Randy Orton : Evolution of a Predator Blu Ray Review

Randy Orton : Evolution of a Predator Blu Ray Review



Another great documentary by the WWE . It does have issues though . It seems to be half kayfabe and half reality . At one point , Orton talks about being pissed off with the general manager's ruling in the elimination chamber match , and next they'll be talking about Evolution being used to put younger guys over . One thing I did like though , is that they didn't always make him seem like this athlete destined for greatness , and talked about things he's not proud of like his run away from the army and the way that everyone thought he was a dick at some point . Definitely one that's worth a watch .  8/10



Disc 1 Matches :


Randy Orton vs Slick Robbie D
From OVW Christmas Chaos . Always nice to see early matches of guys before they made it to the main roster . Orton is definitely one of the better wrestlers to come from OVW . Orton did show some signs of greatness here . Pretty good match here and better than I expected . Orton wins with a full nelson slam . **1/2



Randy Orton vs Hardcore Holly
Now here we have Orton's WWE debut , and it was a good one . The match was really short , but they managed to pack a lot of action into the three minutes that it lasted . Orton rolls up Holly to get the upset win . *1/2



Randy Orton vs Shawn Michaels
From Unforgiven 2003 . Legend vs Legend Killer here . I consider this to be one of Orton's breakout matches . Great idea to pair him up with HBK , since he's usually the best option for giving someone a great match . Great match here and good work on HBK's shoulder . HBK thinks he's beaten Orton , but Flair puts his foot on the rope to restart the match . Orton gets some brass knucks and hits HBK with them to get the big win . ***1/2



Randy Orton vs Rob Van Dam
From Armageddon 2003 . Big moment and match for Orton here as this was the contest in which he won his first and only IC Title . Mick Foley was the guest referee for the bout .This was a good match and it made Orton look good as well . Orton hits a sick looking RKO to win the match . ***1/4



The Rock 'N' Sock Connection vs Evolution 
I remember this being awesome . Let's hope it still is . The exchanges between Flair and the Rock were a lot of fun . Flair going for the people's elbow was great . The Rock hits it in retaliation but only gets 2 . Batista hits the batista bomb but that only gets a 2 . Orton hits the RKO and gets a 3 count . This was such a great match that was entertaining all the way through . ****



Randy Orton vs Mick Foley : No Holds Barred
From Backlash 2004 . Now this easily Orton's breakout match and arguably the best match he's ever had . Orton took his beating like a champ , including being thrown into a pile of thumbtacks that still looks brutal to this day . One of the best matches of 2004 and Orton's career . Gotta love Mrs Foley's baby boy for putting on a star making match , something he would do multiple times . Orton hits a sick RKO onto the barbed wire baseball bat for the win . ****1/2




Edge vs Randy Orton 
IC Title on the line here at Vengeance 2004 . This is the match that ended Orton's reign of tyranny with the title and signified he'd be given a much larger push . It also put Edge back in the title scene . Fans were solidly behind Orton even though he was the heel . This match was good but it did have its slow points . If it wasn't for the slower parts in this match it could've been a classic . Edge wins with a spear . ***1/2



Undertaker vs Randy Orton & Cowboy Bob Orton : Casket Match
From No Mercy 2005 . For this DVD , I think they would have been better off putting either his Wrestlemania match or his Summerslam match to show his feud with Taker . This was probably the worst match they had together , but it was still pretty good . Maybe even a little underrated . The Ortons are able to close the lid on Taker to win it . **3/4



Blu Ray Extra Features are listed as follows :



On the Road with Dad

Randy Orton's Championship Legacy

Randy's Motorcycles

Rhodes Stories

Photo Gallery




Disc 2 :



Randy Orton vs Kurt Angle
From Vengeance 2006 . These two had a much better match at the second ECW One Night Stand PPV . This one still isn't bad though . I think this was also Angle's final PPV match in the WWE . Quite a slow start to the contest . Angle's eight germans were pretty cool . Orton hits the RKO to win . **1/4




Hulk Hogan vs Randy Orton
Billed as Legend vs Legend Killer . After pretty much burying HBK the previous Summerslam , Hogan decided he needed the victory more than an up and coming star . Screw you Hogan . Boot , leg drop , you know the shit . 1/2*



Randy Orton vs Dusty Rhodes : Texas Bull Rope Match
No idea why these two are fighting . Maybe because Orton is the Legend Killer . As JR would put it , this was gonna be bowling shoe ugly . Pinfalls and submissions counted . Yeah this was pretty boring . Orton hits Rhodes with the cow bell for the victory . 1/2*




John Cena vs Triple H vs Randy Orton
I love triple threat matches and this one was great . WWE made the smart move by letting Orton get the upset win . No one expected him to , even myself . They had a poll earlier in the night to see what the fans though , and only 9% picked Orton to win . Great match . ***1/2



John Cena vs Randy Orton : I Quit Match
WWE Title on the line . This one was a little unpredictable , because it was hard to imagine either guy saying 'I quit' . This had a slower pace to it , but it managed to work that pace to it's advantage . Orton hitting Cena with the kendo sticks was hard to watch , especially with the welts shown on Cena's ribs . Great match and a great visual to end the match as Orton quits to the STF using the handcuffs . ***3/4




Randy Orton vs Sheamus : Hell in a Cell
WWE Championship on the line here . In hindsight , this probably should have main evented the show , but I suppose hindsight is 20/20 . This really wasn't a feud designed for HIAC but it was still a great match . This is Sheamus's first and only Cell match to date . The match went a little too long , but it was very good for a PG cell match . Orton retains after hitting an RKO on the steel steps . ***1/2


Normally (like with the previous match) , if I have reviewed a match before , I will just put the original review in with maybe a few tweeks . Well one of my first reviews was Wrestlemania XXVII , and I've just realised how bad it is , so I'll have to do this one over again . I'll probably have to do the Orton/Christian from Smackdown again as well .




Randy Orton vs CM Punk
This was one of the only matches on this night that felt like a proper Wrestlemania match . The feud had been building since September 2008 when Orton cost Punk the World title . These two hadn't really had a singles match with each other either so it felt like a fresh contest . Good match and nice work on Orton's leg . Orton hits a huge RKO to win it . ***1/4




Randy Orton vs Christian
I hated this match at the time because Christian's reign was so short and it felt like a slap in the face to a man who worked hard for his opportunity. It even made me boo Orton for a while , and I dont usually boo someone unless they suck at wrestling . Suffice to say it was shocking at the time . However , with that being said , this was an awesome match that showed that both guys were at the top of the brand . ****


Blu Ray Exclusives :




2009 Royal Rumble Match
This only shows the rumble from the point that Orton came in , so I won't rate it . Needless to say , it is a huge moment for Orton .



Triple H vs Randy Orton : Three Stages of Hell Match
I can only remember one excellent TSOH match and that was the one from No Way Out 2001 between Austin and HHH . HHH loses the first fall by hitting Orton with a steel chair to cause a DQ . Quickly after that , HHH hits a pedigree on the outside to win the second fall . Stretcher match for the final fall . Pretty solid match as Orton retains with Legacy's help . **3/4




Randy Orton vs Christian
What a match ! This is why I love professional wrestling , matches like this . It was obvious that Orton was going to retain his title here , but Christian made you believe that he could pull the major upset . Great counter wrestling and a great looking submission hold from Orton . A modern day classic as Orton turns Christian's counter into an RKO to win . ****




8/10 . Great set . The documentary is definitely worth a watch and the extra matches are well picked . The blu ray is worth the extra money for the fantastic Over the Limit 2011 match . Recommended .