WWE Legend Randy Orton is one of the most decorated superstars WWE found to charm history — he made it a long journey from being a mainstay to becoming ‘The Viper’ for no good reason. But it turns out his persona is not just an act; his off-screen life has been described as unsettling, volatile, and even narcissistic.
There have been multiple wrestlers who have shared their stories about Orton, like Cody Rhodes and more notably, Rey Mysterio, who both have had a rough time with him. He was incredibly talented from a young age but suffered from substance abuse and behavioral problems that landed him in hot water, and he was often suspended.
He was both feared and respected for his unpredictable temperament, which always made backstage tense. But over time — following a series ofstints in rehab that did not end well for Orton — he managed to overcome his demons and become one of the biggest stars WWE has ever produced.
Cody Rhodes: Living in the shadow of a ruthless mentor
One of the most memorable parts is the brief time when Cody Rhodes, a third-generation superstar, hoped for a lot when he joined Orton’s faction, The Legacy. But Randy Orton, on his wing, it turned out, was more of a nightmare than an honor. Orton was not exactly a rookie: he was a battle-hardened veteran, a talented ring general with plenty of experience in dealing with younger guys — and his approach to mentoring was clearly not of the nurturing type.
He had an iron grip, tearing Rhodes and tag partner Ted DiBiase Jr. to assert they were ever, ever below him. Instead, his need for control and dominance was palpable, making the space one of fear rather than education. And Rhodes was still establishing himself too, meaning he was tiptoeing around Orton as if he were handling a minefield.
With Orton having had a notorious reputation for his short fuse, he was a loose cannon, ready to pounce on anything that showed vulnerability with extreme criticism or potential humiliation. Instead of encouraging, he was mostly known for his intimidation, i.e., taking his teammates and pushing them beyond their limits.
Orton was ruthless, according to Rhodes himself, who later admitted things are different when the best at delivering a career disaster, be it Orton entering a giving move, gives a thumbs down since the ‘Ruthless Aggression’ lost before his own massive standing.
Rhodes channeled this challenging experience into building his own career. He shook free of Orton, molded himself into a fresh package, and cut a new path as one of WWE’s top stars in his own right.
Although working with Orton was a huge part of his growth in the ring, it also helped turn him into someone who never wanted to be overshadowed by someone else being a top talent. Finally, he was successful enough to prove that stepping away from that toxic mentor was the very best thing he could do for himself.
The Underdog vs The Viper
While Rey Mysterio’s 2006 feud with Randy Orton may go down as one of the most heated emotional rivalries in recent WWE memory, the real-life stakes were just as high backstage as well. Orton’s aggressive nature did not just end when the cameras stopped.
Less gloriously, one might say he was a provocateur at times, closely grazing, if not crossing, the line with local patience. Dealing with Orton’s mind games was an ongoing battle for Mysterio, who was soft-spoken and humble by nature.
Things got controversial in their rivalry when Orton decided to take dissing things too far when he made comments about Guerrero, who was a close friend of Mysterio at the time. Orton was stepping over the edge with his telling of it, but that was all in Orton’s mind, part of the mind games.
Inside the squared circle or outside it, Orton had his opponents doubting themselves and their abilities before the bell ever rang. Mysterio never faltered, even in the attempts by Orton to get inside his head. He kept his game face and showed that not even fear could break him.
When he became World Heavyweight Champion at WrestleMania 22, it was more than just winning a title; it was about sending a message. Mysterio, in his own way, was reminding the world that when the going gets tough against an unrelenting competitor such as Orton, the cream still rises to the top because tenacity and heart always prevail.
While Orton might have enjoyed being feared, Mysterio showed that the real superpower was in enduring pain and never breaking.
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