Opened: July 16th, 2004
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Backstage,they showed Orton, DiBiase, and Rhodes heading to the ring. Rhodes and Orton sported the new Legacy t-shirts, black shirts with bursting flames and an “L” on a shield. A good look and it could do solid merch business, especially given how WWE hasn’t pushed a faction at a main event level with merchandise in a long time.
Orton’s music played as he walked to the ring. He said at the age of 24 he became the youngest world champion ever (in part to wipe out the just-departed Brock Lesnar’s record as the youngest champion ever). He said it was the greatest moment of his life, but it was short-lived because the next night on Raw, his mentor and the man who claimed to be his friend turned on him in a fit of jealous rage. They went to the flip of Triple H and Orton hugging, Batista lifting Orton onto his shoulders, and then Triple H and Batista turning on him as Ric Flair watched followed by a beatdown and a Pedigree. Back live to Orton, he said that night everything started to fall into place. “Triple H ruined my life, so I made a vow to myself to ruin his.” He said he had to wait until he found the talent to start a group of my own and when Triple H was more powerful than he ever had been before and when Triple H had something he cared about more than the WWE Title. He said that began in January when he won the 2008 Royal Rumble. They went to a clip of Orton winning the Rumble.
Orton said he earned the right to face Triple H and take his title at the “25th Anniversary of WrestleMania,” but he said that wasn’t enough. He said he had to raise the stakes and take everything away from him that he valued, so he chose his family – the most powerful family in WWE – the McMahons. He named Vince, Shane, and “his sweet wife Stephanie.” They went to clips of Vince and Shane taking beatings from Orton. He said he knew Triple H would retaliate, but he would accept that because he needed Triple H to feel in control and let his guard down. That allowed him to then move on to Stephanie. A clip aired of last week’s angle, which oddly hadn’t been talked about much up until this segment. For an angle to really get over as something beyond typical and more heinous than almost anything else fans will ever see, you can’t go back to business as usual with a Diva Battle Royal the next week at the start of the show and not talk about it for nearly two hours other than a video package.
Orton said if Triple H thinks he can use a sledgehammer to get his revenge, he’s wrong. He said he talked to Vickie Guerrero because if Triple H is disqualified or even counted out, he loses the WWE Title. He said if he even shows a sledgehammer, he’ll be DQ’d. He said he could win the title without lifting a finger. He said he’s taken everything from him except the WWE Title. He said that comes this Sunday and then the entire landscape of WWE changes, “the balance of power shifts permanently.” He said top superstars will climb the ladder to try their best to impress him so they can one day stand at his side. Then his ascension to the top of the business will be realized. They cut to the parking garage and a car sped up. Orton got panicked and called for DiBiase, Rhodes, and security guards to come out and guard the ring.
The limo doors opened and no one was inside. Orton said he had no trouble taking care of this tonight, and walking to WrestleMania with the title because he forfeits it now. Instead, Vince McMahon’s music played and he strutted onto the stage. The veins in Orton’s neck bulged as Vince took off his tie and rolled up his sleeves. Then Shane McMahon walked out in jeans and a pullover collared shirt. He danced a little. And then Triple H walked out onto the stage wearing his Affliction rip-off, I mean inspired, t-shirt. He turned toward Orton with that look of I’m-going-to-kill-you rage. The Family looked at each other, nodded, and then made their way to the ring. They easily beatup the security guards and then walked toward the ring. The heel trio met them on the floor at ringside and they brawled. Is this Backlash’s main event, perhaps? Triple H got a nice pop when he tackled Orton and pounded on him. They rolled around and exchanged punches as the show ended without any commentary from Lawler or Cole.
