April 18, 2004 - Backlash - Randy Orton defeats Mick Foley in a Hardcore Match
Throughout his legendary hardcore career Mick Foley has proven to be arguably the toughest Superstar in WWE history. Often thought of as one of the pioneers who brought the hardcore style to WWE, Foley’s utter disregard for his well-being earned him the title of Hardcore Legend. The respect Foley built throughout his career is probably what put the target on his back from the Legend Killer Randy Orton.
Leading into their Hardcore Match at Backlash in 2004, Orton and Foley had numerous run-ins that added to their mutual disgust for one another. During an in-ring reception honoring Foley’s accomplishments where the Hardcore Championship was retired in his name, Orton used the gathering to fire insults instead of congratulations at the honoree. After Foley walked away from Orton’s verbal abuse, the Legend Killer continued to degrade Foley for weeks. First, he used words; then, he upped the ante by spitting in Foley’s face and kicking him down a flight of stairs attempting to get him back into the ring.
The Legend Killer’s persistence eventually paid off, though. Foley decided to accept a Handicap Match at WrestleMania XX against Randy Orton who teamed with Ric Flair & Batista to take on Foley and The Rock (as the Rock ‘n’ Sock Connection). It was Foley’s first match in four years, but even with the energy brought by the People’s Champion, it still wasn’t enough to overcome the three-on-two odds. In the end, it came down to Foley and Orton. The Legend Killer countered Foley’s attempt at a Mandible Claw and hit him with an RKO for the pinfall.
This led into their Hardcore Match a month later at Backlash. Their rivalry hit its peak as the two collided in a hellacious match that included thousands of thumbtacks, 2x4’s covered in barbed wire, a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire — which Foley named Barbie — and trash cans. While Foley has participated in dozens of Hardcore Matches – which seemingly made their match at Backlash on his home turf – it didn’t stop Orton from overcoming inexperience to prevail and retain the Intercontinental Championship.
In the match, Orton had a choice: get bludgeoned by the Hardcore Legend, or adapt to Foley’s style. He chose the latter and ended up establishing himself as a Superstar with the capability to elevate his game and conquer the dark side of sports-entertainment. The beating he took from Foley –who came out as Cactus Jack, the most Hardcore of his three personalities – is what made the match so impressive for the Legend Killer. The amount of abuse he endured before getting the pinfall proved that Orton was a fighter, and while his heart may be black, he showed it was filled with the will and desire to succeed in WWE.
When the bell rang, Foley burst into the ring with Barbie in hand and went on the offensive, swinging the barbed wire bat intending to split Orton’s head to make it gush like a geyser. But Orton blocked the bat with a trash can and changed the momentum by slamming Foley in the head twice with a trashcan. Then the two Superstars took turns fighting for Barbie, and traded turns grating each other’s faces like blocks of cheese. At first, the blood trickled from Orton’s head, but after Foley took Barbie and rammed it into the Legend Killer’s face it began to flow steadily. Orton then took control of Barbie and dragged it down Foley’s arm, slicing his skin and drawing blood.
As the match continued, the blood began to pool onto the mat and especially on Orton’s face. It was almost as if he was using the old Rope-a-Dope strategy, allowing Foley to beat him with everything he had before he calculated the precise moment he would strike and retake control. After Foley tossed Orton head first off the ramp, he followed suit and dove off and drove his elbow into the Legend Killer’s chest. It looked as if there was no way Orton could have survived serious injury from the fall, but somehow he managed to not only stay coherent, but muster the strength to kick out of numerous pinfall attempts from Foley. Even with hundreds of tacks piercing his back, sticking in his body like quills, Orton still refused to give up.
Maybe it was Orton’s youth that carried him to victory, or maybe it was sheer desire to kill the legend of another one of WWE’s elite Superstars; but after two attempts with the Mandible Claw from Foley failed, Orton was able to drop Foley onto Barbie with an RKO to earn the victory. Although he was bruised and bloodied, he never quit striving to live up to his name of the Legend Killer.