Every Wrestler That Beat Randy Orton For A World Championship, Ranked From Worst To Best

Randy Orton is closing in on two decades with WWE, and the Viper continues to put on consistent performances. The Viper is a 14-time WWE world champion with an outstanding 10 WWE Championship reigns to his name, and he captured the World Heavyweight Championship four times, and he was the final man to hold that prestigious title. Whilst, Orton has had many extraordinary WWE world championship victories, he has suffered some disappointing WWE world title losses.

Nine men have had the privilege of beating Orton for either the WWE Championship or World Heavyweight Championship. However, four of them defeated the Apex Predator for their first WWE World Championship reign which shows how much of a star, Orton is to get your first world championship reign at his expense.

9 Jinder Mahal

Randy Orton v Jinder Mahal Backlash 2017 Cropped

Jinder Mahal isn't a great in-ring wrestler but he knows how to generate heat. Mahal returned to WWE in 2016 with a drastic new demeanor, and he got himself in great conditioning, he began feuding with Randy Orton over the WWE Championship. At Backlash 2017, The Modern Day Maharaja challenged Orton for the WWE Championship in the main event.

Mahal and Orton's matches never clicked for some reason, and this was an underwhelming match between the pair. However, this clash isn't remembered for the match, it's remembered for Mahal shocking the world by dethroning Orton to become the first man of Indian descent to hold the WWE Championship.

8 Mark Henry

Mark Henry v Randy Night of Champions 2011 Cropped

In 2011, Mark Henry was on a tear, and he did some of the best work of his career when he inducted wrestlers into the Hall of Pain. The World's Strongest Man built tons of momentum, and he found himself in world championship contention when he looked to slay the Viper at Night of Champions.

Henry was in the form of his life, and WWE finally pulled the trigger although it was late in his career when he stunned Randy Orton to capture the World Heavyweight Championship. Fans were in shock as no one expected Henry to become World Heavyweight Champion. Henry did a decent job as World Heavyweight Champion as he proved it was no fluke as he replicated his win over Orton at Hell in a Cell to blow off the feud. The World's Strongest Man held the prestigious Big Gold Belt for three months which he deserved.

7 The Miz

Randy Orton retained the WWE Championship against Wade Barrett at Survivor Series 2010, and 24 hours later on Raw which took place on November 21st. However, the Viper was the victim of a Money in the Bank cash-in as The Miz sauntered down to the ring, and he took advantage of Orton who was favoring his leg.

Orton was a fighting champion but Miz reversed his RKO into the Skull Crushing Finale to secure his first WWE Championship reign. This was a significant moment in Miz's career as he went on to beat Orton in rematches at TLC and the 2011 Royal Rumble. He even retained the WWE Title against John Cena at WrestleMania XXVII. Miz is a reliable worker but he had to wait a decade for his second run with the WWE Championship.

6 Batista

Randy Orton v Batista Extreme Rules 2009 Cropped

Former Evolution stablemates, Randy Orton and Batista collided in a steel cage match with Orton's WWE Championship up for grabs at Extreme Rules 2009. The Animal and Orton were capable of putting on much better but it was an average bout that lasted seven minutes with Batista defeating Orton to become WWE Champion for the first time.

This should have been the beginning of a long WWE Championship run for Batista but the injury bug struck again as he tore his biceps, and he only held the WWE Title for a measly two days. To get written out of the storylines, Orton and his Legacy lapdogs Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase assaulted the Animal.

5 Drew McIntyre

Drew McIntyre v Randy Orton Raw November 16, 2020 Cropped

Drew McIntyre was one of the MVPs of 2020, as was Randy Orton who seemed rejuvenated and had one of the best years in his career. The Viper beat McIntyre inside Hell in a Cell to capture a WWE world championship for the 14th time to draw level with Triple H, and go two behind John Cena and Ric Flair's haul of 16.

Nevertheless, the November 16 edition of Raw wasn't just about the WWE Title, the winner would face SmackDown's Universal Champion Roman Reigns in a champion versus champion match at Survivor Series. Orton and McIntyre continued their good run of matches against each other but it was McIntyre who reclaimed the WWE Title in a superb contest.

4 Christian

Randy Orton v Christian Money in the Bank 2011 Cropped

The rivalry between Randy Orton and Christian in the summer of 2011 for the World Heavyweight Championship was outstanding, and it did wonders for both men's careers. Orton prevailed in their marquee matches at Over the Limit, and at Capitol Punishment with Christian hoping to make it third time lucky at Money in the Bank.

Captain Charisma benefitted from Orton being able to lose the World Heavyweight Championship by disqualification. He spat in Orton's face, and Orton went berserk by delivering a low blow to Christian with Christian reclaiming the title. Unfortunately for Christian, he only held the World Heavyweight Championship for a month as he dropped the title back to Orton at SummerSlam.

3 Triple H

Triple H v Randy Orton Unforgiven 2004 Cropped

At SummerSlam 2004, Randy Orton became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion at the age of 24. Orton was a proud member of Evolution but he was booted out of the group by Triple H. The Legend Killer didn't get a fair chance to thrive as World Heavyweight Champion as Triple H beat him for the title a month later at Unforgiven.

Orton struggled as a babyface, and it took him three years to recapture a world championship. However, the Game continued to be a thorn in Orton's side. He dethroned Orton at No Mercy 2007 after the Legend Killer got awarded the WWE Championship but Orton won the title back in a Last Man Standing match. Once again, Triple H was responsible for ending another world title reign of Orton's at Backlash 2008. Nevertheless, no man has beaten Orton for a world championship more times than Triple H as the Game ended Orton's first three world championship runs.

2 Daniel Bryan

Daniel Bryan was the undisputed biggest babyface in 2013, and he engaged in an underrated rivalry with Randy Orton. Orton has been a victim of a Money in the Bank cash-in, and he flipped the script on Bryan by beating him for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam 2013.

The American Dragon managed to regain the WWE Championship from Orton at Night of Champions. However, The Authority forced Bryan to relinquish the WWE Title. Orton beat Bryan for the vacant WWE Title at Hell in a Cell but Bryan got the last laugh at WrestleMania XXX. Bryan finally had his crowning moment, when he ended Orton's WWE Title reign in a triple threat match that involved Batista.

1 John Cena

John Cena v Randy Orton Bragging Rights 2009 Cropped

Arguably, John Cena is the biggest rival of Randy Orton's. They battled in countless marquee WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship encounters, and it was so regular that fans became sick and tired of their bouts.

The WWE Championship was like a hot potato in 2009, and the pair traded the WWE Championship three times with Cena getting the upper hand. Big Match John dethroned Orton in an "I Quit" match at Breaking Point, and in a 60-minute Iron man match at Bragging Rights, sandwiched between Orton capturing the WWE Title from Cena at Hell in a Cell. Two of the all-time greats have 30 world titles between them, and it remains to be seen who will end up with the most when it's all said and done.