Randy Orton Returns to WWE SmackDown and Drops The Miz With Back-to-Back RKOs

Randy Orton kicked off 2026 in classic Viper fashion — by shutting The Miz up with two RKOs and no patience for nonsense.

The January 2, 2026 episode of WWE SmackDown went down at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York, and featured a surprise return that instantly got fans on their feet. The Miz opened the show with a promo demanding respect, running down his list of accolades, and even taking shots at the hometown Buffalo Bills — a move that didn’t go over well with fans, especially with Dion Dawkins and James Cook II sitting ringside behind the announce desk.

That’s when Randy Orton’s music hit, and the crowd lost it. Orton made his way to the ring, posed for the fans, and then stared down The Miz — who, in typical fashion, tried to flip the script and buddy up with him.

“We are the adults in the ring,” Miz said, pitching himself and Orton as “locker room leaders” and even suggesting they team up as MizKO. He tried to lead a “Yes!” chant and smiled like it was a done deal.

Orton didn’t say a word. Instead, he dropped Miz with a vicious RKO out of nowhere. Then, just as Miz tried to recover, Orton leaned in and said, “Happy New Year, Miz!” before hitting a second RKO to really make his point.

This was Orton’s first appearance since March 10, 2025, when he teamed with Cody Rhodes on SmackDown in a losing effort to The Vision. He took a long break afterward, and his return in Buffalo marked his official return to action in 2026 — and he wasted no time reminding everyone what he’s all about.

With WrestleMania season right around the corner, Orton’s timing couldn’t be better.

Do you want to see Randy Orton back in the title picture this year? Or should WWE build him into a bigger story heading into WrestleMania? Drop your thoughts below and let us know what you think of his return.