Randy Orton Prepared To Make WWE History At SummerSlam
Randy Orton could be in one of the biggest matches at this year’s edition of WWE SummerSlam, which will be a history-making night for The Viper.
Randy Orton debuted on the WWE main roster in 2002, at the age of 22. Two years later, at SummerSlam 2004, Randy Orton became the youngest World Champion in WWE history, at just 24.
That record is something that Orton has held for over 20 years, and it may never be broken because it’s rare for WWE to push somebody that young to a WWE or World Title position.
At 45, Randy Orton is still thriving in WWE after beating Sami Zayn in the King of the Ring semifinals on SmackDown in what was a great match between two veterans. Zayn went for his Helluva Kick finisher, but Orton was ready for it and dropped Zayn with an RKO for the win.
Orton’s victory over Zayn puts him in the King of the Ring Tournament Finals for the second year in a row. At WWE Night of Champions on June 28th, Orton will face the winner of the Cody Rhodes-Jey Uso match on the June 23rd episode of Raw.
The King of the Ring finals is a familiar spot for Orton, who lost to Gunther in the King of the Ring finals in 2024 in what was an outstanding match.
Randy Orton Has WWE SummerSlam History On His Mind
Whoever wins this year’s King of the Ring tournament will earn a WWE Title or World Heavyweight Title match at SummerSlam, depending on which brand that wrestler is on. If Orton wins, it would give him another shot at the WWE Champion John Cena, who got a controversial win over Orton at Backlash in May.
At the WWE SummerSlam Kickoff event, Randy Orton spoke about his past success at SummerSlam events and how this year he’ll break a tie with The Undertaker by having the most matches in SummerSlam history.
“I did win my very first world championship at SummerSlam in 2004 and I went on to compete in sixteen SummerSlams so far, that has me tied for the most SummerSlam matches in the history of the WWE, tied with the one-and-only Undertaker. So, at SummerSlam will be my record-setting match.
I tell you what, I see me leaving MetLife Stadium with gold around my waist [Michael] Cole, and I’m gonna fight John Cena, I’m gonna do it at MetLife, I’m gonna have all these beautiful New Yorkers there cheering my ass on.”
MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, will host the first-ever two-night SummerSlam on August 2 & 3. Whether Orton is in the WWE Title match or not, he should be in a featured match on the show, which means he’ll likely break that tie with The Undertaker.