'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
#2 Randy Orton
Batista and Randy Orton have had a love-hate relationship with each other inside the squared circle. As mentioned earlier, the duo was a part of the famed OVW class of 2002. As part of Evolution, Orton and Batista wreaked havoc and dominated the Red brand for more than a year alongside Ric Flair and Triple H. The Animal earned the ire of The Viper after he, along with the rest of evolution, would turn their backs on Orton after he refused to hand over his newly won World Heavyweight Championship to Triple H.
Batista and Orton first feuded during the fall of 2008. The duo would lead a team of five in the traditional Survivor Series 5-on-5 Elimination Match with Orton pinning Batista to win the match. Batista would then defeat Orton at Armageddon in 2008. Orton would put The Animal out of action (in storyline) after hitting him with a punt kick during the December 15, 2008 episode of RAW.
Batista suffered a hamstring tear during that time and the angle was done to write him off TV. He would return on the RAW after WrestleMania 25 to save Triple H, Shane McMahon and Vince McMahon from The Legacy. Batista defeated Orton at Extreme Rules 2009 to win his first WWE Championship. However, the reign would be short-lived as The Legacy would once again gang up on The Animal leading him to vacate the title.
The Animal returned on the September 14, 2009, episode of RAW and was confronted by Orton, who assumed that he was retiring before Batista took the cast off his hand and attacked The Viper. Later that night, Batista defeated Orton in a No Holds Barred Match to end their feud.
After Batista returned to the company following a four-year hiatus in 2014, he once again set his sights on Orton and the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Batista won the 2014 Royal Rumble by last eliminating Roman Reigns setting up a date with The Viper in the main event of WrestleMania 30.
Had it not been for the monumental rise of Daniel Bryan during that period, one could argue that The Animal would've ended up defeating Orton to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 30. But, that was not to be the case and we ended up getting a Triple Threat Match between Orton, Batista, and Bryan for the title with The Animal tapping out to the Yes Lock. Batista and Orton would then reunite with Triple H to reform Evolution as the trio feuded with The Shield over the next two months before he left the company.
