Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler are on commentary for this match. Randy Orton makes his way out first. The Fink’s microphone keeps cutting out as he introduces Orton. JR reminds us that Orton earned this opportunity in a battle royal two weeks previous. Chris Benoit makes his way out and JR runs down his journey to the World title.
CHRIS BENOIT © VS.
RANDY ORTON
WWE Summerslam 2004 (15th August 2004)
Earl Hebner is the referee for this match, he gets a “you screwed Bret” chant fired at him as Orton stares down with the champion. They threaten to lock up but immediately break it whilst circling. They finally lock up and Orton backs Benoit into the ropes but is forced into the corner. It’s a scuffle as Benoit breaks from the corner, but there are no cheap shots. Orton kicks Benoit in the gut and puts him in a hammerlock. Chris Benoit takes Orton down with a drop toehold and puts him in a chinlock but ends up forced in the corner, so he has to break. Orton backs away cleanly and asks for a test of strength. They lock knuckles and Orton is able to force Benoit back into a bridge, but Chris Benoit starts shifting the momentum and he counters into a top wristlock on Orton. Benoit trips Orton and keeps control of his arm on the mat. Orton trips Benoit but eats shit on the knee drop, running into an arm drag. Chris Benoit keeps Orton on the mat with the armbar, hyperextending Orton’s wrist and elbow.
Randy Orton fights to his feet and stuns Benoit with a right hand. Benoit is knocked down with a shoulder tackle. Orton poses before running over a prone Benoit back into an arm drag into armbar, Orton back to his feet and a forearm knocks Benoit back. Chris Benoit is sent off the ropes but he holds on, Orton hits air with the dropkick allowing Benoit to try the Sharpshooter, Orton monkey flips Benoit and puts on one of his own! Chris Benoit fights it and is able to trip Orton, Benoit locks in the Sharpshooter but Orton is too close to the ropes, Chris Benoit dives on him for a Crossface but Orton scrambles out of the ring, tripping Earl Hebner. Chris Benoit is still fighting for the Crossface as Randy Orton sends him into the ring post. Benoit’s shoulder hits the ring post on the second journey and Orton breaks the referee’s count. Orton starts targeting Benoit’s left arm as they take it back into the ring. Randy Orton drives his knee into Benoit’s shoulder, but Benoit eventually makes it to his feet with right hands and chops.
Randy Orton cuts it off with a knee to the gut and he hangs Benoit’s abdomen over the top rope. Chris Benoit lands on the apron, they fight with the ropes between them, Orton climbs out to Benoit as Benoit attacks him, Chris Benoit hits a DDT an inch above the apron to Randy Orton. This guy took a thumbtack bump 4 months previous. Chris Benoit brings it back in the ring and covers but Orton kicks out at 2, then rolls out of the ring, but not out of the way of a baseball slide by Benoit. Randy Orton sidesteps a running tope from Benoit and he hits the security wall. In hindsight that is sickening. Randy Orton sends Benoit back into the ring and covers, but Benoit gets his shoulder up at 2. Orton starts working Benoit’s neck with a neck wringer and a “modified camel clutch” which I’ve never seen before or since. Chris Benoit is able to fight to his feet but he’s cut off with a European uppercut. Randy Orton picks the champion up in a gutwrench and drops him with a neckbreaker and covers, but Benoit gets the shoulder up at 2 again. Orton slips in some blatant chokes before a reverse chinlock, Benoit fights to his feet (and I wish it was as quick as I typed that) and fires off chops at Orton. Randy Orton misses a clothesline and they run into each other, colliding in midair.
Both men eventually get to their feet, exchanging forearms and headbutts. Chris
Benoit starts running through Randy Orton, Orton is sent off the ropes into a
backdrop, but fights off a german suplex, Benoit switches to a Nothern Lights
variation with a bridge but gets a nearfall. Orton is perched on the top turnbuckle but fights off a superplex attempt, he hits a Crossbody on Benoit, grabbing the
tights and getting a nearfall. Randy Orton stalks Benoit, waiting for him to
get up, but the RKO is blocked, Orton is sent off the ropes and gets knocked
down. Randy Orton blocks a Sharpshooter, Benoit hits the german suplex and goes
back to the Sharpshooter, locking it in. Randy Orton starts fading in the
Sharpshooter but he fights to the bottom rope. Chris Benoit hits four rolling
german suplexes on Randy Orton. Orton blocks one, but Chris Benoit ducks the
clothesline and hits three more german suplexes! Chris Benoit climbs to the top
rope and the diving headbutt hits Orton’s knees. Randy Orton struggles to make
it over to Chris Benoit and rolls him up, but Benoit kicks out at 2, butting
Orton in the Crippler Crossface! Orton rolls all the way through the Crossface,
further from the ropes but he is able to break it, they get to their feet and
Orton telegraphs a European uppercut, Benoit spins through looking for a
Crossface but Orton hits the RKO! 1, 2, 3.
WINNER: RANDY ORTON
The finish was a bit sudden for my liking, but they were having a perfectly serviceable match before that though. Randy Orton was able to go toe to toe with Benoit through the match and showed technique targeting the arm. I miss Lawler and JR on commentary, especially Lawler being Evolution’s #1 fan. As a match, it's ***½ but personally, I'd rate it 6/10
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