Randy Orton has explained how Vince McMahon played a key role in making the RKO one of the most protected finishing moves in wrestling.

Speaking with The Schmo ahead of WrestleMania 42, Orton reflected on his career when asked about notable wrestling families. Instead of directly answering, he focused on McMahon’s influence, especially when it came to protecting his finisher.

“It’s funny because that RKO is everything. Vince had a huge hand to play because when I would be wrestling somebody, and I was younger, they would want to kick out of my finish. Vince would pull me aside and say, ‘We’re not going to do that. We’re not going to let that happen.’ I’ll never hit a guy with three RKOs to cover him and pin him. I’m not going to dilute my finish. That is always going to be a kill shot, and I can hit it out of nowhere. Vince has a huge part to play when it comes to my finish, and that’s a huge part of being a WWE superstar, what’s your finishing move,” Orton said.

Orton made it clear that the protection of the RKO was a deliberate decision early in his career. By limiting kickouts and avoiding overuse, the move has remained effective and credible over time.

He did not begin his WWE run using the RKO. Early in his career, Orton used the O-Zone as his primary finisher before transitioning to the RKO, which became his signature move. Over time, he also added the punt kick as another high-impact option.

The RKO is now widely recognized as one of the most consistent and effective finishers in WWE, with its “out of nowhere” execution becoming a defining part of Orton’s matches.

Randy Orton Credits Vince McMahon for Protecting the RKO

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