Wikipedia

RK-Bro

RK-Bro was an American professional wrestling tag team composed of Randy Orton and Matt Riddle. They were known for their time in WWE, where they performed on the Raw brand. The team's name was derived from Orton's initials and finisher "RKO" and combined with Riddle's catchphrase, "Bro". They were former two-time WWE Raw Tag Team Champions.

RK-Bro
Randy Orton (left) and Matt Riddle (right)
Tag team
MembersRandy Orton[1]
Riddle / Matt Riddle[2]
Name(s)RK-Bro[3]
Randy Orton and Riddle
Billed heightsOrton: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Riddle: 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Combined
billed weight		466 lb (211 kg)
DebutApril 26, 2021[4]
DisbandedSeptember 22, 2023
Years active2021–2023

The team was initially formed in April 2021. After Orton incurred a back injury in May 2022, RK-Bro went on hiatus, although Riddle carried on the gimmick. However, during Orton's hiatus, the team was effectively disbanded after Riddle was released from WWE in September 2023.

History

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On the April 19, 2021 episode of Raw, Riddle would interrupt the backstage interview of Randy Orton where Riddle suggested a tag team formation, with Orton dismissing the idea by leaving. A match was made later on in the night between Orton and Riddle, which Riddle won with a roll-up.[5] The following week on Raw, Orton was backstage with Riddle when he suggested the team be given a try. Later on, the newly labeled RK-Bro defeated Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin. In a backstage interview afterwards, Orton suggested to Riddle they take the team "a day at a time", thus turning Orton into a face.[4]

On the May 3 episode of Raw, Orton and Riddle defeated Elias and Jaxson Ryker; this brought RK-Bro's record to 2–0.[6] On the May 10 episode of Raw, RK-Bro teamed up with The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) to defeat AJ Styles, Omos, Elias, and Ryker in an eight-man tag team match, increasing RK-Bro's record to 3–0.[7] On the June 14 episode of Raw, RK-Bro defeated The New Day in a tag team match, bringing RK-Bro's record to 4–0. The following week on the June 21 episode of Raw, Orton faced John Morrison in a Money in the Bank qualifying match, but was defeated, while Riddle won his qualifying match against Drew McIntyre.[8] The following week, Orton was scheduled to face AJ Styles and Drew McIntyre in a last chance match, but for unknown reasons was pulled and replaced by Riddle who would go on to lose the match for Orton.[9]

Raw Tag Team Champions (2021–2022)

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After a seven-week absence, Orton returned on the August 9 episode of Raw, where he initially discontinued his team with Riddle. Later that night, Orton defeated AJ Styles in a match following assistance from Riddle and afterwards pretended to hug him, however, Orton attacked Riddle with an RKO, which was not construed as a heel turn but rather as Orton's unique way of showing gratitude.[10] The following week, Orton officially reunited the team after Riddle saved him from an attack at the hands of AJ Styles and Omos.[11] At SummerSlam, RK-Bro defeated Styles and Omos to win their first WWE Raw Tag Team Championship, both individually and as a team, giving Omos his first WWE loss by pinning Styles.[12] On the August 30 edition of Raw, they successfully defended their titles against Bobby Lashley and MVP of The Hurt Business.[13] At Crown Jewel, RK-Bro would retain their titles against AJ Styles and Omos.[14] At Survivor Series, RK-Bro would defeat SmackDown Tag Team Champions, The Usos in an interbrand match.[15] RK-Bro would then go on the successfully defend the Raw Tag Team Championships against Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode on the November 29 episode of Raw and against The Street Profits at Day 1.[16][17] On the January 10, 2022, episode of Raw, RK-Bro dropped the titles to Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis), ending their reign at 142 days.[18] However, on the March 7 episode of Raw, RK-Bro regained their tag team championships in a triple threat tag team match against Alpha Academy and the team of Kevin Owens and Seth "Freakin" Rollins; with Riddle pinning Chad Gable.[19] At night two of WrestleMania 38, RK-Bro successfully defended their Raw Tag Team Championships in a triple threat tag team match against The Street Profits and Alpha Academy.[20]

