Randy Orton Wanted WWE to Cut Infamous Kissing Segment With Stephanie McMahon

Randy Orton was a true menace back in 2009 and this was perfectly seen during his infamous kissing segment with Stephanie McMahon. As it turns out, Orton actually wanted that segment to be cut entirely.

While speaking on What’s Your Story with Stephanie McMahon, Randy Orton looked back on the time he DDT’d Stephanie McMahon and then kissed her while she was knocked out in the ring. He said the whole thing was extremely awkward, especially because Triple H and Vince McMahon were both there watching him rehearse.

Orton noted that Vince McMahon wanted to see exactly where everyone would be, how far Triple H, who was handcuffed, could reach, and where the DDT needed to happen so he couldn’t interfere.

“In my 20s. I know. And I was so nervous and so your father’s there. Husband’s there and we’re rehearsing. It was awkward as hell. So, like, the rehearsal, I don’t know if you remember, but I just remember, like, Vince wanted to kind of see where we were going to be and H is handcuffed and how much just where, where does the DDT need to go down so he can’t reach you and all that.”

When they asked how he was going to actually do the kiss, Orton tried to show it but felt so uncomfortable. In his head, he was hoping they’d run out of time and have to cut the segment entirely. He didn’t even want to say the word “kiss” because it embarrassed him that much.

Orton remembered feeling like his face was beet red. But Triple H was professional about it and understood how big of a moment it would be for the story. For him, it was all about making it mean as much as possible. Looking back, Orton said he didn’t even realize at the time how big and memorable that moment would become.

“And then of course, like, how are you gonna—do the deal? Yeah. And I was like, I guess like this, you know, like, I was like, it’s so awkward. And then like in the back of my head and like, not really realizing how cool of a moment it would have eventually been. I’m thinking like, God, I hope, like, times cut and we have to cut the ‘sk,’ I don’t even want to say the K word. But yeah, super, super.

Like, I was just like, awkward. I feel like I’m beet red. He was cool with it and had the wherewithal to know how amazing of a moment it would be. Like, it was all about, how can we make this mean the most.”

The segment turned out to be one of the most iconic moments in WWE history and even though Orton wanted it to be cut, he is ultimately glad he went through with it and fans feel the same way.