It’s been nearly a year and a half since the electrifying presence of Randy Orton graced the WWE ring. However, for the fans eagerly awaiting the return of The Legend Killer, their wait might soon come to an end.
Fightful Select reports that Orton and WWE have circled Survivor Series as the potential date for his anticipated return. The event is scheduled for November 25 in Chicago, a city renowned for its passionate wrestling fans.
Orton’s last appearance was on the May 20, 2022 episode of Friday Night SmackDown. That night was memorable for a lot of WWE fans. The SmackDown Tag Team Champions, Jimmy and Jey Uso, defeated Orton and Matt Riddle, unifying the RAW Tag Team Championship in the process. To write Orton off television, a post-match assault by The Bloodline was orchestrated, effectively sidelining The Apex Predator.
However, the actual cause behind Orton’s hiatus from the squared circle was a more pressing concern: his back. Reports have since confirmed that Orton underwent back fusion surgery. This decision was essential due his back issues, which is a problem exacerbated by the physical toll wrestling takes on the body. The fact that he underwent such a significant surgery, especially at 43 years old, left many insiders skeptical about his eventual return to the ring.
Orton’s father, WWE Hall of Famer “Cowboy” Bob Orton, even shared that doctors is advising Randy against returning to wrestling. But in typical Randy fashion, his father added, “Randy will do what Randy’s going to do.”
Interestingly, while Orton has been recovering and spending valuable time with his family, WWE’s landscape has shifted. Vince McMahon, the bedrock of WWE for decades, retired and made a subsequent return. Moreover, the business saw a big change with the WWE and UFC merger to form TKO Group Holdings, under Ari Emanuel’s Endeavor umbrella. These changes beg the question: where does Randy Orton fit in this new world of wrestling?
Before his hiatus, creative plans for Orton hinted at an Undisputed WWE Universal Champion match with Roman Reigns at SummerSlam 2022. Given that Reigns’ championship reign remains one of the few constants in the turbulent WWE universe since Orton’s departure, this could be a direction worth exploring upon his return.
Hints of Orton’s comeback were sprinkled over the past few months. His sighting at the WWE Performance Center last month is a significant indication. Usually, when injured wrestlers are spotted at the Performance Center, it’s a precursor to their return, marking their phase of working out, taking bumps, and prepping for in-ring action. This aligns with other reports that suggest Orton has been lifting, though not yet bumping, in the ring.
Further fueling speculations of his return, Rev Theory, the band responsible for Orton’s theme song “Voices”, hinted at a possible comeback for Orton in an episode of SmackDown.
Orton Voices https://t.co/kS66CM90gs
— Rev Theory (@revtheory) October 12, 2023
Randy Orton is undeniably one of the cornerstones of modern WWE. His potential return at Survivor Series, a flagship PLE, could add more momentum to the product. The event is not just another pay-per-view but marks the beginning of a crucial phase in the WWE calendar, leading to other major events like the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 40.
If the reports come to fruition, the return of one of the most successful Superstars in WWE history will provide a huge boost and usher in a new chapter of exciting storylines and matchups.
In the meantime, maybe Randy Orton can finally play fair and grind Elden Ring instead of paying someone else to do it for him.
