The Complete History of the WWE Championship - Part 18

Randy Orton (October 27, 2013 - April 6, 2014)

Randy Orton: Unified WWE's World titles at TLC 2013

Randy Orton had done it all by the time he won his tenth World title from Daniel Bryan at SummerSlam. A permanent main eventer for almost a decade, Orton, like John Cena had caused the WWE Universe to feel fatigued.

Like Hulk Hogan in 1993, the WWE Universe had grown tired of the stars who had been on top for years and years and yearned for someone new in the top spots. Daniel Bryan was their choice. However, the fan-base would continue to be denied during the Autumn and Winter months of 2013-14.

Orton captured an eleventh World crown at Battleground on October 27, 2013, by defeating Bryan and next defended the belt against Big Show. Show, who had won his first World title in WCW in 1995 and his first WWE World title in 1999, was another wrestler whom fans had no desire to see in a headline spot in 2013. Fans rejected the feud and the conflict between them quickly ended at Survivor Series.

With few bonafide main event talents remaining in the company, WWE made the call to unify their two World titles once more at TLC on December 15, 2013. Unfortunately, the World Champion at the time was none other than Cena, and WWE presented yet another Orton versus Cena contest which played before an indifferent live crowd despite the Tables, Ladders and Chairs stipulation. RKO won.

The big plan for WrestleMania XXX on April 6, 2014, was for Orton to drop the title to returning hero, the 45-year-old Batista, who had left WWE in May 2010.

However, fans rejected the prospect and loudly booed "The Animal" from the Royal Rumble event onwards, forcing WWE to re-evaluate their opinion on Bryan.

Orton's title losing bout at WrestleMania XXX is a contest that will be remembered forever, making this one of his most important title reigns.