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Rated-RKO

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Rated-RKO
Edge and Orton in 2006
Tag team
MembersEdge
Randy Orton
Lita (valet)
Name(s)Edge and Randy Orton
Rated-RKO
Combined
billed weight		496 pounds (225 kg)
DebutOctober 9, 2006
DisbandedMay 11, 2007

Rated-RKO was a tag team in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) consisting of Edge and Randy Orton. Active on the Raw brand between October 2006 and May 2007, the alliance was formed primarily to feud with D-Generation X (DX). During their tenure, the duo captured the World Tag Team Championship once. Edge's girlfriend, Lita, also managed the team until her departure from WWE in November 2006. Following their disbandment, Edge and Orton occasionally reunited throughout the following years.

History

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Feud with D-Generation X (2006–2007)

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On the October 2, 2006, episode of Raw, Edge failed to win the WWE Championship from John Cena due to interference from DX.[1] The following week, Edge, alongside Lita, convinced Orton to join forces against DX, citing Orton's bitter storyline history with Triple H.[2] At Cyber Sunday in November, Edge and Orton defeated DX with the help of Eric Bischoff, who served as the special guest referee.[3]

The following night on Raw, Edge and Orton challenged Ric Flair and Roddy Piper for the World Tag Team Championship. Although Bischoff reprised his role as guest referee, Edge and Orton lost the match following interference from DX.[4] A week later, however, the duo captured the championship after attacking Piper, effectively taking him out of the match, and became officially known as Rated-RKO.[5] Later that month at Survivor Series, Team Rated-RKO suffered a clean-sweep defeat against Team DX in a 5-on-5 elimination match. At the same event, Lita wrestled her final WWE match before departing the company, losing the Women's Championship to Mickie James.[6]

The rivalry between the two teams escalated on Raw when Rated-RKO attacked Flair to provoke DX.[7] This culminated in a World Tag Team Championship match at New Year's Revolution in January 2007, which ended in a no contest,[8] and Triple H suffered a torn right quadriceps.[9] With Triple H sidelined for several months, Rated-RKO continued their feud with Michaels, losing to him in a 2-on-1 handicap match on Raw.[10] At the Royal Rumble, both Edge and Orton reached the final four of the titular match, but were eliminated by Michaels. The following night on Raw, Rated-RKO's title reign ended when they lost the championship to the impromptu duo of Michaels and Cena.[11]

Edge and Randy Orton as World Tag Team Champions

On the February 15 episode of Raw, Rated-RKO, Mr. Kennedy and MVP lost to John Cena, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker and Batista. Internal dissension continued as both men laid claim to being the number one contender to the WWE Championship,[12] and Edge walked out on Orton on the February 26 episode of Raw during a rematch for the World Tag Team Championship due to miscommunication.[13]

The relationship strained further after both men qualified for the WrestleMania 23 Money in the Bank ladder match, which would grant the winner a championship match.[citation needed] For weeks Edge influenced various authority figures into putting Orton in matches that would cause Orton not to succeed.[14][15][16]

Breakup and subsequent reunions (2007–2011)

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On the April 16, 2007 episode of Raw, they reunited to take on John Cena in a handicap match but lost the match due to interference from Michaels.[17] At Backlash, the two were involved in a Fatal Four-Way match for the WWE Championship along with Michaels and Cena. Cena ended up retaining the title after pinning Orton.[18] On the April 30 episode of Raw, Edge and Orton met in a one-on-one match. Edge won the match by pinning Orton following a spear.[19] Edge then moved to the SmackDown! brand on the May 11 episode of SmackDown!, after cashing in the Money in the Bank briefcase (which he had won from Mr. Kennedy on the May 7 episode of Raw)[20] to win the World Heavyweight Championship from The Undertaker.[21][22] With this move, Rated-RKO was officially disbanded. During Raw's 15th Anniversary episode on December 10, Rated-RKO reunited for "one night only" to partake in a six-man tag team match, teaming up with Umaga to face the members of Orton's former group Evolution (Triple H, Batista, and Ric Flair). They lost the match after being disqualified.[23]

The team had a reunion on the April 21, 2008 episode of Raw, when Orton and Edge teamed with John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) and Chavo Guerrero Jr. to take on John Cena, Triple H, The Undertaker, and Kane in a winning effort.[24]

On the April 26, 2010, episode of Raw, Edge cost Orton (who had turned face after feuding with his former group The Legacy) a number-one contender's match by spearing him during a triple threat match against Batista and Sheamus.[25] Orton and Edge faced off at Over the Limit in May, though Orton dislocated his right shoulder and the match concluded with a double countout.[26]

On the January 28, 2011 episode of SmackDown, Edge and Orton reunited as fan favourites in a winning effort against Dolph Ziggler and The Miz.[27] On the February 18 episode of SmackDown, they reunited once again and teamed up with John Morrison, R-Truth, Rey Mysterio Jr., and John Cena to defeat Kane, Ziggler, Sheamus, CM Punk, Drew McIntyre, and Wade Barrett in a 12-man tag team match.[28] On the April 11 episode of Raw, Edge announced his retirement due to a neck injury preventing him from being medically cleared.[29]

Feud (2020–2021)

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Edge returned to wrestling at the Royal Rumble event in January 2020.[30] The following night on Raw, he was attacked by Orton, beginning a feud.[31] They would face each other in a Last Man Standing match at WrestleMania 36, which was won by Edge and a singles match at Backlash, which was won by Orton.

