Randy Orton recalled the time Austin Theory came up to him and asked him about using a finisher that draws some parallels to Orton's RKO.
Theory has a move that has him carry an opponent and then transition it into a cutter, which Orton uses a variation of for the RKO. During an interview with Corey Graves on After The Bell, Orton said Theory came up to him one day at the WWE Performance Center and asked him if it was okay to use the move. Orton said he was taken aback at Theory coming up to him about it and exclaimed to Theory that he can use it.
“I was down in the PC and Austin Theory comes up to me to shake my hand. I could tell he was new, he was young and he was trying to not say the wrong thing. But he asked me, he goes, ‘Hey I want to start doing this move and it ends up in a similar position, kind of like a cutter.’ You know? I think he picks the guy up like a fireman’s carry, spins them around and does a cutter. I was so taken aback that this kid took the time and had the respect and the wherewithal to ask me if it was OK with me for him to do that. Before I could even think about what the right answer should be, I said, ‘Yes! Oh my god! Are you kidding me?’ He came to me and he asked me. I don’t know if that’s ever happened," Orton said.
You can't have the ATL without the RKO.
— WWEAfterTheBell (@AfterTheBellWWE) June 12, 2020
cc: @RandyOrton @austintheory1
FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/2tGwQDjA5A
#AfterTheBell with @WWEGraves: https://t.co/JvhkqZlMoj pic.twitter.com/xgqOFBLIZ3
Both wrestlers compete on the Raw brand, which airs on USA Network every Monday at 8 p.m. ET. You can check out Orton's comments in the video at the top of the page.
