The Night Randy Orton Met Cactus Jack (Backlash 2004)

Randy Orton in 2020 is having one of the best years of his careers, he is back to being one of the best heels in the business. Randy Orton is now the old grizzled veteran who has done it all and done it all. However once upon a time Orton was just a rookie on the scene. Early 20s just trying to figure out his path in the WWE. He was in the faction Evolution alongside Triple H, Flair and Batista. He was the IC champion and was calling himself the "Legend Killer". But something was missing, he was missing that "it" factor, he was missing the edge. He was good, but he needed something to become great. To really cement himself as the future.. and then came along a man named Mick Foley, and the rest was history. Lets go back to 2003 and 2004 and take a look at the buildup and the legendary match itself at Backlash 2004. Randy Orton vs Cactus Jack.
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[@dariusmcclain5584]

Every spot in this match is more "Extreme" than anything they've done at Extreme Rules PPVs the last couple of years.

[@savmadetf866]

Factss

[@jtg0330]

Most extreme thing I can remember at extreme rules from the past decade was Kane going in the flaming table in 13

[@darkblade7858]

Extreme rules ppv nowadays is nothing compared with this match

[@Rebelchild222]

Wwe in general

[@Rebelchild222]

Jalen Guidry John cena vs Brock Lesnar was good

[@jeepamir508]

So so so brutal. Mick Foley just knows how to transform a B+ player into an A+ player

[@Acillatem23]

Maybe in 2014, the authority thought that they needed Mick to turn Daniel Bryan into a main eventer.

[@grandcanyon-fu9zt]

this is what unlocked Randy's potential as a solo star

[@ajay7797]

Randy was NEVER a B+ player

[@jeepamir508]

@@ajay7797, welp, he was until he joined Evolution.

[@ajay7797]

@@jeepamir508 nope he wasn’t he was always destined for greatness it’s a reason he’s still to this day the youngest world champion ever

[@idcwhatuthink4985]

It's insane how many young Randy Orton fans don't even know this exists and it's his best match

[@manveersinghgill592]

@@nadirsanchez1675 it's on KZbin

[@mistyrains939]

Personally the last Randy feud I was invested in was his feud versus christian...imo Randy is way too content to half ass it when he's not in the main event picture and it's disappointing but...right now is the best version of him imo since his christian feud but most of his best work came between 03-09 and since then he's been spotty af

[@childishbambino2024]

I mean I’m 13 I know about a lot of storylines and great matches from the 90s and 2000s

[@youtubeman3356]

@@nadirsanchez1675 dailymotion man

[@Blackboigabe]

@@childishbambino2024 glad im not the only one

[@cacomeat7385]

One of the golden rules of hardcore matches: the one who sets up a weapon spot is the one who will end up taking the bump

[@guyincognito9484]

MITB 2011 i think where Sheamus sent Sin Cara THROUGH the ladder and Booker T was like "He's not gonna do that??"

[@thetruej7872]

Mick Foley was making legends outta people. Respect.

[@J2020-x6h]

I think Randy Orton will have a legacy similar to ric flair in terms of being a heel and longevity

[@dubbyu4286]

Facts

[@AceGaimz]

There's no way he's gonna have that long of a career. Flair still wrestled in his 60s.

[@J2020-x6h]

Admiral Adam true but I can see Orton retiring at an older age but definitely not as long as flair

[@Bwwe82090]

Facts!

[@gamingguycarson1799]

Jabari Wade maybe I mean he is fitter and healthier then ric wsdy

[@hillybillytre04]

Mick foley should get the credit he deserves without Edge, Randy Orton, HHH and most likely Undertaker they would not be in the position they're in today

[@mbeas9612]

Also we can't forget about what he did for The Rock because it was his feud with Foley that made The Rock WWE's biggest heel in 1998-1999

[@Kewmache]

Not undertaker but yeah everyone else

[@williamwolfxrivera2418]

Undertaker was already a big Deal by the time him and Foley feuded

[@anthonyanderson9303]

@@williamwolfxrivera2418 yea but Mankind was the first fued Taker had where he met someone that was his equal. Before that he was just beating your average monster of the week.

[@williamwolfxrivera2418]

@@anthonyanderson9303 not really Yokozuna and to the lesser extent Giant Gonzoles

[@lazarus4386]

Randy should be considered a hero for slapping Moolah

[@clwwrestling8985]

Aye yo🤭

[@killershadow7752]

Rkoing*

[@datriadx18]

This match was Randy's break out match. The performance that showed everyone that he can go with the best of them, and do what it takes to put on a show for the fans.

