Randy Orton Explains Why Assaulting the McMahon Family in 2009 Cemented His Legacy as a Villain

Randy Orton believes he hit a home run with his character in 2009, during the storyline where he dismantled the McMahon family and feuded with Triple H.

Speaking with Billboard, The Apex Predator reflected on the impact that 2009 had on his career. He explained that he embraced a new mindset with his character at the time, adopting a different demeanor and body language. What truly elevated that version of Randy Orton, however, were his intense and controversial antics involving the McMahon Family and Triple H during the storyline.

I remember in ’09, it all kinda clicked as a bad guy. I just kind of let loose and acted a little bit more crazy. Even down to the body language and stuff. But I think what it came down to was who I was facing in the ring in ’09. I was booked really strong — I did the thing where he [Triple H] was handcuffed and I assaulted Stephanie in front of him and he was an inch away. He had to sit there and watch as I messed with her. I kicked Vince in the head. I destroyed the entire McMahon family — I think it was [a matter of] being given an opportunity in ’09 and I had a home run with it.

The Viper recalled how delivering brutal punts to Shane and Vince McMahon made his character even more menacing. However, he pointed to the infamous segment where Triple H was handcuffed while Stephanie McMahon lay unconscious in the ring as the defining moment.

Orton believes that with everything aligning perfectly, he truly hit a home run with that performance—cementing it as one of the most iconic runs of his career. To this day, his 2009 persona is regarded as one of the greatest heel characters in sports entertainment history.

Its impact extends beyond wrestling, with fans still referencing ’09 Orton as a major pop culture villain. In a hilarious example, a fan once claimed he’d take on 2009 Randy Orton just to get a woman’s number. Amused, The Viper responded by backing the fan, joking that the man was truly willing to risk it all for love. The moment highlighted just how much Orton himself enjoyed portraying that ruthless character on screen.