Rated-RKO

Infobox Wrestling team
article_name=Rated-RKO
type=T


caption= Edge and Randy Orton
members=Edge
Randy Orton
Lita
names= Edge and Randy Orton
Rated RKO
former_members=
heights=
weights=485 lb. (220 kg) (Edge convert|240|lb|abbr=on, Randy 245 lb)
debut=October 9, 2006
disbanded=May 11, 2007
promotions=WWE|

Rated-RKO was a professional wrestling tag team, who wrestled for World Wrestling Entertainment on its Raw brand between October 9, 2006 and early 2007. Rated-RKO consisted of Edge and Randy Orton. Edge's valet at the time, Lita, was a member until her legitimate retirement on November 26, 2006 at Survivor Series.

The name "Rated-RKO" is a portmanteau of Edge's nickname, the "Rated-R" Superstar," and Randy Orton's initials/finishing maneuver, "RKO".

History

Feud with D-Generation X

One week after D-Generation X (DX) (Shawn Michaels and Triple H) interfered in a match between John Cena and Edge for the WWE Championship, [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/10022006/|title=Checkmate|date=2006-10-02|last=Hoffman|first=Brett|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] Orton joined forces with Edge to "get rid of DX". Edge cited Orton's lack of success after being kicked out of Evolution by Triple H and Batista, 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. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/10092006/|title=Cyber Sunday Blockbuster|date=2006-10-09|last=Zeigler|first=Zack|accessdate=2007-01-07|publisher=WWE] Edge and Orton, calling themselves Rated-RKO, immediately became very outspoken against DX and began mocking them at every opportunity, including a sketch reminiscent of the ones DX did about their opponents. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/061016.html|title=RAW results - October 16, 2006|date=2006-10-16|accessdate=2007-08-15|publisher=Online World of Wrestling] 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 the pay-per-view, the duo gave DX their first team loss since they reunited when Eric Bischoff (the fan selected referee) allowed the use of a steel chair without calling for a disqualification. Later in the same show, Lita won the Women's Championship in the finals of a seven woman tournament. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/cybersunday/history/2006/matches/32934421/results/|title=Bischoff creates controversy|date=2006-11-05|last=Zack|first=Zeigler|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/cybersunday/history/2006/matches/329344211/results/|title=Champion again|date=2006-11-05|last=Hoffman|first=Brett|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] On the November 6, 2006 edition of "Raw", Edge & Orton faced Ric Flair and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper for the World Tag Team titles with Eric Bischoff being the ref and refing in their favor. They still lost because, under the No Disqualification rules, Ric Flair knocked out Bischoff and then got help from DX; whom Rated-RKO defeated the night before. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/11062006/|title=Payback is a Dick|date=2006-11-06|last=Dee|first=Louie|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] The next week, however, Rated RKO managed to capture the titles in a rematch when they attacked Piper upon making his entrance, with Edge going so far as to deliver a one man con-chair-to to Piper. 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. The real reason for the sudden switch was later revealed to be Piper's diagnosis of lymphoma forcing him out of action. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/11132006/|title=Rated-RKO Champions|date=2006-11-13|last=Zeigler|first=Zack|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/244843211|title=Rated RKO's first World Tag Team Championship reign|accessdate=2008-01-19|publisher=WWE]

At Survivor Series, Lita legitimately retired from WWE after losing her Women's Championship to Mickie James and left the group in the process. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2006/matches/33324801/results/|title=Mickie steals Lita's thunder|date=2006-11-26|last=McAvennie|first=Mike|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] Later in the night, Team Rated-RKO -- consisting of Rated-RKO along with Johnny Nitro, Mike Knox and Gregory Helms -- were swept by Team DX -- DX with Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy and CM Punk -- with Orton being the last member eliminated in a Survivor Series style match. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/2006/matches/3332480/results/|title=D-Xtreme dominance|date=2006-11-26|last=Dee|first=Louie|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] On a subsequent episode of "Raw", Edge and Orton beat Ric Flair bloody, continuing to beat him after dragging him to the ring when it had been made clear that his DX friends had left the arena. In doing so, DX claimed they had made their rivalry "personal". [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/11272006/|title=R-K-Anarchy|date=2006-11-27|last=Dee|first=Louie|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] At New Year's Revolution, Rated-RKO retained the World Tag Team Championship after fighting with DX to a no-contest in a match that saw Triple H suffer a legitimate torn right quadriceps muscle. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/newyearsrevolution/matches/36781501/results/|title=Devastation|date=2007-01-07|last=Hoffman|first=Brett|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE]