[@kinnyboy]

Another ruthless aggression classic. Man keep doing these, everyone else like to act like the wwe just went from attitude era to PG era

[@pizzahighfive2612]

Because only the early Ruthless Aggression was good. Later 2000s and 2010s really were forgettable.

[@anthonyanderson9303]

@@pizzahighfive2612 Ruthless Aggression was mid 2002 to mid 2008.

[@numa2k147]

Ruthless Agression is not a real thing that's why. Fans don't even seem to agree when it occurred.

[@Existomalus]

@@numa2k147 I find that really hard to understand when there's literally a vignette of McMahon in '97 ushering in more "Attitude", which subsequently began, although slowly, the Attitude Era.

[@mistyrains939]

@@numa2k147 it was 02-08 WWE went PG in mid 08 thus beginning the PG era

[@AceGaimz]

By the way, Foley said he was offered padding for the stairs. He refused. He went down the stairs, split his head open, and suffered a deep shoulder bruise for 6 weeks.

[@rhemzy]

dang even in real life dude is mad

[@AceGaimz]

@@rhemzy Yup, but you can't deny he loved the business and still does. I have so much respect for Mick, probably more than anyone else in the business.

[@Razzletazle]

Was babysitting my Girlfriends little brother back in the day with her. He loved Randy Orton. He would have been 4 at the time. We were both sitting on the lounge and he climbs up on the top, does Randy’s outstretched atm pose and launches at her arm that she was leaning back on with a drop kick. I’ve never seen an arm/elbow break in front of my face like that. The sound of that and the screams were next level. Little dude went ham on her. Savage

[@fiskerboy2011]

Funny shit if this is true xD

[@erickmorales8344]

Thanks for the quick side story

[@tthheettrraasshhppiitt]

I just love the duality mentioned in the video. Randy could bully Mick Foley, but Cactus Jack was a different story

[@issakevin9902]

2020: Randy Ortan "A Legend who's also the Legend Killer" vs Cactus Jack but it's actually Travis Scott managed by Mick Foley

[@shawnmichaels568]

True

[@intuitivelymagician2076]

Mick admit.this has to be one of his favorite match. Heard from himself.at.his.comedy show

[@CalebMusa_]

“There’s no such thing as halfway crooks”😂

[@Max-el2nx]

I lmao that part

[@DaveyBlade13]

Believe the music bed is from that Mob Deep song

[@JaeBurney15]

Taker, rock, hhh, Orton & Edge owe mick Foley the man a thank you when the hof speech comes for the other 4/5 excluding edge. Foley gave taker his first true rival that wasn’t the traditional big man rival that taker was having in the early to mid 90s. Gave rock a new vicious heel edge during the legendary I quit match. Helped solidify hhh from dastardly heel to a tough vicious heel. Then he helped both edge & Orton when he was retired by being their hardcore badges of honor before they became official main event heel players of the RA era.

[@jacobspoons67]

Do you forget the 3 way tag team TLC matches? Edge didnt need that hardcore badge of honor, like orton did, because he got his from the Dudley Boys early in his career.

[@SubzZer0]

Taker was a big name way before his feud with mankind

[@JaeBurney15]

@@SubzZer0 yea but he was stuck facing the slow brooding monsters like Giant Gonzales, King Kong Bundy, Kamala & Mabel before mankind. With the exception of Yokozuna nobody else at that point had a really interesting rivalry with Taker that we felt could actually end taker. Insert in mankind, who was the first person to really outsmart undertaker & get the better of him. The feud they had was legit physical monster vs mental/psycho monster who brought an intensity that taker could match

[@JaeBurney15]

@@jacobspoons67 but he needed it to push his main event run in 06

[@mbeas9612]

What an legendary match. This star-making match had launched Orton right into superstardom. He took those punishments from Foley like a champ. He showed everybody that he was an main event level and not that "wet behind the ears kid". On that day forward, Orton became an major star and legend in WWE.

[@menodnamari2296]

I'll never forget watching this my sister and her homegirl were scared for Randy cause "he looks good that fat old guy going hurt him "

[@mannhouse8014]

@Inconnou .Inconnu why tf you judging people's entire lives on what fake fighters they like💀 bet you still on the Cena hate bandwagon in 2020 bruh 😂😂🤣

[@AA-wm1wy]

WHAT?!​@@mannhouse8014

[@muhammadasad729]

This match made Randy Orton "Randy Orton".

