The WWE fashions itself as a universe inhabited by awe-inspiring superstars. These stars sometimes align to create wondrous and memorable celestial events. But, like the cosmic occurences observed in the infinite rhealms of outer space, some moments are known to repeat themselves.
Take for instance, the superstars known as John Cena and Randy Orton.
Believe it or not, there was a time when John Cena and Randy Orton had never faced one another in a professional wrestling match.
The first time was on August 9, 2001 at the 4th annual Brian Pillman Memorial Show. Cena and Orton were both in OVW, a training ground used to mold future WWE talents. By early 2002, Orton was ready for the big-time. But before departing for WWE's main roster, clean-cut good guy Randy Orton faced a challenge from a villainous fellow named The Prototype.
It would be nearly four years before the future John Cena and Randy Orton would meet again in a one-on-one match in the WWE. Over that time, they rose to stardom while rarely crossing paths.
On February 19, 2007, they faced off in what would be the first high-profile one-on-one match between the two. Cena was the WWE Champion, in the midst of what would become a 380 day reign. It's amazing to think that before this match on Monday Night Raw #717, these two had met just one other time during their entire careers in WWE. This is a fresh match in 2007, and you can feel it. It feels big. The fans are going crazy. It's bizarre.
This match was just a warm-up. The real fun began the following month. That's when Cena and Orton set off on a seemingly endless series of matches for the WWE Championship. Between March 2007 and August 2007 they met in 23 one-on-one title matches, often as the main event at house shows or the dark match after Monday Night Raw went off the air. It culminated in the main event at SummerSlam 2007. I know what you're thinking, but just watch this hype video.
John Cena vs Randy Orton story before... by rtk12
Hot! Hot! Hot! Yeah, this one felt pretty big. It was the glory days of The Punt, and Cena was closing in on a full year as champion. The match itself delivered an intense 20+ minutes of action. I'm certain this match is better than you remember. Just listen to the crowd!
WWE Summerslam 2007 - John Cena Vs Randy Orton... by raja-ak47
WWE Summerslam 2007 - John Cena Vs Randy Orton... by raja-ak47
Of course, this was not the end between these two. Cena and Orton were back at it again a month later at Unforgiven 2007. Randy had his supporters in Memphis, Tennessee. You can actually hear "Let's Go Orton" chants during this one. Would this be Orton's night of triumph? Perhaps you recall...
Soooooo...yeah, it didn't really work out for Randy that night either. An astounding 49 one-on-one matches between John Cena and Randy Orton for the WWE Championship in 2007, and this was the one time poor Randy was the winner - a disqualification victory in a challenge for the WWE Championship courtesy of the champion's dad kicking him in the head.
After one final post-Raw dark match the night after Unforgiven, the feud appeared to be over...or was it? Fate would intervene less than a month later...
Cena returned from injury and immediately the feud was back on. This time, Cena enjoyed the advantage of having just come back from an injury that we were told would keep him out of action for much longer. Everyone was happy to see him back so soon...even if it was against Orton. Anyway, the storyline going into their eventual title match was terrific. One must wonder why this wasn't saved for WrestleMania. The ending is pretty great too, especially if you're a fan of devious, heel Orton and Cena making sad faces.
John Cena vs Randy Orton 2008 no way out part 3 by arash0007
A month later at WrestleMania XXIV, Triple H was added to the mix, but Orton escaped again with the WWE Championship. A couple months later, Orton suffered a broken clavicle. He was on the shelf for months, and that meant he and Cena managed to avoid one another for the majority of 2008.
In the beginning of 2009, Orton and Cena were back at it, having some house show matches for the World Heavyweight Championship. After a few months off, they came together again. Orton now had the WWE Championship back and the two were headed toward another showdown at SummerSlam 2009. The build was pretty much worthless, but hey...
...at least we got that.
This is the part of this exercise where things get ugly. Up until now, the matches between Orton and Cena have been fun to look back on. The builds have been interesting for the most part. The matches feel fresh. Right around here, thought, things start to feel a little laborious.
A month after SummerSlam 2009, Cena won the WWE Championship from Orton in an "I Quit" Match at Breaking Point 2009.
A month after Breaking Point 2009, Orton defeated Cena to win back the WWE Championship at Hell In A Cell 2009.
Later that same month, at Bragging Rights 2009, Cena won back the WWE Championship in an Anything Goes Iron Man Match (in Pittsburgh, by the way). It was billed as their final confrontation.
If Cena had lost, he would've been forced to leave Monday Night Raw. I recall some people at the time thinking that wouldn't have been the worst thing in the world, understanding that all wrestling stipulations are temporary.
Between June 2009 and the end of the year, Cena and Orton had 23 one-on-one matches, more often than not for the WWE Championship. Just for fun, they closed out the year meeting in the final of the Superstar Of The Year tournament on Raw #864.
Early in 2010, Randy Orton gave up his evil ways. As a result, he and Cena met just twice in 2010. A Tables Match on Raw #903 in September 2010...
...and what I'd politely describe as a "scrimmage" the following month on Raw #909, back when Cena was still a card-carrying member of Nexus.
And that's it. It was more than 3 years before John Cena and Randy Orton would meet again in a one-on-one match.
The rivalry resumed in December 2013. A unification Ladder Match that crowned the first WWE World Heavyweight Championship at TLC 2013.
That was followed a month later by a gimmickless rematch at Royal Rumble 2014, in which Cena and Orton went into move-stealing WrestleMania mode.
I was fortunate to witness this match live at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, and I absolutely mean that in all honesty. I'll never forget the venomous chants from the crowd, and how angry they seemed to be that they were being forced to sit through yet another match between these two. There were chants for Daniel Bryan, Randy Savage, Y2J and Undertaker. Also heard - "You Both Suck", "Ends This Match", "This Is Awful" and (my personal favorite of the night) "We Want Divas".
We are in the midst of the third Cena-Orton Saturationing. Since they renewed acquaintances in December 2013, there have been 39 one-on-one matches between Orton and Cena. Many of you are tired of seeing these two in the same ring at the same time. Some of you are just tired of seeing them.
I'd be lying if I said that I thought the next match between Cena and Orton will be the last, eventually it will happen. The Rock and Triple H seemed to be in the ring together non-stop during the late 1990's and early 2000's. Then, one day, they had a match, Rock made a movie and they never met again.
I think Cena and Orton could have another great feud, but not without a dramatic change in character on someone's part. Since I doubt that's happening anytime soon, let's just sit back and hope for the best.
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