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Billings Gazette (MT) Interview: Randy Orton; Following Family's WWE
Footsteps

Dec 5, 2003
 
Randy Orton, the 'Legend Killer,' following family's WWE footsteps 

World Wrestling Entertainment superstar Randy Orton will be competing
tonight at a RAW Unleashed! house show at MetraPark Arena.

The show begins at 7:30 p.m. 

Orton, 23, is a third-generation superstar who makes his home in St.
Louis. His grandfather, Bob Orton Sr., wrestled for WWE as did his
father, "Cowboy" Bob Orton Jr.

Currently, Orton is on the rise as a wrestling star and is scheduled
to vie for the Intercontinental title at Armageddon Sunday, Dec. 14,
in Orlando, Fla.

But before the title shot at the pay-per-view Orton has to wrestle in
the Magic City. Will Orton be able to use his favorite move, the RKO,
on anybody? Find out tonight.

Gazette sports reporter John Letasky recently had the chance to
conduct a phone interview with Orton. Here is a look at their
conversation:


GAZETTE: Is there a heavy burden on you since many feel you have what
it takes to be one of the WWE's next big superstars?


RANDY ORTON: That's a good question. I wouldn't say it's a burden.
With a lot of the new guys, everyone has a lot of potential. There's a
whole big group of us who came up from Ohio Valley Wrestling from both
shows and we all have what it takes. Everyone is not going to get an
opportunity at the same time, now I'm getting my time. Now all you can
do is do the best you can and don't drop the ball and run with it and
that's what I'm trying to do.


GAZETTE: What is it like teaming up with a legend such as Ric Flair
and one of the biggest names of today in Triple H?


RANDY ORTON: It's awesome. I'm in great company. I learn so much from
those guys, not only in the ring but the locker room. I travel quite a
bit with them. Just being at dinner and traveling with those guys you
realize how professional they are. It's all business.

A lot of times you don't have many friends, but acquaintances, you
know. But, I'm in the position where these guys don't have nothing to
lose and nothing to gain. They see someone they want to help. They
want this business to carry on and they say, 'Let's give this kid some
info,' and I absorb as much as I can.


GAZETTE: What is in store for Evolution. Can this group become as
powerful such as factions like the legendary Four Horsemen or nWo?


RANDY ORTON: As far as what's in store, I don't know. The creative
side is not something I have any kind of knowledge of. I find out what
we're doing the day I get to the show. Sometimes you can call a couple
days ahead of time.

If it was my opinion, I haven't missed a RAW since I've been back from
my broken foot for seven months, and a lot of guys can't say that.
I've been on RAW with Hunter, Ric and Batista and there is a part of
the show we make a lot of impact on and stir things up.

I'm not big on the Internet but I have a friend who tells me a lot of
the Internet fans feel the same way. Even though we're heels, it's
kind of like DX, fans like us anyways.


GAZETTE: Was it hard coming up and making your WWE television debut at
the young age of 22?


RANDY ORTON: I kind of was born in the business and I always wanted to
be in the business. I had a couple detours with the Marine Corps that
didn't turn out like planned.

When I was 19 I was actually under contract with WWF at the time. They
had put me in Louisville and I was there a year and a half. It's cool
because I am so young, but at the same time it was hard mixing with
guys in the back. A lot of guys didn't know how to take me; you have
this kid who is cool and impressionable and his dad and grandpa were
there.

It took me more of a time period than it normally takes guys to get
acclimated in the locker room. I always had help from the guys, but I
always didn't have a clique of guys. It was just me and Brock Lesnar
who were up, but now a lot of us are up. So now the locker room is
invaded with green guys and you can tell we're getting better and
better each week on television.


GAZETTE: Since you've been on television you've made quite the impact
and have become the "Legend Killer." Talk about dealing hard blows to
legends such as Shawn Michaels, Sgt. Slaughter, the Fabulous Moolah
and Mick Foley.


RANDY ORTON: It all started with Mick Foley, that was at Madison
Square Garden. That was a cool day. I'll never forget that RAW. It was
his idea to use that rub and get over the "Legend Killer" with Mick
being the first legend. I owe him a lot and always will and I thank
him. It took off and they wanted to keep going. It turned out I got to
work with Shawn. I was such a fan of his and I got into it and didn't
watch it as a fan, but watched to learn. I could tell Shawn was the
best and he's the easiest guy I've been in the ring to work with.
Shawn was willing to do that for me; it gives me a boost of
self-esteem and confidence when I'm in the ring, because Shawn had
faith in me.

Stone Cold Steve Austin at the Survivor Series, I beat Shawn with the
help of Batista and killed the legend of Stone Cold. What can you say?

Fabulous Moolah, it was on her birthday and she took a huge bump for
me and what can you say? My grandpa knew her when she was young, and
he was young.

Then Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, he's not a
wrestler but a famous business man, so...The list is on and the fans
are starting to see me as someone who can run with the big guys."


GAZETTE: WrestleMania XX is coming up in March at Madison Square
Garden. Your dad, "Cowboy" Bob Orton Jr., competed at the first three
WrestleManias, including the first one in New York City at Madison
Square Garden. Do you look forward to getting the chance to work in
WrestleMania XX?


RANDY ORTON: That day right now seems so far away, but I think about
it every day. I don't know what I'm doing. You never know in the
business. One week you have plans and it gets changed or injuries.
Hopefully nothing like that happens.

Ever since I've been in the business I realized XX is coming up and
that will be the time I can compete at WrestleMania. If I can and am
on the card it will be the best day of my life. It would be awesome.


GAZETTE: Your grandfather also competed for WWE. What is it like being
a third-generation star?


RANDY ORTON: It's fun. You know I get to carry the lineage of being
there. It's so original. The Guerreros have a huge family line and
obviously with The Rock it's really cool being the third generation.
There's a lot of seconds, but you only have two or three thirds. You
have more on your shoulders of what they expect. But that drives me. I
have to go out there and prove it. My dad is awesome. He was one of
the best technical wrestlers they had and people didn't like him; he
did his job well. I have big shoes to fill and I'll try my hardest to
fill them."


GAZETTE: Does your dad still give you advice on how to use wrestling
moves and does he ever attend WWE events to watch you?


RANDY ORTON: Actually every Tuesday when I get home I go over and eat
dinner in St. Louis (with his family). It's a tradition each week. We
sit down and watch the tape and my dad will critique me. Sometimes he
makes good points and other times we get in arguments. The fact I'm
arguing is pretty funny because of who he is. But a lot of things have
changed over 20 years. The 10 years he wasn't in the business has an
effect on the ideas he has.


GAZETTE: Have you ever been to Billings, and if not, do you look
forward to performing at MetraPark Arena?


RANDY ORTON: I've been in Billings when I was on Smackdown! for a
house show. It was a live event. I remember getting off at the
airport. Isn't there a big drop-off or bluffs? I remember it being
real pretty. I'd never been to Montana, but it was beautiful. I'm an
outdoorsman type of guy. I remember Brock Lesnar buying a cowboy hat
and trying to be a cowboy. It rubbed off on him.


--- Internet Rex 2.29