After Long Hiatus, Randy Orton Sparks WWE Return Rumors

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.

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.