Subhojeet Mukherjee on March 13, 2025
Randy Orton made his triumphant return to WWE during the 2023 Survivor Series Premium Live Event, where he competed in the WarGames match for Cody Rhodes’ team. One of the most insane spots in the match saw him hit a Super RKO on JD McDonagh, and now the original plans for the spots have been revealed.
While speaking to Chris Van Vliet, JD McDonagh talked about the Super RKO spot at the 2023 Survivor Series and the original plans for it. Originally, JD McDonagh was supposed to do a moonsault off the cage, which was something he really wanted to do, but he was told he couldn’t because Charlotte Flair was already doing one.
Since that wasn’t an option, he suggested the Super RKO instead. When asked if it could be done safely, JD McDonagh stated that he would check the height and see if it was possible.
“Yeah, that was my idea. I remember originally wanting to do a moonsault off the cage, which was the plan but then I was told, ‘Listen, you can’t do that, but Charlotte’s gonna do it.’ Okay, well, in that case, I had a slightly more dangerous suggestion.
I said, ‘Super RKO,’ and they asked, ‘Do you think you can do it safely?’ I told them I’d have to eyeball it, get up there, and see the height, but I reckoned I could.”
On the night of the event, he stood on the cage, ready to jump, while Randy Orton walked over to check the setup. JD McDonagh thought about all the bumps he had taken before and decided to go for it. He positioned himself so Orton could grab him, and thankfully, everything went smoothly.
“When I was up there on the cage, just about to do it, and Randy was walking over, he was eyeing it up. I thought about all the bumps I had taken and told myself, ‘Okay, do it just like that. Just put your hands behind your back, leave your head out there for him to grab,’ and thank God, it came off great.”
The night before, they tested out the spot using a crash mat. JD McDonagh noted that he jumped while Orton watched and made sure he could catch him. After seeing it, Orton said, “I got you,” and they agreed to do it in the match.
“Yeah, we got a crash mat out the night before. He stood at the end of it, I got up on the cage and just jumped off. He eyeballed it and said, ‘I got you.’ I said, ‘I bet you do. Let’s do it tomorrow.'”
McDonagh’s big jump into Orton’s Super RKO was one of the most talked-about moments at Survivor Series 2023. It wasn’t his original plan, but it turned into a memorable moment that showed his bravery and Orton’s perfect timing and will forever live on in the history of WWE, something that McDonagh was happy with in the end.
Should WWE have allowed JD McDonagh to do his moonsault, or was the Super RKO the better choice? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
March 13, 2025 8:01 am
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