Randy Orton Says Kevin Owens Feud Isn’t Over—“We’ll Finish What We Started”

Randy Orton still has unfinished business with Kevin Owens—and he’s not giving up on it.

Speaking to Denise Salcedo on the WWE Hall of Fame red carpet, Orton reflected on his original WrestleMania 41 plans with Owens, who had to pull out after announcing he needed neck surgery. But Orton made it clear their story isn’t over.

“Owens and I are buddies outside the ring, and I really respect him as not only a wrestler, but like a husband and a father,” Orton said. “I know what it’s like to go through an injury like that, and so I’ve actually had a couple of conversations with him about what to expect.”

Orton revealed that he even helped Owens get a second opinion from a surgeon he’d worked with in the past—showing just how close the two are behind the scenes. “It’s tough to be home, be hurt, and not be able to do what you love to do,” Orton continued. “As much as some people might think it would be awesome to be home for a long time—paid vacation type stuff—this is in our blood.”

And Orton is confident they’ll share the ring again when the time is right. “Until we’re told we can’t do it anymore, we want to do it. So I know he’s got that feeling… and I know he’ll come back and we’ll get to finish what we started.”

With Owens out, Orton will now step into an open challenge match at WrestleMania 41—his 20th appearance at the event.