I do not think it's RRD.

Here’s a closeup. Any idea what caused this?

It looks like new growth to me but I'll differ to others.

Kentucky, it's too soon to confirm positively. Roses under stress do crazy things. Hasn't it been a topsy turvy growing season this year...too hot, too wet, not enough water....all summer long? Consequently our roses grew like little 'Zombies on steroids,' so be patient, give your Bee's Knee plenty of good care, especially watering.

Let new growth come out and see what it looks like, but let it grow a bit longer before deciding.

My first inclination is to say the shots you provided show suspiciously odd growth, not classic Rose Rosette Disease symptoms at this time. The odd coloring of mature leaves in the suspected area is not normal. Mineral deficiency? Perhaps it is indeed a response to being Rose Rosette Disease infected.

Again, let the bush grow out further. I know the anxiety one can go through because of a Rose Rosette Disease breakout. I had one in my roses two years ago. It hit a venerable, impressive Lady Ashe, and one Quietness, whose age was about 12 yrs. old then. It's been two years, and no RRD has occurred since then.

Moses

Thanks everyone. Yes, the season has been strange. I had been watching it for a week.

To me it also looks like new growth. Alot of mine is red.

Today I noticed that the weird growth on Bees Knees is back. Bees Knees got shovel pruned this evening.

Did you take any pictures? I know you did but you felt best but I have roses that come completely red and then turn green over time. Especially this time of year

What was weird about it?

Is it too late to put it back in the hole?

One fall about 6 years ago, i dug up a declining, barely alive Elveshorn to make room for a new BR Roxanne from Palatine. I discarded the attenuated Elveshorn rootball remnant way in the back of the yard, amoungst the ferns and astilbes. 18 months later I noticed Elveshorn growing in that same location, surrounded by astilbes. It’s now a powerhouse rose. I never dug a hole for it.

This is the new regrowth on Bees Knees:

kentucky_rose zone 6, I think you made a wise decision. The strappy leaves and dense thorns point to RRD. The photos you initially posted seemed like they could just be normal new growth, but your most recent photo does look like RRD to me, even if there is a bit less distortion than usual.

I think some of that crazy distortion and witch's broom only comes on later. There is a lot of intense thorniness in this last picture.

Thank you all. I feel much better with having it removed. Yes, it did seem a bit less distorted than the typical RRD.

Agree the last picture is RRD