Randy Orton has discussed teaming with Edge in Rated-RKO and how the WWE Hall Of Famer helped Orton through a difficult time.
Orton was in conversation with Stone Cold Steve Austin on The Broken Skull Sessions. Orton spoke at length about his highly-decorated career. Talk turned to just after WrestleMania 22 where Orton lost out on winning the World Heavyweight Championship. Not long after this Orton was suspended by WWE for sixty days. Upon his return, Orton defeated Hulk Hogan at SummerSlam before moving into the tag-team realm.
Triple H and Shawn Michaels had reformed D-Generation X and in the process, cost Edge his WWE Title. Edge then turned to Orton for support and Rated-RKO was born.
Orton explained to Austin just how important Edge had been for him professionally and personally:
“At this point, so this is 2007, this was like just about to see the light at the end of the tunnel for myself. Edge was great because we really bonded back then. He was great for me because he kinda picked up where I was lacking, and with the things that I was going through, I believe I was lacking because of those things, and he was like a big brother for me. I think we did some really good sh*t, and I have him to thank for it – I really do.”
Together Edge and Orton picked up one World Tag Team Championship reign together as a team. Rated-RKO defeated a WWE Hall Of Fame team of Ric Flair and ‘Rowdy’ Roddy Piper to win the titles on Raw.
Edge and Orton had a brutal feud after Edge’s initial return to WWE at the 2020 Royal Rumble. After seemingly reuniting with Orton, Orton attacked Edge. This led to a Last Man Standing match on night 2 of WrestleMania 36 that Edge won.
Randy Orton also explained why he initially had no interest in sharing the ring with former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre.
Credit: The Broken Skull Sessions
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