2 -- RANDY ORTON vs. SETH ROLLINS (w/Jamie Noble and Joey Mercury)
After a brief feeling-out process, Orton landed a dropkick, then teased the RKO, but Seth slid out of the ring to avoid. Back in the ring, Seth blocked corner punches and went for a Bucklebomb, but Orton rebounded off the turnbuckles and clotheslined Seth hard to the mat. J&J felt uncomfortable with how the match was going, so they got involved. Orton wasn't going to let them stay involved, though, so he delivered a trademark Double DDT from the ring apron ... onto the floor. "Those are human beings!" JBL shouted on commentary. Seth used the distraction to take control, though, back in the ring.
Seth got cocky in control of the match, allowing Orton to come back with a corner clothesline into a trademark snap powerslam. Orton then lit up Seth with corner uppercuts, nearly getting himself DQ'ed by the referee. No matter, as Orton gripped Seth for a t-bone suplex, which sent Seth sliding to the ring apron. Orton wanted a second-rope DDT, but Seth blocked and kicked Orton in the head down to the floor where J&J were recovering. Seth measured Orton, then delivered an Asai Moonsault, rocking Orton.
Back in the ring at 8:00, Seth wanted a top-rope move, but Orton crotched him just in time. Orton then wanted Papa Orton's superplex, but Seth blocked, only to take a back body drop. Orton followed with a cross-body splash from the top rope, bringing out something new from the toolbox. Orton covered for a two count, then wanted the RKO, firing up the crowd. Orton set up for the RKO in Seth's face, but Seth blocked with a roll-up for a two count into a kick to the face. Seth then flipped over Orton, but landed right in an RKO. Seth kicked out just before three, though, surprising the crowd.
Orton set up for The Punt to try to finish Seth, but J&J hit the ring, took RKOs from Orton, and Seth surprised Orton with a Curb Stomp. But, Orton kicked out of the pin. Lawler said they're kicking out of finishers because it's WrestleMania. After a replay of the sequence, Seth approached Orton for his next move. Seth wanted a big corkscrew splash from the top rope, but Orton rolled out of the way and tried an RKO, but Seth blocked. Seth then ran toward Orton for a Curb Stomp, but he ended up running into the air, where Orton intercepted him with a mid-air RKO, popping and wowing the crowd. Orton emphatically covered Seth for the win. Amazing visual on a slow-motion replay.
WINNER: Orton at 13:15. Very good singles match. The finish makes a lot of sense if Seth is cashing in MITB tonight or tomorrow on Raw. Hypothetically, Orton gets the win here, Seth gets the title, and Orton has a claim to a title shot, setting up the next stage of the feud post-Mania. (***1/2)
