Randy Orton has been through a lot of iterations with his character over the years, but arguably his best role was as his veteran-bashing personality, The Legend Killer. Based on Backlash and Monday Night Raw the next night, WWE may indeed have brought back that Randy Orton.
It all started at Backlash when Orton and Edge battled in the Greatest Wrestling Match Ever. The match was supposed to be a wrestling match, pure and simple, but it ended with Orton delivering a low blow and punting Edge in the head for the pinfall victory. It was vintage Orton and a call-back to his Legend Killer days, just like the match itself acted as an homage to many other superstars past, with a "who's who" of finishing moves.
It continued on Monday Night Raw when Christian arrived to call out Orton for the move and to lay into him for what he did. However, Orton turned it back around and challenged Christian to a match that night. Christian retired six years ago due to concussion issues, but this, Orton challenged him to an unsanctioned match, so WWE would not be liable. Later in the evening, Christian accepted.
While Christian was getting ready, Big Show arrived and said that he would destroy Orton if he said that to him, basically pushing Christian on. Nature Boy Ric Flair followed and tried to talk Christian out of the match, which the former "Captain Charisma" rejected. Just before the match, Flair showed up in the ring and tried to talk Christian out of it again, but Christian once more said he was fighting. That's when Flair low-blowed him, and Orton delivered the Punt Kick to pin Christian.
As when Orton hit Edge with a chair, this sequence was legitimately concerning, since Christian retired due to concussions. However, after the end of the match, the normally emotionless Orton dropped to his knees and caressed Christian's hair, whispering in his ear that he didn't want to do it. Then, a switch flipped, and Orton blamed Christian. He went back and forth a few times, and the "Voices in My Head" Orton was back in full effect. The Legend Killer was back, but this time, it's different. He seems reluctant, somehow, almost like he's serving a higher purpose, and that internal friction is breathing new life into the character.
Orton started his work as The Legend Killer in 2003, one year after his debut. He claimed to be the future of professional wrestling and planned to build his name by eliminating legends in the industry. Orton beat Shawn Michaels at Unforgiven 2003 in a "Legend vs. Legend Killer" match. He started attacking older, retired and semi-retired legends, defeating Mick Foley at Backlash 2004 in a hardcore match for Orton's Intercontinental Championship. He spat in the face of the legendary Harley Race and eventually, ironically, lost his IC title to Edge at Vengeance.
After that, Orton turned babyface in one of the worst turns in WWE history, as fans ultimately rejected him in that role. Two years later, he competed in another "Legend vs. Legend Killer" match, this one against Hulk Hogan at SummerSlam 2006, which Hogan won. Orton continued the gimmick and fought Shawn Michaels again. It was during this time that he targeted some real legends in WWE, including punt kicking Rob Van Dam, Ric Flair, The American Dream Dusty Rhodes and Sgt. Slaughter. It was here that he added the "Voices in My Head" movements to his repertoire.
Now, as far as it looks on Monday Night Raw this week, The Legend Killer is back, which could be great for Orton. He is no longer a young guy who wants to prove he is the future, but a relative veteran who simply wants to help his friends rest. As he said to Christian, he is a wrestler, and WWE is where he belongs. Orton also won't let other legends come in and try to take that away from him, whether it is Christian, Edge or Matt Hardy. It is an exciting twist on the original gimmick and one that could make Orton infinitely more interesting again for the first time in years.