In 2009, Randy Orton showcased some of his darkest and most notorious moments, including a segment on Raw where Stephanie McMahon was handcuffed and subjected to a DDT. Orton appeared self-assured and even ended the scene by kissing McMahon, but underneath it all, he was extremely nervous.
This iconic segment has amassed 324 million views on WWE’s YouTube channel, becoming one of the most-watched WWE videos ever. During an episode of McMahon’s What’s Your Story podcast, Orton opened up about his feelings at the time.
Reflecting, he said, “I was in my 20s and very nervous, so I didn’t really grasp how cool it turned out to be.”
Despite his anxiety, the segment has gone down in history as legendary. On the podcast, Orton mentioned he wanted the scene to be longer, but WWE eventually cut it from airing. He confessed feeling awkward about the kiss and found the idea of “Iss-K” quite uncomfortable.
Although Orton may have dominated the night in stature, Triple H managed to defeat him at WrestleMania 25 to retain the WWE Championship. Over the years, Orton and Triple H have been both allies and rivals, but the moment of kissing Stephanie remains a controversial yet memorable highlight that Orton seems ready to move on from.
Fan Take: This segment is a key piece of WWE history that reveals the complex layers behind Orton’s on-screen persona, blending vulnerability with villainy. For WWE fans, it’s a reminder of how much nuance and storytelling go into creating unforgettable moments that shape wrestling’s legacy.
