Rated-RKO
Rated-RKO | |
---|---|
Tag team | |
Members | Edge Randy Orton Lita (valet) |
Name(s) | Edge and Randy Orton Rated-RKO |
Combined billed weight | 496 pounds (225 kg) |
Debut | October 9, 2006 |
Disbanded | May 11, 2007 |
Years active | 2006–2007, 2008, 2011 |
Rated-RKO was a professional wrestling tag team in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) consisting of Edge and Randy Orton, with Lita as their manager for a short while. The team's name was created by combining Edge's nickname, "The Rated-R Superstar",[1] with Orton's initials, RKO, which is also the name of his finishing move.[2]
Edge and Orton formed an alliance in October 2006 to challenge the team of
In January 2007, Rated-RKO lost the World Tag Team Championship, which caused tension between the two. The group officially disbanded in May 2007, after Edge moved to the SmackDown! brand. Edge and Orton had occasional reunions until Edge's first retirement in 2011. Edge returned from a nine-year retirement at the 2020 Royal Rumble, and seemingly was set to reunite Rated-RKO as he and Orton formed an alliance in the Royal Rumble match. Orton further hinted a revival the next night on Raw, only to attack Edge afterwards.
History
World Tag Team Champions (2006–2007)
On the October 2, 2006, episode of Raw, interference from the newly reformed D-Generation X (DX) (Triple H and Shawn Michaels) tag team cost Edge his shot at the WWE Championship held by John Cena in a Steel Cage match.[3] This led to Edge approaching Randy Orton and asking him to join forces with him to "get rid of DX". In his stand, Edge explained to Orton why he should join him as a tag team partner, as he cited Orton's lack of success after being kicked out of Evolution (Orton's former group), as well as the antics of DX taking up television time that he felt should rightfully go to the younger stars.[4]
Edge and Orton, calling themselves "Rated-RKO",
The following week on Raw however, they won the World Tag Team Championship from Flair and Piper in a rematch when they attacked Piper upon making his entrance, with Edge delivering a
At
With Triple H out of action, Rated-RKO continued their on-screen rivalry with remaining DX member Shawn Michaels. They were able to schedule a two-on-one handicap match against Michaels, during which he was able to beat the odds and defeat both men, leaving Orton lying in the ring after a one-man con-chair-to as Edge stood and watched at ringside.[18] On the January 22 episode of Raw, Edge defeated Michaels in a street fight with help from Orton. At the Royal Rumble, both members of Rated-RKO made it to the final four in the Royal Rumble match (they both were eliminated by Michaels) where The Undertaker won the match. The next night on Raw, the duo lost the World Tag Team Championship to the impromptu team of John Cena and Shawn Michaels.[19][20] On the February 15 episode of Raw, Rated-RKO, Mr. Kennedy and MVP lost to John Cena, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker and Batista. Internal dissension continued as both men laid claim to being the number one contender to the WWE Championship,[21] and Edge walked out on Orton on the February 26 episode of Raw during a rematch for the World Tag Team Championship due to miscommunication.[22]
The relationship strained further after both men qualified for the WrestleMania 23 Money in the Bank ladder match, which would grant the winner a championship match.[citation needed] For weeks Edge influenced various authority figures into putting Orton in matches that would cause Orton not to succeed.[23][24][25]
Breakup and subsequent reunions (2007–2011)
On the April 16, 2007 episode of Raw, they reunited to take on John Cena in a
The team had a reunion on the April 21, 2008 episode of Raw, when Orton and Edge teamed with
On the April 26, 2010, episode of Raw, Edge cost Orton (who had turned face after feuding with his former group The Legacy) a number-one contender's match by spearing him during a triple threat match against Batista and Sheamus.[34] Orton and Edge faced off at Over the Limit in May, though Orton dislocated his right shoulder and the match concluded with a double countout.[35]
On the January 28, 2011 episode of SmackDown, Edge and Orton reunited in a winning effort against
Later interactions (2020–2021)
On January 26, 2020, at the
The next year, at Royal Rumble, they participated in the Royal Rumble match as the first two entrants, with Edge entering at #1 and Orton entering at #2. Both would last until the final two where Edge eliminated Orton to win the match.[44]
Championships and accomplishments
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Edge and Randy Orton[45]
- Lita[46]
References
- ^ "Edge's WWE Profile". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2007.
