wire board, Foley is on offense all match long until the very end.

 

As a spectacle, it is good. As a match, it is good. Not great in either aspect, though. ***

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

When the match was announced, I was expecting quite a bit. Then, as I was watching Backlash in the comfort of my loungeroom and it drew closer, I started having second thoughts, wondering if it would be just a mediocre gimmicked match with a few chair shots.

 

During the match, I figured at times 'Oh, they're just going to end it here'. But then, as the match plowed on, I thought to myself 'Have they passed the point yet where I like it', and before the end, I was thinking to myself 'A definite winner'.

 

As far as Foley goes, he wasn't a stranger to pain in the match either (compared to Orton) - he showed that when in his natural wrestling environment, damn can he entertain.

 

As far as pure wrestling goes, this match wouldn't have changed people like Anglesault's opinion on Orton, because it wasn't exactly what you could call a "wrestling match". But I think that Orton can improve, and what was important here was that it showed just how much respect Orton has for the business when he is willing to do that to his body when he has never done something like this before.

 

Link.

[Michrome 0]

I've just seen too many other brawls in the last year that get across the story of the hate the 2 men have for each other more than this one did. To me, watching it, it seemed like a desperate attempt to recreate Royal Rumble 2000 magic.

[Guest I Got Banned for Sucking]

I've just seen too many other brawls in the last year that get across the story of the hate the 2 men have for each other more than this one did. To me, watching it, it seemed like a desperate attempt to recreate Royal Rumble 2000 magic.

I don't think so - this was all about Randy Orton's push, the "Legend Killer" gimmick and respect.

[Jobber of the Week 0]

In regards to the Foley's best match since NWO 2000 comment, I think Foley/Kawada has potential to be better than this but I'll wait until I get the tape in to say

I thought this and WM pretty much were his only matches since NWO 2000, but I don't follow up on Japan. Am I wrong?

 

What I meant though was that there was more sharing of the bumps going on than there were in the HHH feud. With that one, It was mostly Foley getting ready to do something hideous (fire 2x4 or whatever) and HHH avoiding it and Foley taking the brunt of everything. Sure, Trips took that leg bump where a whole shard of wood shot into his leg and that was pretty nasty, but that wasn't really supposed to be part of the match. There was some thumbtacks involved, but there was also goofyness with the barbed wire bat going behind the announcer desk and returning as a repaired and noticeably faker looking barbed wire bat.

 

The Orton match, though. Holy Christ, it's like nobody went out of their way to protect anyone. If you're going to do bloody No Holds Barred brawls, that's how you achieve maximum effect.

[Tawren 0]

In regards to the Foley's best match since NWO 2000 comment, I think Foley/Kawada has potential to be better than this but I'll wait until I get the tape in to say

I thought this and WM pretty much were his only matches since NWO 2000, but I don't follow up on Japan. Am I wrong?

He wrestled Toshiaka Kawada earlier this month on HUSTLE-3. Info in the Puro folder

[Guest Ray]

Orton/Foley was great. Incredibly exciting match. It's in my top five of 2004 at the moment.