Rated-RKO
| Rated-RKO | |
|---|---|
| File:Rated RKO.jpg Edge (back) and Randy Orton | |
| Tag team | |
| Members | Edge Randy Orton |
| Name(s) | Edge and Orton Rated-RKO |
| Billed heights | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) - Edge 6 ft 5 in (196 cm) - Randy Orton |
| Combined billed weight | 485 lb (220 kg) |
| Former member(s) | Lita (valet) |
| Debut | October 9, 2006 |
Rated-RKO is a heel professional wrestling tag team currently wrestling on the RAW brand of World Wrestling Entertainment where they are the current World Tag Team Champions. The team consists of Edge and Randy Orton, who were formerly joined by valet Lita until her (legit) retirement.
The team's name is a portmanteau of Edge's (self imposed) nickname (Rated-R Superstar) and Randy Orton's RKO, both his initials and the name of his finishing maneuver.
History
One week after D-Generation X (DX) (Shawn Michaels and Triple H) interfered in the Steel Cage match between Edge and John Cena for Cena's WWE Championship, Orton joined forces with Edge in an attempt to "get rid" of DX. Edge cited Orton's lack of success after being kicked out of Evolution by Triple H, which he claimed stalled Orton's career, as well as the antics of DX taking up TV time that he felt should rightfully go to the younger stars as reasons Orton should join him, with Orton agreeing.
Edge and Orton immediately became very outspoken about DX, including mocking them in a sketch reminiscent of the ones DX would do about their opponents. Eventually Orton traded wins with Triple H in singles matches on episodes of RAW, leading to a tag team match at Cyber Sunday with the fans choosing the special guest referee. At Cyber Sunday, the duo gave DX their first team loss since reuniting when Eric Bischoff (the fan selected referee) allowed the use of a steel chair without calling for a disqualification. Earlier in the same show Lita won the Women's Championship in the finals of a seven woman tournament.
On the next nights RAW Edge & Orton faced Ric Flair and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper for their recently won Tag Team titles, but were unsuccessful despite unfair officiating from Eric Bischoff. The next week, however, they managed to capture the title in a rematch when, as Piper was entering, they attacked him and Edge delivered a one man con-chair-to to him. As he was taken to the locker room by paramedics, Flair was forced to defend the titles by himself, and Rated RKO won the match after Edge hit Flair with a spear. At Survivor Series 2006, Team Rated RKO lost to team DX. None of the team DX members were eliminated.
Wrestling facts
- Finishing and signature maneuvers
- Con-chair-to - Edge and Orton
- RKO (Jumping cutter) - Orton
- Edgecution (Lifting DDT) - Edge
- Spear - Edge
- As a group, Rated RKO use a combination of both Edge and Orton's theme songs (Metalingus by Alter Bridge, and Burn in My Light by Mercy Drive respectively). It begins with Metalingus before switching to Burn in My Light, alternating between the two as the wrestlers enter.
Championships and accomplishments
Trivia
- Their first tag team title reign marks Randy Orton's first tag title reign while bringing Edge a total of eleven reigns, the most reigns of any individual (see his article for more information).
- Their tag title reign also makes Orton the seventeenth WWE Triple Crown Champion (having won a world title, second-tier title, and a tag team title). Edge has also accomplished this feat.