Rated-RKO figured this signaled the end of DX, and were able to book 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. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/01152007/|title=DX lives|date=2007-01-15|last=Starr|first=Noah|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] The next week, though, Orton helped Edge defeat Michaels during the night, [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/01222007/|title=The show WILL go on|date=2007-01-22|last=Starr|first=Noah|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] bad blood was still evident between the two, and Orton eventually threw his partner out of the ring, in much the same way one would in the forthcoming Royal Rumble match. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/2007/matches/35535102/results/| title=A Phenom-enal Rumble|date=2007-01-28|last=Dee|first=Louie|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] On January 29, 2007, Rated-RKO lost the World Tag Team Championship to the impromptu team of John Cena and Michaels. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/01292007/|title=Has he made his decision?|date=2007-01-29|last=Starr|first=Noah|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] Internal dissension continued as both men laid claim to the #1 contendership of the WWE Championship, and Edge walked out on Orton during a February 26, 2007 rematch for the Tag Team Championship due to miscommunication. [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02262007/|title=Billionaire's brawlers|date=2007-02-26|last=Starr|first=Noah|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE]

WWE Championship chase

The relationship strained further after both men qualified for the WrestleMania 23 Money in the Bank ladder match. Now set to be opponents, Orton referred to Edge as his "former partner". For weeks Edge influenced various authority figures into putting Orton in matches that would cause Orton to come out on the short end. On April 16, 2007, they reunited to take on John Cena in a handicap match but lost the match due to interference from Michaels. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04162007/|title=Italian Intercontinental surprise|date=2007-04-16|last=Starr|first=Noah|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] At Backlash, the two were involved in a Fatal Four Way match for the WWE Championship along with Michaels and Cena. Cena retained his title by pinning Orton, after falling on top of Orton after being hit with Sweet Chin Music by Michaels. [cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/backlash/matches/39606521/results/|title=Survive and conquer|date=2007-04-29|last=Dee|first=Louie|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE]

Breakup and one-off reunions

On the April 30, 2007 edition of "Raw", Edge and Orton met in a one-on-one match. Edge won the match after pinning Orton following a Spear. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04302007/|title=Khali's claim|date=2007-04-30|last=Starr|first=Noah|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] Edge then moved to "SmackDown" on the May 11 episode after cashing in the Money in the Bank briefcase he won from Mr. Kennedy on the same edtition of Raw to win the World Heavyweight Championship from The Undertaker. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/05072007/|title=Gold digging|date=2007-05-07|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05112007/articles/postsdedgewins|title=New champion teetering on the edge?|date=2007-05-11|last=Tello|first=Craig|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE] With this move, Rated-RKO was officially disbanded.

During "Raw"'s 15th Anniversary episode on December 10, 2007, Rated-RKO reunited for 'one night only' and were involved in a Six Man Tag Team match, with their partner Umaga facing Evolution (Triple H, Batista, and Ric Flair). Umaga was pinned after Edge & Orton became frustrated with his loss of momentum and left ringside.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/12102007/articles/triplereunion|title=Triple Reunion for the Game|date=2007-12-10|last=Robinson|first=Bryan|accessdate=2008-01-19|publisher=WWE] Rated-RKO had a reunion of sorts on the April 21, 2008 edition of Raw, when Orton and Edge teamed with JBL and Chavo Guerrero to take on John Cena, Triple H, Undertaker and Kane in a winning effort when Edge hit a Spear on Kane.

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature maneuvers
**"Con-chair-to"
**"Double RKO" (Double jumping cutter)

*Signature foreign object
**Chairs, often each member will perform the "one man con-chair-to" on opponents.

*Entrance themes and ring entrance
**As a group, Rated-RKO used a combination of both Edge and Orton's separate theme songs ("Metalingus" by Alter Bridge, and "Burn in My Light" by Mercy Drive respectively). It began with a pitch-lowered "Metalingus" before switching to a pitch-heightened "Burn in My Light" and alternated between the two as the wrestlers entered. They initially used Edge's Titantron video and Orton's tunnel video before one was finally created for the team in itself. They entered the ring through Edge's fog pyrotechnics, but not Orton's pyro waterfall, which was eventually abandoned altogether after the group split.

Championships and accomplishments

*World Wrestling Entertainment
**World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - Randy Orton and Edge [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam|title=World Tag Team Championship official title history|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE]
**WWE Women's Championship (1 time) - Lita [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women|title=WWE Women's Championship official title history|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=WWE]

Notes

External links

* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/edge/ Edge's WWE Profile]
* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/raw/randyorton/ Randy Orton's WWE Profile]
* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/lita/ Lita's WWE Alimni Profile]