Randy Orton may finally be getting closer to a return to WWE television, but a new report is now revealing the real reason “The Viper” has been gone since WrestleMania 42 — and it’s far more serious than many fans realized.
After weeks away from WWE programming following his brutal loss to Cody Rhodes, WWE recently began advertising Orton for the May 29 episode of WWE SmackDown in Barcelona, Spain. That immediately fueled speculation that WWE was preparing Orton for a major comeback heading into Clash in Italy. But according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Orton’s absence is actually tied to a significant back injury that has continued lingering for years.
“Back injury. That’s why he’s been gone since WrestleMania and it’s probably why he didn’t win the title.”
Meltzer went on to explain that the issue is not something new either, noting that it’s the same type of injury that nearly forced Orton into retirement previously.
“He’s got a back injury and it’s significant. He’s had it for years. It almost ended his career, came back, still there and that’s why he’s been out.”
This report suddenly gives a completely different context to WWE’s late WrestleMania creative changes as well. After WrestleMania 42, reports surfaced claiming WWE strongly considered putting the Undisputed WWE Championship on Orton before ultimately deciding to keep the title on Rhodes.
The storyline itself ended with Orton snapping after the loss and violently attacking Rhodes after the match, blasting him with the championship before delivering a punt kick to close the show. Since then, Orton has completely disappeared from WWE television. Even though WWE is now advertising him again for SmackDown later this month, it remains unclear how physically active Orton will actually be once he returns.
Bottom line: Randy Orton’s absence since WrestleMania 42 is connected to a significant lingering back injury that nearly ended his career before — and it may have also changed WWE’s original WrestleMania title plans.
Do you think WWE should be cautious with Randy Orton’s return considering his injury history, or should they still move forward with another major main event run? Leave your thoughts and feedback below.
