On this “Moves of Doom Monday,” we’re looking at “The Viper” Randy Orton and arsenal of doom! People have varying opinions on Orton’s style. I believe it’s a better style for WWE long-term and that work was done to make it fit Orton perfectly. On top of that, I’m big on the “You really only need five moves” approach of older talent.
Sure, know a lot of stuff but not all of it is going to or needs to be showcased in a particular match or each match. However, those Moves of Doom should be and Randy got the M.O.D approach down perfectly.
Rope-Hang DDT
Orton’s rope-hang DDT is done by pulling an opponent who is on the apron through the middle and top role, suspending them into a DDT position while they are hanging on to the middle rope by their feet, and driving them into the mat. That sounds like a lot and it sounds like a finisher that is too busy but in execution, it’s really simple.
The move takes advantage of Randy’s timing and quickness since it’s a move where he cuts the opponent off before they can re-enter the ring. Pair it with a chair or whatever flat plunder you can find and this move can be fairly devastating.
DOOM Scale: 2.5 out of 5
Powerslam
I had a hard time between the Orton Stomp and this goddamn powerslam. The Orton Stomp is synonymous with The Legend Killer and Apex Predator eras of his career as a vicious heel who picked his opponents apart. Once the action moved to more of a pace-first style, some of Randy Orton’s stuff took a backseat while others got a shine.
It’s a good thing that it was his clean-ass powerslam and not the dreaded O-Zone. That said, it’s a powerslam and is meant to sap all the air out of his opponent in one shot while also damaging the back. It’s not the most wow factor-friendly move but it ties into the head and neck approach of the Viper.
DOOM Scale: 2.5 out of 5
Inverted Backbreaker
I always thought that the Inverted Backbreaker—the across-the-back kneeling backbreaker—could’ve been a finish. I first saw it on a ClickWrestle compilation where it was executed by Scorpio Sky and I loved it. Randy Orton was doing this move when the O-Zone was his finisher and it was like…why? It’s a very simple move but it has that snap to it that I like. Also, Orton could hit this move with the quick snap or a slow, targeting break and it would look good.
DOOM Scale: 3.75 out of 5
The Punt
Going back to our “Moves of Doom Monday” for Tajiri: this is just a kick to the head. In some ways, a running or well-measured kick to another person’s head is wrestling’s greatest finish move. It’s nothing fancy, there’s no exposition on the way of the setup, and fans can anticipate it and participate of the wrestler is all for having head-kick enthusiasts cheer for them. The Punt has always been a vicious move.
DOOM Scale: 5 out of 5
RKO
Besides the head kick, the Cutter or Ace Crusher is one of the greatest quick deploy finishers of all time. It requires little or no setup, it can be hit out of nowhere, on anything, through anything, off anything, as a counter, as a counter to a counter, on anyone of any size—and the likelihood of it looking great on TV or live is high. It will get fans excited to see if it hits, how it hits, and if it will be countered.
As a finisher, it’s perfect and Randy Orton has a great one in his RKO which achieved every possible combination I mentioned and others unmentioned.
DOOM Scale: 5 out of 5
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