September 15, 2003 - Unforgiven - Randy Orton vs. Shawn Michaels

In a truly competitive match that pitted a sports-entertainment icon against a defiant Legend Killer-in-the-making, the “Heart Break Kid” Shawn Michaels battled Randy Orton in Hershey, Penn. at Unforgiven 2003.

In his early career as a singles star, Shawn Michaels was brazen, audacious and hungry – much like his opponent, Randy Orton. This match would be the passing of a torch and the completion of one of many cycles in both men’s careers. Michaels had become a legend in his own right, and on this day, Orton was established as the new defiant young lion in sports entertainment; at Unforgiven 2003, WWE fans saw the birth of Orton’s Legend Killer legacy.

“When I wrestled Orton, it was at the beginning of his budding career [with Evolution],” Michaels told WWE.com in a recent interview. “Triple H and Flair helped him mature [in the ring] a lot faster [than he would have].”

On RAW, just weeks before this contest, Orton told Michaels that he vowed to use the Heart Break Kid as a stepping stone to greatness. Michaels admitted that he saw a lot of himself in Orton, but informed his opponent that if he intended on using HBK as a stepping stone, Orton better be sure he stepped hard. To make himself clear, Michaels slapped the bold third generation Superstar across his smug face.

According to Michaels, any time an opponent has additional help in his corner, it gives that opponent an obvious advantage. Heading into his match with Orton, Michaels knew he would be contending with not just Randy Orton, but the likes of Evolution – some of the greatest and most cerebral competitors to ever be in the squared circle.

“[Being a protégé of Triple H and Ric Flair] tilted the odds in Orton’s favor,” said Michaels retrospectively.

At Unforgiven, both HBK and Orton paced within the four corners of the ring, sizing each other up before the bell rang. With the cunning Nature Boy at ringside, the match began and the two exchanged a slew of headlocks, takedowns and reversals. Michaels gained the advantage on Orton, clotheslining him to the outside and then following up by flying off the top rope onto Orton who was recovering on the arena floor.

Flair – the Dirtiest Player in the Game – would then demonstrate the strength in numbers, assaulting HBK by tossing him into the steel post and hitting the fallen Showstopper with a low blow. A recuperated Orton then continued the onslaught o the outside by hoisting Michaels onto his shoulder and launching him shoulder first into the steel post. With Michaels’ arm damaged, Orton focused his attention on his opponent’s injury, extending the former WWE Champion’s appendage with a wretched arm bar for several minutes in the ring.

The tenacious and resilient HBK eventually drew spirit from the raucous Giant Center crowd and fired back on Orton; he also took out Flair, who had gotten up on the apron in protest of what he saw.

Michaels continued his offensive and went for the kill on Orton, striking up the band for Sweet Chin Music. The crafty Orton had HBK well-scouted, however, and as HBK went for the kick, Orton caught his leg and spun Michaels around to hit the RKO. Orton looked to have conquered his greatest challenge to date in the Heart Break Kid. He crawled over and covered Michaels, but HBK was just barely able to kick out before the referee counted to three.

Evolution’s youngest member scaled the top rope, looking for a big pay-off on a high risk maneuver in hopes of sealing his self-affirmed destiny. Orton missed a flying high cross body, giving Michaels another opportunity to recover. HBK caught fire and lit Orton up with a series of high impact moves en route to a second attempt to deliver Sweet Chin Music.

Michaels tuned up the band, zeroed in on his adversary and closed in to drop a well-placed kick directly to Orton’s jaw, the impact leaving both men at the edge of the ring near the ropes.

HBK covered Orton and the referee counted the pin, but just after the count of three, Flair slung Orton’s leg over the bottom rope. As Michaels rose to celebrate, the referee noticed the leg and restarted the match, believing that he had made an error in counting Orton down.

An irate Michaels dropped the underhanded Flair with a superkick and then moved on to finishing Orton (for the second time). But before getting laid out by the Heart Break Kid, Flair passed his protégé a pair of brass knuckles. As Michaels hoisted Orton over his shoulder for a suplex, Orton blasted him with five quick brass laden punches to the skull. HBK collapsed under Orton, leaving him in perfect position for a three-count on the Showstopper.

Orton pulled out of the ring to meet his mentor and looked back at the fallen and frustrated HBK – who, on that day, was one of the first of many legends killed by Randy Orton. The two Evolution members celebrated in the entrance aisle, absorbing the feeling of the momentous victory that would catapult Orton into Legend Killer status.

Ironically enough, the dawning of Orton’s personal evolution into Legend Killer came with much assistance from Ric Flair – a man who would become yet another name on Orton’s “legends killed” list one year later in a Steel Cage Match at Taboo Tuesday.