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Randy Orton’s music hit to a strong reaction. Orton was out sans tape on his wrists. Lawler noted it wasn’t a “huge ovation,” but a “huge reaction” because the audience still doesn’t know how to take to Orton. Orton completed his ring intro and the match was on.
RANDY ORTON vs. EDGE
The bell sounded and Orton remained still staring straight ahead at Edge. They waited out an “R-K-O” chant before Edge paced around the ring, then locked up with Orton. Striker painted a picture that Edge wanted to create distance to hit the spear and Orton wanted to keep things close to hit the RKO. Cole noted the winner of the match could jockey into position for a slot in the WWE Title match at the Fatal Four-Way PPV. Orton started on the offensive, then the action moved to the floor where Edge took control and dropped Orton stomach-first across the guardrail. Orton was selling his left arm as Edge rolled him back into the ring to begin a focused attack. Orton started elbowing out of a body scissors submission as the fans chanted “R-K-O,” but Edge cut off Orton with a knee to the stomach to continue focusing on the mid-section to set up the spear.
Edge went up top at 7:00, but Orton cut him off. He wanted a superplex, but Edge blocked and headbutted Orton to the mat. Edge tried to come back with a high-risk move, but Orton crotched him and this time hit the Orton family tradition superplex. Edge and Orton recovered to their feet, then started trading haymakers. Orton won the exchange with a powerslam for a two count, but Edge came back with a boot to the face. Orton then came back with a classic spike DDT with Edge hanging across the middle rope. Edge kicked out of a pin attempt, then rolled to the outside to recover. Edge lured Orton into a trap to yank Orton throat-first across the top rope to regain control. Edge then rolled into the ring and got his space in the corner. Edge teased the Spear as Orton recovered to his feet, but Orton kicked him in the head.
Orton then started pounding the mat to tease the RKO, but he sold an injury to his arm and seemed to tell Edge to call an audible. Orton suddenly stopped the match and sold an injury to his right arm. His arm seemed to be hanging by a thread as he rolled to the outside no-selling punches. The ref started a ten count and they did a spot where Edge missed a spear and Orton continued to hold his arm. Double count-out finish. Refs checked on Orton and they tried a recovery angle with Edge snapping and trying to go after Orton, who just walked away clutching his forearm in pain. The announcers ringside talked about the potential injury and Orton’s history of shoulder injuries. Striker unwittingly said the “night must go on.” Where did we hear that before eleven years ago?
WINNER: Double count-out at 12:50. They were booked into a corner where neither wrestler could really afford a loss, so the finish made sense. Orton sure seemed to be legit injured, although the finish made sense for a double count-out so neither wrestler had to take a loss. It will be interesting to see what the follow-up is on Orton, who could be out an extended length of time if the injury was legit.
