WWE Superstar Randy Orton has named his 2004 bout with Mick Foley his “Favourite match of my career” as the match celebrates it’s 19th anniversary in 2023.
WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley came out of retirement that night after four years away from the ring, after hanging up his boots first at No Way Out 2000 and then against at Wrestlemania 2000. He retired at age 34 due to injuries that severely affected his mobility, but carried on wrestling for a further 12 years after his initial retirement in a number of classic matches.
The match was a hardcore match and was used as a way to get the fans to believe Randy Orton as a main event star. Up to that point, fans had found it hard to believe he could hang with the top stars in the WWE, but he showed with his fearlessness in this bout that he had exactly what it takes to match up with the best the WWE had to offer.
Blood, barbed wire and, most importantly, thumb tacks were the weapon of choice in this match. Both men gave out as much damage and pain as they could manage, making this match one of the most dangerous and bloody in WWE history. The bout saw Randy Orton land his bare back into the thumb tacks, although he would eventually win the match and earn the respect of Mick Foley during the course of the bout. He would soon go on to defeat Chris Benoit at Summerslam 2004 to win his first World Heavyweight Championship.
Randy Orton has had a lot to say about the match. He claimed the match to be his favourite he has had so far in his WWE career, while using the hashtags to reveal that he kept the thumbtacks that were lodged in his back from the failed RKO onto Foley.
On his Tweet, Randy Orton said;
“@RealMickFoley that is probably my favorite and the most impactful match of my career. #stillhavethethumbtacks#thankyoumick“
Mick Foley has also chimed and considers this match as the peak of his career too. Earlier this year, he took to Facebook to talk about facing Orton, the anniversary of the match, claiming it was the “best match of my career” and called it a “night to remember”.
18 YEAR AGO TODAY. I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again—THIS was the best match of my career. I can’t emphasize enough how proud I was of this match and how much respect I have for Randy Orton as a worker and as a person. Backlash 2004 was truly a night to remember.
Mick Foley and Randy Orton would never face off again after that match, but it was so perfect that neither man wold want to spoil the brilliant match that they had with each other. The next year Foley faced Edge at Wrestlemania in another classic match, solidifying his status as a Hardcore Legend and a WWE Hall of Famer.
The match was so good, Mick Foley has said he wished he retired after facing Randy Orton in 2004. Click below to read about Foley’s thoughts on the fact.