"I was really, really proud of what we had done" – WWE Legend recalls putting Randy Orton over in a gruesome match

WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley recalled putting Randy Orton over in a Hardcore Match at Backlash 2004.

Randy Orton has been a part of WWE for more than two decades. The Viper has a love-hate relationship with the WWE Universe. In his early years, he wasn't as loving or appreciative as he is today.

When Mick Foley was involved in a storyline with Orton, he wanted to elevate the wrestler and make him a superstar. On a recent episode of Foley is Pod, the 57-year-old recalled putting the young Viper over:

“Having a great match and that post-match glow, but to see that it had done exactly what I had hoped it would do and then some, that was the really gratifying part. Within a couple of weeks, Randy was being cheered, and they put his face turn into play which I thought was way too early... To know that match played such a role, and Randy as a 16-time champion who at least a few years ago thought of that match as the best one of his career... I was really, really proud of what we had done in the ring and what we had done to build it.” (H/T: 411Mania)

Orton was elevated after his gruesome Hardcore Match with Foley. He became the youngest World Heavyweight Champion and feuded with his mentor, Triple H.

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Mick Foley on how the match impacted Randy Orton's career

Foley is known to put his body through tables and thumbtacks throughout his career. The 57-year-old always went all out during matches to make them entertaining and memorable for fans.

After he retired, Foley began a storyline with Evolution, which led him to come out of retirement and face Orton for his title in a Hardcore Match. In the same interview, Foley talked about the impact the match had on Orton's career:

"I catch my flight and fly to Toronto where my bags are lost and I have to wait for four hours. Now, I get back and my son Hughie is in the hospital for dehydration. I go to the hospital for three or four hours and spend time with the little fella there. I go back to watch Raw, and Randy Orton might as well be a different human because he is treated that way by the crowd in Calgary that night. It dawned on me what we had done." (H/T: 411Mania)

The match surely impacted Orton's career in a positive way. Fans witnessed the vicious side of The Viper and watched him rise to the top of WWE for years to come.