Randy Orton’s WWE Absence Continues Amid WrestleMania 41 Speculation
It has been three months since Randy Orton last appeared on WWE programming, leaving fans wondering about his status heading into WrestleMania 41. The 14-time World Champion was last seen on the November 8, 2024, episode of Friday Night SmackDown, where he suffered a brutal piledriver attack from Kevin Owens. Since then, Orton has been absent from WWE television, reportedly still selling the injuries from the devastating move.
Is Randy Orton’s Injury Just a Storyline?
Orton’s absence was part of a long-term storyline, possibly setting up a high-profile match against Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 41. However, on the February 3, 2025, edition of Monday Night Raw, Owens delivered another piledriver, this time to Sami Zayn, which suggests that Owens may now be feuding with Zayn for Elimination Chamber 2025 instead.
This shift raises questions about WWE’s long-term creative direction for Orton, as there seems to be no clear reason for his return before Elimination Chamber 2025. WWE has yet to provide any hints about his comeback or potential WrestleMania plans.
What’s Next for The Viper?
Randy Orton made his long-awaited return at Survivor Series 2023 after an 18-month hiatus due to a real-life back injury. However, 2024 has not been kind to The Viper. Despite his return, Orton has lost every premium live event match, leading to growing concern among fans about his booking.
As WrestleMania 41 approaches, the question remains, will WWE finally bring Orton back into the spotlight, or will he continue to be sidelined? Fans remain hopeful that the Apex Predator will make a big impact when he returns.
Would you like to see Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens at WrestleMania 41? Let us know your thoughts!
