WWE veteran Randy Orton has his in-ring future up in the air. The 13-time World Champion Randy Orton has been on the shelf with a back injury. He has not been featured in WWE programming in almost a year. Fans have been speculating about his return ever since.
Randy Orton has been away dealing with the injury since May last year. Orton was last involved on May 20 edition of WWE SmackDown when he and Matt Riddle dropped the RAW Tag Team Championships to The Usos. Orton was attacked by The Bloodline to be written off television following the match. He has since been dealing with a back injury that was considered significant enough for him to miss the rest of the year.
‘The Viper’ required a fusion in his lower back that would keep him out of action for an extended period of time. The surgery took place successfully and ever since he has been nursing the injury. It has been noted that there is speculation that he might return soon after rumors started floating regarding his return.
There has been no announcement on Orton’s possible return to the ring, and his father, Bob Orton Jr., has stated that his son’s physicians have advised against him competing again.
Randy Orton’s original retirement plans
The unquestionable future inductee into the Hall of Fame turned 43 years old in April of this year. Before his injury, he wanted to keep going and had plans to continue wrestling for another 10 years.
When asked about it on the Ringer Wrestling Podcast, Randy Orton shared the following details:
“I’m 41. By the time I’m 50, I think I’m done. But I’m not like, I’ll do auditions every once in a while, but I almost only do them because my wife says ‘oh do them, because what if you don’t?” Orton said. “And I would go out and have that last match when I’m 50 and be able to say I did it on my terms. That’s 9 years from now. But I don’t see an end to my career any time soon. I’d like to continue to go.”
