Randy Orton’s father discloses why the WWE star didn’t RKO Rhea Ripley on Raw

'CowBoy' Bob Orton has finally revealed the reason behind why Randy Orton abstained from delivering RKO to Rhea Ripley.

Randy Orton’s father discloses why the WWE star didn’t RKO Rhea Ripley on Raw

Bob Orton, Rhea Ripley and Randy Orton (via WWE/YouTube)

‘Cowboy’ Bob Orton is not only a wrestling legend but also the father of Randy Orton. He had a tremendous influence in establishing his son as one of the greatest and continues to speak about his ongoing stances in WWE. In an interview with Bill Apter, Bob Orton revealed why Randy Orton didn’t RKO Rhea Ripley on his Raw return.

Bob Orton expressed that he did feel there was a point when the Viper was thinking about it. He was immediately cut off by Apter, who asked what stopped him from delivering the three most dangerous letters in sports entertainment. His answer simply indicated that Randy was a gentleman. 

YouTube video
"I thought he was gonna probably RKO her. He's a gentleman. I thought there might have been a chance."
Bob Orton on why Randy Orton didn’t RKO Rhea Ripley

Additionally, Bob also spoke about how the Legend Killer can simply run over the likes of Damien Priest if the occasion arises. It is noteworthy to state that the Viper has a history of delivering RKO even on female superstars. At this point, it has become so iconic that female stars like Liv Morgan wish to receive the RKO from him. Fans recently saw Randy Orton shocking everyone as he delivered RKO on Nick Aldis as he joined Friday Night SmackDown.

The captivating reason behind Randy Orton choosing RKO as his finishing move

RKO is currently one of the best finishing moves in WWE. While fans get thrilled whenever an RKO gets delivered, they are often quizzical about the name of the maneuver. As it turns out, the acronym has both personal and strategic reasons. The finishing move is literally a testament to Randy’s own legacy, as it’s an acronym of his full name, Randal Keith Orton.

Additionally, in his appearance on Logan Paul’s Impaulsive Podcast, the Viper also revealed that his decision to use RKO as his finisher was to adapt to a move that doesn’t need heavy lifting. It was because Randy had a history of shoulder issues early in his career.

Randy Orton and Jimmy Uso
Randy Orton delivering RKO to Jimmy Uso (via WWE)
"Essentially, what it was is I blew my shoulders out early in my career. I've had three shoulder operations. I go way overboard in protecting my shoulders because, you know, I don't want to be on the shelf with another shoulder injury."
Randy Orton during the Impaulsive Podcast

Fans have seen Randy Orton deliver an RKO over the years in some of the most innovative ways possible. The tenacity of the move, combined with sleek execution in the blink of an eye, makes it a visual spectacle to behold.

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