[@user-wo9if4qm3d]

Made him a main eventer and 5 months later won world heavyweight champion.

[@kurtowen5955]

We Never gonna see this type of hardcore wrestling anymore in the wwe since they turn pg hardcore wrestling will never be the same again. 😳

[@minaseasres3650]

Yeah it really sucks

[@MegaMarvelvsDC]

Last truly hardcore match was John Cena vs Brock Lesnar at Extreme Rules 2012

[@alec2000]

In all my years watching wwe, the bump Orton took with the thumbtacks, made me cringe the hardest. I still cringe at it today. Simply legendary.

[@michaelbandada9887]

What about that barbed wire baseball shot to the Randy Orton nutsack?

[@NotCornette]

AKA when Mick Foley made another Superstar

[@ArcaneAzmadi]

Between Triple H at Royal Rumble 2000, Randy Orton at Backlack 2004 and Edge at WrestleMania 22, the Ruthless Aggression Era was built on the bloodied and scarred back of Mick Foley.

[@michaelburke7978]

Foley was probably in his best shape here. He lost quite a bit of weight since Wrestlemania that year.

[@robbgraves1586]

"the more cte he gets the more powerful he gets" lmaoo bruh I'm dead

[@mistyrains939]

Mick is one of those very rare people who after their retirement came back for one off matches several times...and had several more absolute classic matches

[@LEANNNTRAPPP]

I had the legend killer dvd growing up and I was waiting for this video👌I remember me and my sister would constantly watching this match... Man that tack spot🙏

[@BIGBURT]

UNCANNY_ _76 tack

[@LEANNNTRAPPP]

@@BIGBURT got excited while typing my bad

[@michaelbandada9887]

Mick Foley made Randy Orton look like a legit star during their brutal hardcore match. That shows how eager Mick Foley is to elevate somebody regardless of how severe the asskicking he’s gonna get

[@almightyfonics]

I haven’t watched wrestling in years. But I watch this channel all the time 😂

[@rabronin]

If you're gonna "kill" a legend, it's so poetic to beat them at their own game.

[@WrestlinGifs]

Salvador Cruz I’ve noticed you’ve been commenting on my videos. Assuming you’re binge watching them. Just want to say thank you for your support ❤️

[@TheBigChad]

This storyline was one of the best in recent memory. How long it played out, the pops, the spots, it was amazing

[@williamwolfxrivera2418]

More like "The Night Cactus Jack Made Randall Keith Orton THE "Randy Orton"😂

[@michael101591]

One of my favorite matches that I revisit every now and then, it's a classic and the match that made Orton.

[@EliasRoy]

Mick Foley made Edge, Triple H, Randy Orton and The Undertaker. He's a Legend 🏆

[@Emre-dr9uw]

I agree with the comment apart from the undertaker. Taker was in a different league of his own. Yes they had great matches. More specifically the hell in a cell in 1998 but taker was the man. Foley was not selfish in helping younger talent. Taker was the real boss of wwf/e

[@nyfinest017]

I remember watching this match and gave me that chills. Randy took those bumps and made himself a true wrestling legend. Just like the guys from the attitude era, Mick was there to make it happen.

[@Juggalo94]

Still don't know how this wasn't a 5 star this is, was, and will always be a classic.

[@knowyourroleproductions7388]

Bro this was awesome I still don’t understand to this day why IWC says Randy is trash cuz he’s lit

[@WrestlinGifs]

Randy has always been my guy, I can’t even hate when he has those periods where’s he’s just chilling and just going along.. cause tbh if I was him I would 100% be like that too. Not everyone can be John Cena and put on that attitude and be super try hard for 15+ years every night. When Randy is on and when Randy cares. He’s 🐐

[@donell681]

WrestlinGifs he knows most of the new talent sucks so he half asses

[@Biggie2829]

Just ignore the IWC, SquaredCircle is cancer

[@brandonbates9259]

@@donell681 Not to mention some of the storylines they would put Orton in was waste of time,so yea I dont blame him for having those moments of not giving a damn

[@donell681]

Brandon bates your correct

[@pcpc9710]

Just like how Foley puts everyone over including randy.randy is now putting everyone over.props to these legends

[@nathanbishop2779]

Honestly if they still had matches like this I would still be watching lol 😂

[@kennytankersley4365]

Damn! When Hell in a Cell against the Undertaker takes a back seat, then you know it must be a freakin' EPIC match!

