The rivalry between Randy Orton and Christian did great things for both men's careers, and their matches were captivating to watch. However, out of their 11 bouts, which ones were better than the rest?In the summer of 2011, there was a special feud between Randy Orton and Christian over the World Heavyweight Championship. They held the fort down on SmackDown, and their rivalry may get overshadowed as the summer of 2011 belonged to CM Punk, whose popularity was on the rise. Nevertheless, Orton and Christian's chemistry together was superb, and it was great to see Captain Charisma featured in a marquee world championship feud.RELATED: 10 Most One-Sided WWE Rivalries EverThey had a match in 2005 which was a prelude of things to come six years later. Orton and Christian's paths crossed sporadically in 2013 and 2014 but Christian retired from professional wrestling and returned in 2020. This feud is one-sided considering Christian only managed to beat Orton once which did come with some controversy, but they did produce entertaining matches.
11 Raw 6/15/20
It remained to be seen if Christian would ever step foot inside the squared circle again, but he did briefly on the June 15, 2020, edition of Raw. He faced off with Randy Orton in his first outing in six years in an Unsanctioned Match.
Sadly, Christian didn't have a crowd to return to with the COVID-19 pandemic forcing the match to take place behind closed doors in the Performance Center. Nonetheless, Ric Flair betrayed Christian by nailing him with a low blow. The Viper took advantage and he nailed Christian with a vicious punt kick for the win emphatically.
10 SmackDown 7/5/13
For the first time in two years, Randy Orton and Christian clashed in the lead-up to the all-star Money in the Bank ladder match. Their bout on the July 5, 2013 edition of SmackDown was decent and reminded fans of their excellent chemistry.
Christian gained the upper hand and he grounded The Viper with submission holds. Orton got a few near falls, and he kicked out of the spear. Christian had seen it all before and he countered the RKO by pushing Orton to the ground. However, Christian made a crucial mistake as he was going off the top rope to do a maneuver but Orton finished him off with the RKO.
9 SmackDown 2/7/14
On the February 7, 2014, episode of SmackDown, Christian collided with WWE Champion Randy Orton in a non-title bout in the main event. The reigning WWE Champion was in an aggressive mood, and he pushed Christian's head off the steel post.
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The pendulum swung back and forth, and Orton planted Christian with a powerslam. He had a sinister look on his face but Captain Charisma hasn't learned from their previous matches, as he attempted to bounce off the top rope with Orton catching Christian in mid-air with an RKO for the win.
8 Raw 8/26/13
Surprisingly, the August 26, 2013 edition of Raw was the first time that Orton was the heel in his series of matches with Christian. The Apex Predator was the newly-minted WWE Champion, but Christian was on top in the early exchanges.
There was a scary moment when Orton viciously pushed Christian off the top rope, and he could have landed awkwardly onto the outside, but mercifully he was fine. Orton and Christian put on a consistent match, and The Viper resorted to underhanded tactics by thumping Christian's eye, and he prevailed with an RKO.
7 Raw 2/14/05
The February 14, 2005 episode of Raw marked the first time that Randy Orton and Christian met in a one-on-one competition. Christian didn't come to ringside on his lonesome as his problem solver Tyson Tomko was in his corner. Tomko rammed Orton into the steel steps, but he was sent back to the locker room by the referee.
Christian countered Orton's RKO attempt with a reverse DDT, and the Legend Killer executed a flying plancha from the top rope. This was an outstanding match and was a taster of things to come. Orton leaped over Christian with a fine RKO for the win, a tactic that he would use in later meetings.
6 SmackDown 5/6/11
Christian's first World Heavyweight Championship title defense was against an in-form Randy Orton on the May 6, 2011, edition of SmackDown. This match aired five days after Christian defeated Alberto Del Rio for the gold at the Extreme Rules pay-per-view, but the match was taped two days after the PPV. This was the beginning of a superb rivalry that lasted three months, and Christian was under tons of pressure to not be a transitional champion.
Their in-ring action was brilliant, and it had a big fight feel to it as fans were intrigued to see how Christian would fair as World Heavyweight Champion. However, Orton is a big-time player, and he caught Christian in mid-air with a delightful RKO for his second World Heavyweight Championship reign.
5 Money In The Bank 2011
For the third pay-per-view in succession, Christian was looking to recapture the World Heavyweight Championship from Randy Orton, this time at Money in the Bank 2011. There was a caveat in Captain Charisma's favor as Orton could lose the World Heavyweight Title if he got himself disqualified.
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Orton attempted the RKO for the third time, but Christian perfectly executed the Killswitch. However, Orton kicked out of Christian's pin attempt. Ultimately, Christian was cornered and he spat in Orton's face which enraged Orton. The Viper executed a low blow on Christian, and Captain Charisma became a two-time World Heavyweight Champion by disqualification.
4 Capitol Punishment 2011
Christian finally turned heel and he challenged Randy Orton for the World Heavyweight Championship at Capitol Punishment 2011. Christian let his intentions be known right away as he unloaded some punches on Orton. However, the Apex Predator let Christian crash and burn by moving out of the way with Christian attempting a plancha onto the outside.
Another high-level match between the pair, and Christian thought that he had finished off Orton with the spear. There was some controversy with Orton retaining the World Heavyweight Championship with an RKO out of nowhere as Christian's foot was hanging under the bottom rope. He protested his displeasure to the referee afterward with nothing being done about it.
3 SmackDown 8/30/11
All good things must come to an end, and the culmination of a superb rivalry between Randy Orton and Christian came in the shape of a steel cage match on the August 30, 2011 episode of SmackDown with the World Heavyweight Championship on the line.
Orton and Christian hit a home run in a stupendously good championship bout. Captain Charisma was desperate to escape through the cage door but Orton reeled him back in. There were several exchanges with Christian countering the RKO, and he nailed him with the Spear. Nonetheless, it was the perfect finish with Orton executing an avalanche RKO to retain his title.
2 SummerSlam 2011
Christian defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Randy Orton in a No Holds Barred match in the co-main event of SummerSlam 2011. Orton and Christian continued their consistently good matches with another brilliant encounter.
Kendo sticks were used, and neither man held back when it came down to inflicting punishment on the other. It was another short world championship reign for Christian, with Orton performing an RKO onto the steel steps to reclaim the World Heavyweight Title.
1 Over The Limit 2011
The majority of fans think Randy Orton and Christian's match at SummerSlam was their best match together, but their World Heavyweight Championship encounter at Over the Limit 2011 edges it. They tore the house down in unquestionably the match of the night.
There were several counters and false finishes with the crowd heavily invested in what they were witnessing. Ultimately, Christian attempted to nail Orton with his patented Killswitch, but Orton outsmarted him and clung onto the World Heavyweight Title with an RKO in one of the best matches in both men's careers.