On the April 11 episode of Raw, SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos issued a challenge to RK-Bro,[21] who accepted and the match was made official as a Winners Takes All championship unification match at WrestleMania Backlash.[22] However, on the April 29 episode of SmackDown, the contract signing for the match ended with Roman Reigns assisting The Usos in attacking RK-Bro and tearing up the contract in the process. Drew McIntyre then came out and joined forces with RK-Bro in driving off The Bloodline from the ring. Because of what had transpired, Roman Reigns' special counsel, Paul Heyman, then met with WWE official Adam Pearce backstage where Heyman requested that the resulting tag team championship unification match be called off and instead, a six-man tag team match featuring The Bloodline against RK-Bro and Drew McIntyre be made for WrestleMania Backlash, in which they lost after Roman Reigns pinned Riddle.[23][24] The unification match between The Usos and RK-Bro was later scheduled on the May 20 episode of SmackDown, where they lost their titles to The Usos, ending their second reign at 74 days, resulting in Randy Orton suffering a back injury.[25]

Following Orton's injury, Riddle continued to carry the gimmick throughout the rest of 2022, not knowing when Orton would make a return (Orton would return in November 2023). In September 2023, however, Riddle was released from WWE, effectively disbanding the team.[26]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ "Randy Orton Profile at WWE.Com".
  2. ^ "Riddle Profile at WWE.Com".
  3. ^ "RK-Bro Profile at Cagematch.net".
  4. ^ a b Powell, Jason (April 26, 2021). "4/26 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman vs. Mace and T-Bar, Asuka, Naomi, and Lana vs. Rhea Ripley, Nia Jax, and Shayna Baszler, Damian Priest, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods vs. The Miz, Elias, and Jaxson Ryker". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  5. ^ Berge, Kevin. "Charlotte Flair Suspended, Randy Orton vs. Riddle and More WWE Raw Fallout". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  6. ^ Powell, Jason (May 3, 2021). "5/3 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of AJ Styles and Omos vs. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods for the Raw Tag Titles, Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler vs. Naomi and Lana for the WWE Women's Tag Titles, Bobby Lashley facing Braun Strowman or Drew McIntyre". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Powell, Jason (May 10, 2021). "5/10 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of WWE Champion Bobby Lashley vs. Drew McIntyre in a non-title match, Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, and Shayna Baszler vs. Asuka, Mandy Rose, and Dana Brooke, Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, Randy Orton, and Riddle vs. AJ Styles, Omos, Elias, and Jaxson Ryker". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  8. ^ Powell, Jason (May 17, 2021). "5/17 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of the WrestleMania Backlash fallout edition, WWE Women's Tag Champions Natalya and Tamina appear on Alexa Bliss's Playground". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  9. ^ Powell, Jason (May 24, 2021). "5/24 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Drew McIntyre vs. Kofi Kingston for a WWE Championship match at WWE Hell in a Cell, Natalya and Tamina vs. Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax for the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles, Charlotte Flair vs. Asuka, Riddle vs. Xavier Woods". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  10. ^ Powell, Jason (August 9, 2021). "8/9 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of the build to SummerSlam featuring Randy Orton's return, Bobby Lashley and MVP commenting on Goldberg, Charlotte Flair addressing her loss to Nikki ASH". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  11. ^ Powell, Jason (August 16, 2021). "8/16 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of the SummerSlam go-home edition with Bobby Lashley and Goldberg, Drew McIntyre vs. Veer and Shanky in a handicap match, Randy Orton vs. Omos". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  12. ^ Currier, Joseph (August 21, 2021). "RK-Bro win Raw Tag Team titles at WWE SummerSlam". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  13. ^ Powell, Jason (August 30, 2021). "8/30 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Randy Orton and Riddle vs. Bobby Lashley and MVP for the Raw Tag Titles, Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus in a Triple Threat for the U.S. Championship, The Miz vs. John Morrison, Eva Marie vs. Doudrop". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  14. ^ "411MANIA". RK-Bro Retain RAW Tag Team Titles At WWE Crown Jewel (Pics, Video). Retrieved 2021-10-30.