[@jasonyoung2457]

I was in the crowd live as a 20-year-old. Still get goosebumps watching this back

[@LionChavez]

Great reminder. Enjoy your passion of wrestling. Thanks for the reminder.

[@FrankFergusonN]

I was there. Met Foley after the show. He was very friendly and very chipper. Didn't seem too banged up surprisingly. Sold it well.

[@harrydukes9667]

A great match, and I still have Backlash 04 on DVD. Legend Killer Randy is great of course!

[@ninoS.O.S]

2:03 “I don’t know wtf Randy Orton read” Lmaooo idk y but I was crying ode

[@orensworld4674]

I remember watching this in college and yeah agreed it made him legendary in my mind. I couldn’t stand him until that moment lol.

[@MikeJr9284]

Man, thumb tack spots always make me wince.

[@TheTrainFan9]

Like I know how much these guys are getting paid, but nah. I ain't taking that bump for any amount of money.

[@xx_fireblazegaming_xxftw9433]

TheQueenFan9 yo that’s facts

[@stz03]

Barbed wire too man, just no!

[@yourenotthatguypal3483]

SiZarkX half the time it ain’t real wire, they substitute real wire with rubber tips. Real wire would cause much more bleeding

[@davidjsaul]

I think Jericho said the anticipation of the tacks is worse than the actual bump itself but yeah I wouldn't do that either, same with barbed wire. Even the fake stuff can cut (Foley said Triple H took fake wire in their street fight and he still ended up with holes in his scalp!).

[@cameronstanley1921]

Lowkey lost it when he rko’d the little girl doing the video😭😭😭😭

[@Nathan-ee4bv]

im so early that brock lesners moveset is not just suplexes

[@Biggie2829]

Cringe

[@tinanikkillz8570]

Cringe

[@dariano56]

Cringe

[@DiddleyDanTheMemeMan]

Cringe

[@Nathan-ee4bv]

@@DiddleyDanTheMemeMan little bit late bud

[@agustin__]

You made a very good contextualization, specially on the Randy Orton's momentum. I think Vince McMahon was testing how much ECW product still could sell tickets with this match

[@chimeratcg07]

The match that made Orton move from the Midcard to the Upper Midcard/Semi Main Event position.

[@mbeas9612]

Exactly while his historic match with Benoit at Summerslam moved him to the certified main event position

[@TheRandomGoofball]

That match was the closest thing to what a Deathmatch would be in the WWE during the 2000's It had everything! The Drama, the suspense, the blood, the storytelling everything surrounding it was just a chef's kiss.

[@pedroponce8600]

Seeing sum1 talk about that bump makes me smile, he is and always will be the goat 2 me

[@captaingoldenpants1804]

This is one of my favorite matches thank you for covering it!

[@breado_]

"The cte he gets, the powerful he gets" sums it up

[@kevinambriz4556]

WrestlinGifs and WrestlingsPremier are carrying the wrestling youtube community. Best wrestling youtubers hands down.

[@ykillua1472]

I like that em reference from “Im back”

[@-Ordinary]

That IC belt was extremely fitting on Randy.

[@jamiemorgan3649]

Like no lie this guy's content should be on WWE Network. I think it's that dam good.

[@TheTrainFan9]

Backlash 2004 is honestly a very underrated show. This classic, Jericho vs. Christian and Trish, Shelton having a good match with Flair it's all good stuff. As good as the triple threat main event is, just as good as the one at Mania 20, it's so uncomfortable to watch nowadays because of how much JR and King focus on Benoit's kids and how great of a family man Chris is. It just makes me feel greasy inside knowing what would happen just a few years later.

[@pizzahighfive2612]

We don't really know what happened to Chris Benoit and his family.

[@TheTrainFan9]

@@pizzahighfive2612 HE MURDERED HIS WIFE AND EIGHT YEAR OLD SON. Nancy and Daniel were cut down by a man who's brain was completely destroyed by the industry he worked for. Chris wasn't framed by Vince or Kevin Sullivan, and it wasn't a hit by the Canadian mafia or whatever. Chris Benoit is a murderer. Between the ropes, one of the best to ever do it. But all of his accomplishments were undone by what he did in his final days.