The next year, at Royal Rumble, they participated in the Royal Rumble match as the first two entrants. Both would last until the final two where Edge eliminated Orton to win the match.[32] Edge defeated Orton on the February 1 episode of Raw to end their year-long feud.[33]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ Caldwell, James (October 2, 2006). "CALDWELL'S RAW REPORT 10/2: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on April 22, 2026. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  2. ^ Caldwell, James (October 9, 2006). "CALDWELL'S RAW REPORT 10/9: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on August 10, 2014. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  3. ^ Zeigler, Zack (November 5, 2006). "Bischoff creates controversy". WWE. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  4. ^ Dee, Louie (November 6, 2006). "Payback is a Dick". WWE. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  5. ^ Zeigler, Zack (November 13, 2006). "Rated-RKO Champions". WWE. Archived from the original on December 6, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  6. ^ DeFelice, Robert; Russell, Skylar (April 5, 2022). "Lita Explains Her Mindset Ahead Of WWE Departure In 2006: 'Even Walking Down The Ramp Felt Weird' | Fightful News". Fightful. Archived from the original on March 22, 2025. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  7. ^ Dee, Louie (November 27, 2006). "R-K-Anarchy". WWE. Archived from the original on December 11, 2006. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  8. ^ "DX vs. World Tag Team Champions Rated-RKO (No Contest)". WWE. January 7, 2007. Archived from the original on January 26, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  9. ^ "Triple H tears quadriceps tendon". WWE. January 8, 2007. Archived from the original on June 15, 2015. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  10. ^ Keller, Wade (January 15, 2007). "KELLER'S WWE RAW REPORT 1/15: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live show". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on February 21, 2025. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  11. ^ Parks, Greg (January 29, 2007). "1/29 WWE Raw Review: Parks's ongoing "virtual time" alt perspective". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  12. ^ Caldwell, James (February 5, 2007). "Caldwell's WWE Raw Report 2/5: Ongoing coverage of live edition of Raw". PW Torch. Retrieved December 7, 2009.
  13. ^ Golden, Hunter (February 26, 2007). "Raw Results – 2/26/07 – Fresno, CA (Trump makes pick & 'Tag Titles')". WrestleView. Retrieved November 30, 2009.
  14. ^ Golden, Hunter (March 12, 2007). "Raw Results – 3/12/07 – Washington, DC (Trump & McMahon + more)". WrestleView. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  15. ^ Golden, Hunter (March 13, 2007). "ECW on Sci Fi Results – 3/13/07 – Trenton, NJ (Lashley & Orton, more)". WrestleView. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  16. ^ Golden, Hunter (March 19, 2007). "Raw Results – 3/19/07 – Indianapolis, IN (WM Reverse Night & more)". WrestleView. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  17. ^ Golden, Hunter (April 16, 2007). "Raw Results – 4/16/07 – Milan, Italy (New WWE IC Champion, more)". WrestleView. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  18. ^ Elliott, Brian (April 29, 2007). "No filler makes for a consistent Backlash". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on June 27, 2015. Retrieved July 16, 2008.
  19. ^ Starr, Noah (April 30, 2007). "Khali's claim". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
  20. ^ DiFino, Lennie (May 7, 2007). "Gold digging". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 7, 2008.
  21. ^ Lennon, Patrick (May 11, 2007). "WWE hits the buffers". Daily Star.
  22. ^ Parks, Greg (May 11, 2007). "5/11 WWE Smackdown: Parks's Virtual Time Coverage of the Show". PW Torch. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  23. ^ Robinson, Bryan (December 10, 2007). "Triple Reunion for the Game". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved January 19, 2008.
  24. ^ Keller, Wade (April 21, 2008). "Keller's WWE Raw Report 4/21: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live King of the Ring tournament". PW Torch. Retrieved December 8, 2009.
  25. ^ Plummer, Dale (April 26, 2010). "Raw: Feeling a draft". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved May 24, 2010.[dead link]
  26. ^ Bishop, Matt (May 23, 2010). "Batista quits to end disappointing Over The Limit". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  27. ^ Hillhouse, Dave (January 29, 2011). "Smackdown: Babyfaces behaving badly". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Retrieved January 31, 2011.[dead link]
  28. ^ Hillhouse, Dave (February 19, 2011). "Smackdown: 600 birthday smacks". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on July 5, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2011.
  29. ^ Plummer, Dale (April 11, 2011). "Raw: Edge calls it a career". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  30. ^ Powell, Jason (January 26, 2020). "WWE Royal Rumble results: Powell's live review of the Royal Rumble matches, "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt vs. Daniel Bryan in a strap match for the WWE Universal Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Asuka for the Raw Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
  31. ^ Powell, Jason (January 27, 2020). "01/27 WWE Raw Results: Powell's review of Edge's return, Royal Rumble winners Drew McIntyre and Charlotte Flair, Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy vs. Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens for the Raw Tag Titles, Liv Morgan vs. Lana". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  32. ^ Powell, Jason (January 31, 2021). "WWE Royal Rumble results: Powell's live review of the Royal Rumble matches, Drew McIntyre vs. Goldberg for the WWE Championship, Roman Reigns vs. Kevin Owens in a Last Man Standing match for the WWE Universal Championship, Sasha Banks vs. Carmella for the Smackdown Women's Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  33. ^ Brookhouse, Brent (February 1, 2021). "WWE Raw results, recap, grades: Edge battles Randy Orton, Drew McIntyre's next challenger emerges". CBSSports. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  34. ^ "World Tag Team Championship". WWE. Archived from the original on April 12, 2026. Retrieved April 21, 2026.
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