- ^ Golden, Hunter (October 23, 2006). "Raw Results – 10/23/06 – Chicago, IL (K-Fed's back & HHH vs. Orton)". WrestleView. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
They [Edge and Randy Orton] bemoaned their misfortunes last week and said this week things would be different. Orton said they were Rated Rko and the two biggest superstars the business has ever seen.
- ^ Golden, Hunter (October 16, 2006). "Raw Results – 10/16/06 – Los Angeles, CA (K-Fed gets FU'd, & more)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
- ^ "Roddy Piper diagnosed with lymphoma". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. November 29, 2006. Archived from the original on July 19, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Martin, Adam (November 26, 2006). "Survivor Series PPV Results – 11/26 – Philadelphia, PA (New champs)". WrestleView. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
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- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
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- ^ Keller, Wade (January 15, 2007). "Keller's WWE Raw Report 1/15: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show". PW Torch. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
- ^ Golden, Hunter (January 30, 2007). "Raw Results – 1/29/07 – Dallas, TX (Rumble fallout; New tag champs)". WrestleView. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
- ^ Parks, Greg (January 29, 2007). "1/29 WWE Raw Review: Parks's ongoing "virtual time" alt perspective". PW Torch. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
- ^ Caldwell, James (February 5, 2007). "Caldwell's WWE Raw Report 2/5: Ongoing coverage of live edition of Raw". PW Torch. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
- ^ Golden, Hunter (February 26, 2007). "Raw Results – 2/26/07 – Fresno, CA (Trump makes pick & 'Tag Titles')". WrestleView. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
- ^ Golden, Hunter (March 12, 2007). "Raw Results – 3/12/07 – Washington, DC (Trump & McMahon + more)". WrestleView. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
- ^ Golden, Hunter (March 13, 2007). "ECW on Sci Fi Results – 3/13/07 – Trenton, NJ (Lashley & Orton, more)". WrestleView. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
- ^ Golden, Hunter (March 19, 2007). "Raw Results – 3/19/07 – Indianapolis, IN (WM Reverse Night & more)". WrestleView. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
- ^ Golden, Hunter (April 16, 2007). "Raw Results – 4/16/07 – Milan, Italy (New WWE IC Champion, more)". WrestleView. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
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- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
- ^ Lennon, Patrick (May 11, 2007). "WWE hits the buffers". Daily Star.
- ^ Parks, Greg (May 11, 2007). "5/11 WWE Smackdown: Parks's Virtual Time Coverage of the Show". PW Torch. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
- ^ Keller, Wade (April 21, 2008). "Keller's WWE Raw Report 4/21: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live King of the Ring tournament". PW Torch. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
- ^ Plummer, Dale (April 26, 2010). "Raw: Feeling a draft". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 14, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Bishop, Matt (May 23, 2010). "Batista quits to end disappointing Over The Limit". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 13, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - )
- )
- )
- ^ Powell, Jason (January 26, 2020). "WWE Royal Rumble results: Powell's live review of the Royal Rumble matches, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan in a strap match for the WWE Universal Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Asuka for the Raw Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
- ^ Powell, Jason (January 27, 2020). "01/27 WWE Raw Results: Powell's review of Edge's return, Royal Rumble winners Drew McIntyre and Charlotte Flair, Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy vs. Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens for the Raw Tag Titles, Liv Morgan vs. Lana". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (June 8, 2020). "WWE Reportedly Filmed Certain Matches For WWE Backlash, News On What Was And Wasn't Taped". Fightful. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ Fiorvanti, Tim; Coyle, Sean (June 14, 2020). "WWE Backlash: Randy Orton defeats Edge in the 'Greatest Wrestling Match Ever'". ESPN. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
- ^ Powell, Jason (May 25, 2020). "5/25 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of WWE Champion Drew McIntyre on MVP's VIP Lounge, Nia Jax vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya for a Raw Women's Championship match at WWE Backlash, Andrade vs. Apollo Crews for the U.S. Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ^ Powell, Jason (January 31, 2021). "WWE Royal Rumble results: Powell's live review of the Royal Rumble matches, Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg for the WWE Championship, Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match for the WWE Universal Championship, Sasha Banks vs. Carmella for the Smackdown Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
- World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
External links