The RKO Randy Orton Hit That Was Not Originally In WWE’s Plans
Randy Orton has handed out more than his fair share of RKOs but now it seems one that left its mark was never planned to happen in the first place.
Back in December 2023, Randy Orton had a decision to make. The Viper had returned to WWE after a long injury layoff at the Survivor Series and was a sought-after man for both Raw and SmackDown General Managers, Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis.
When it came time for Orton to pick his brand, Paul Heyman interrupted to warn Orton not to sign with SmackDown or else The Bloodline would put him back on the injured list. Ultimately, that warning fell on deaf ears and Randy Orton signed up with the blue brand and sent The Bloodline packing after a brawl.
As Nick Aldis celebrated his coup in signing Orton, he was floored by the three most devastating letters in WWE – RKO.
Nick Aldis Lifts Lid On Randy Orton RKO
Speaking to Chris Van Vliet, Nick Aldis discussed the memorable moment and revealed it was only a last-second addition that saw him taking the lethal move from Randy Orton:
I still feel funny. I know we’re in 2024 but I still feel funny about giving away [the secrets]. But it’s like, whatever I’ve done it now, I can’t not give it to you. It was called on the fly, complete audible. It’s Roman, it’s Randy, who’s he [Orton] gonna sign with? Then he was gonna sign the SmackDown contract and stare down Roman, and I think that was it.
Then it was like, somebody told somebody told somebody while I was ringside. So I had to go in and call it. I’ve never gotten to the bottom of who was behind it. I still feel weird giving away the magic. It seems to have been one of these moments that connects. So it’s like, there seems to be a heightened level of interest on that particular moment, because it was quite out of the blue, even for me.
Randy Orton is currently off WWE TV again due to a devastating piledriver delivered by Kevin Owens. An out-of-control Owens used the banned move which is said to have caused Orton severe cervical damage.