[@Crizbitz]

Also Credit to Orton for going into that without street gear, taking that tack bump with just regular ol wrestling trunks must have sucked big time.

[@JoeSmith-ey2xp]

Great video, you had me hyped even though I knew what happened.

[@FredyVergara]

one of my favorite childhood matches! Ruthless Agression😤

[@prposalx380]

Yo, you know its going to be a good day when our boy pav uploads ❤️this was the year I started watching wrestling, I was 4 at this point

[@isaacmedina291]

Wrestling gifs kills it with the shook ones reference to the Kenny Smith “lets go home” from Vince Carter’s dunk during the dunk contest in a wrestling video. Need I say more?! Keep up the work and never change

[@WrestlinGifs]

Isaac Medina ahhh I’m so happy you caught the VC one🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@danielk3832]

Alright. You got me with the "the more CTE..." Joke. Good shit man. Lol

[@ep5769]

This made me so sad because randy has age so much since then 🥺

[@Cigo292]

He still looks fine for his age

[@edstockton3685]

Exhibit Z in Foley's memoir of not only getting people over but elevating them into superstars.

[@atomicjaguar445]

I watched this match like 10 times and I still enjoy it

[@SancLunatic]

Mick Foley turned so many wrestlers into legends.

[@deonkearns5096]

please do a Triple H vs Shawn Michaels vs Chris Benoit

[@Hshbrwnhero]

Loving this channel bro! Recently started feeling nostalgic about wrestling and have been searching for some pretty specific shit that all lead me to your channel! Thank you!

[@traviss345]

I was there and imo this show is a one match show. Also by far the best hardcore match I've seen live.

[@Acillatem23]

11:02 It was at this moment that Randy knew, he f’d up

[@GenericProtagonist118]

This was the match that convinced Randy to listen to the voices in his head.

[@abnerporterg]

been waiting for this video for a looooong time, thank you pav🙏

[@edwardhernandez407]

Best wrestling channel on youtube rn

[@Snazzyway__]

Look at Pav man, so inspirational!

[@zachmohl]

Best wrestling channel on KZbin.

[@katiemartin677]

Dude I remember when I got the catus jack most wanted shirt

[@iog94]

Aye bro your videos are dope af...I feel like we 100% on wwe stuff, good shit fam

[@divyanshutiwari6344]

Thank you for the quality content man!!!

[@nehemiahjacobs1987]

This video is getting me excited and it hasn't even ended

[@edwardelric3082]

This is why I like Cactus Jack and Randy orton

[@gauban986]

I remember as a kid this match was very intense i was scared for Orton that i started rooting for him on this match even though he was the bad guy.

[@Hilversumborn]

The night were Orton earned everyone’s respect.

[@viscousrevenge7967]

THE KING DROPPED😩

[@WrestlinGifs]

No sir you’re the king 😢

[@dabidsaveuc]

This should be titled The Passion of Randy Orton. But yeah the night made him even better

[@SSJVegeta2012]

Those RKO vines were legendary and so is your content bro

[@maxxinmaze4501]

I've been binge watching your video for a while now...you my friend are a great story teller. Keep up the good work!♥️

[@thickerconstrictor9037]

I love this match and Randy Orton is one of the best of all time hands down, but one thing that always bugged the absolute crap out of me and this match was the fact that when he hit the tacks he was going for the rko. What is the best case scenario? He hits the RKO and his back is still going to be full of tacks haha. Awesome moments don't get me wrong but the psychology and logic behind that didn't make a whole lot of sense haha

[@regalsylvester]

He was gonna leap so far that he didn’t touch the tacks and only Foley would go face first… yea right lol

[@tkmoneymax5260]

This will always be my favourite wwe match of all time

[@Jorgeomega12]

My guy that build up to cactus jack using money in the grave instrumental was just genius editing

[@nelly6016]

Cactus jack is the goku black of wwe When he gets his ass kicked He gets stronger

[@pizzahighfive2612]

And as New Jack said - "Bombs awaaaay". Lmao

[@harleyop1048]

i used to make my svr character be a legand killer in my head and commentate it

[@christianreid3349]

Def in the top 3 greatest ic title matches of all time.

[@Bwwe82090]

Yo bro I didn't even watch that match but you're commentary bit by bit made it seem like I just watched it and it was good! 👍