  15. ^ Powell, Jason (November 21, 2021). "WWE Survivor Series results: Powell's review of Roman Reigns vs. Big E, Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair, RKBro vs. The Usos, and Damian Priest vs. Shinsuke Nakamura in champion vs. champion matches, Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown in Survivor Series elimination matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  16. ^ Powell, Jason (November 29, 2021). "11/29 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Edge's return, WWE Champion Big E vs. Kevin Owens in a non-title match, Finn Balor vs. Seth Rollins, RKBro vs. Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler for the Raw Tag Titles, Damian Priest vs. Apollo Crews for the U.S. Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  17. ^ Powell, Jason (January 1, 2022). "WWE Day 1 results: Powell's review of Big E vs. Brock Lesnar vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship, Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan for the Raw Women's Championship, The Usos vs. Kofi Kingston and King Woods for the Smackdown Tag Titles, Edge vs. The Miz". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  18. ^ Powell, Jason (January 10, 2022). "1/10 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of WWE Champion Brock Lesnar and Bobby Lashley meeting face to face, Randy Orton and Riddle vs. Chad Gable and Otis for the Raw Tag Titles, Bianca Belair vs. Doudrop vs. Liv Morgan for a shot at the Raw Women's Championship at the Royal Rumble, Alexa Bliss's journey back to Raw". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  19. ^ Powell, Jason (March 7, 2022). "3/7 WWE Raw Results: Powell's live review of Chad Gable and Otis vs. Randy Orton and Riddle vs. Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens in a Triple Threat for the Raw Tag Titles, Edge explains his attack on AJ Styles, Jerry Lawler appears, Logan Paul and Miz hold a Homecoming Party". Pro Wrestling Do Net. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
  20. ^ Powell, Jason (April 3, 2022). "WrestleMania 38 results: Powell's live review of night two with Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the Unified WWE Championship, RK-Bro vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy for the Raw Tag Titles, Edge vs. AJ Styles, Johnny Knoxville vs. Sami Zayn in an Anything Goes match, Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory, Bobby Lashley vs. Omos". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 3, 2022.
  21. ^ Powell, Jason (April 11, 2022). "4/11 WWE Raw results: Powell's live review Cody Rhodes vs. The Miz, Smackdown Tag Team Champions The Usos vs. The Street Profits in a non-title match, Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair vs. Queen Zelina in a non-title match, AJ Styles vs. Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio vs. Veer Mahaan". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 12, 2022.
  22. ^ Barnett, Jake (April 15, 2022). "4/15 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Barnett's review of Ricochet vs. Jinder Mahal for the Intercontinental Championship, Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn, Raw Tag Team Champions Randy Orton and Riddle appear". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 16, 2022.
  23. ^ Powell, Jason (April 29, 2022). "4/29 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Barnett's review of Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn in a steel cage match, Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey compete in Beat The Clock submission challenges, Ricochet vs. Shanky for the Intercontinental Title, Usos vs. RK-Bro contract signing for WrestleMania Backlash". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  24. ^ Powell, Jason (May 8, 2022). "WWE WrestleMania Backlash results: Powell's live review of Roman Reigns and The Usos vs. Drew McIntyre and RK-Bro, Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey in an I Quit match for the Smackdown Women's Title, Cody Rhodes vs. Seth Rollins, Edge vs. AJ Styles, Bobby Lashley vs. Omos, Happy Corbin vs. Madcap Moss". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  25. ^ Barnett, Jake (May 20, 2022). "5/20 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Barnett's review of Smackdown Tag Team Champions Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso vs. Raw Tag Team Champions "RK-Bro" Randy Orton and Riddle in a unification match, Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sami Zayn, Xavier Woods vs. Butch". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  26. ^ "Matt Riddle announces that he is no longer with WWE". 22 September 2023.
  27. ^ "WWE Raw Tag Team Championship". World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
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