3. Randy Orton
Randy Orton entered the 2006 Royal Rumble match from the 30th position for the first time. The Legend Killer was unable to take advantage of his late entry into the Rumble. He finished as the runner-up to Rey Mysterio, who dedicated his victory to the late Eddie Guerrero. However, Orton wasn’t going to go away lightly as the youngest world champion in WWE history was desperate to get back to the top of the mountain once more.
Orton taunted Mysterio into putting his world title shot opportunity on the line, as he had some unsavory comments for Mysterio about Guerrero. However, Orton’s plan worked as he defeated Mysterio to become the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22 in their one-on-one meeting at No Way Out 2006.
While Orton couldn’t be removed from the title match at WrestleMania 22, SmackDown GM Teddy Long reinstated Mysterio to the match. Orton, Mysterio, and Kurt Angle battled it out for the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 22. Their title match lasted less than 10 minutes, but they maximized their time. Orton was unable to win his second world title as Mysterio pinned Orton to win the gold.
