Randy Orton is chasing history this Saturday at WWE Elimination Chamber in Chicago, and he knows exactly what's at stake.
Speaking on ESPN's Get Up, the 14-time World Champion laid out the championship scoreboard with clarity. He's currently tied with Triple H, with Ric Flair sitting at 16 reigns and John Cena — who recently retired — holding the all-time record at 17. The math points to one place: the Elimination Chamber match, and then WrestleMania 42.
Right now you've got Triple H and myself tied at 14. John Cena, of course, just retired with 17 World Championships. You've got Ric Flair, I think, at 16. I'd love to get one more — at least one more. It would mean the world to me.
A Third-Generation Wrestler Chasing One More
Orton made clear that another championship wouldn't just be a statistic — it would be the culmination of everything he is. During the interview, he pointed to a photo visible on the ESPN set of his father and grandfather wrestling together in the 1970s.
I've been around now 26 years. I've been doing this for well more than half of my life. I'm a third-generation wrestler. There's a picture of my father and my grandfather back there — back in the '70s tagging together. This is my life. This is everything to me.
He also addressed the window closing, not with resignation but with urgency: "I plan on going to WrestleMania, main eventing WrestleMania, and becoming a 15-time world champion."
The Blueprint: 2014
Orton has done this before. In 2014 — in St. Louis — he entered the Elimination Chamber as the villain while Daniel Bryan was the overwhelming crowd favorite. He won anyway, then went on to main event WrestleMania 30. It's a blueprint he's leaning on heading into Chicago.
I was the bad guy, man. I came out last in the pod. Daniel Bryan was the fan favorite. I ended up winning and going on to main event WrestleMania. That was a huge win for me, and I plan on doing it all again this Saturday.
This will be Orton's record 10th Elimination Chamber appearance — more than anyone in WWE history. The winner of Saturday's match in Chicago earns a shot at Drew McIntyre's Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42.
Elimination Chamber airs Saturday, February 28 at 7 PM ET on the ESPN App and ESPN Unlimited.
