Randy Orton update
Added 2023-08-01 19:02:53 +0000 UTCRandy Orton is healing up, but we haven’t heard that he’s heading back just quite yet.
The future Hall of Famer Randy Orton has been sidelined since May 2022 with an injury that Fightful Select learned was a lower back fusion. Over the past year or so, we’ve reported some progress on his status, and we’ve learned a bit of an update. Sources within WWE creative said that as of this past week, Randy Orton had not been factored into WWE creative plans whatsoever.
We’ve heard that he’s not yet cleared for in-ring training or action, and those we’ve spoken to say that there hasn’t been an extensive conversation about what the plans will be for Orton. As of now, before in-ring training resumes, Orton is planning to make a return to the ring. However, a lower back fusion isn’t typical among pro wrestlers and is uncharted territory for many. Doctors have told Orton that wrestling in the future isn’t a good idea, but he still plans on it. He has resumed lifting, and we’ve told he’s “huge” as a result.
Orton has resumed working out, but hasn’t resumed bumping, and will likely be brought into the Performance Center to do so.
When we asked a WWE source if Orton would be returning at WWE Summerslam, they said to not count on it, and that he’d not been factored into any creative that they’d heard of. If Orton is planning an imminent return, it’s being kept quiet.
Comments
Randy Ortan has had a phenomenal career I get loving something & wanting to continue doing it but If doctors are telling him no this is a bad idea you should hang up your boots. Ortan well being is more important than anything else. I would rather Randy retire & be healthy & happy then continue to wrestle & do potentially more damage to himself. Guys been doing this for 20 years. I grew up in the ruthless aggressive era when Ortan debuted for the company.
Matt Hennessy
2023-08-01 19:51:31 +0000 UTCI played football and baseball when I was a kid. I'm a bigger guy, so I was a lineman on both sides of the ball. Unfortunately, I fractured my vertebrae in an auto accident. I had my L4 and L5 fused twice. Prior to my 2nd surgery, the doctor told me "Kurtis you can play again. But if you get moved wrong or the fusion doesn't hold for whatever reason, then we're not talking about a 3rd surgery. We're talking about fitting you for a chair." He looked at my parents and said, "He's gonna have to use his brain instead of brawn for college." And that was the end of me playing sports. I'd love to see Randy back in the ring and working a style that protects his back...but fusions take a long time to heal. So if he never wrestles again, then it's completely understandable.
Kurtis Allen
2023-08-01 19:35:58 +0000 UTCHe should probably just hang it up while he's still walking. What else does he need to do? He's got the championship runs, the main events of the big shows and the big feuds. There's nothing left to do but work outside WWE, and he's not about to do that so he might as well call it a career.
Dan Morrow
2023-08-01 19:26:56 +0000 UTCNo need to rush Randy out if he's not ready to come back as a wrestler. I just wish they could use him as a commentator the same way that WWE used JBL when he got injured back in 2006 or a producer/official role (similar to Adam Pearce) until he's cleared to compete.
Juan Ortiz
2023-08-01 19:25:37 +0000 UTCMan's gonna risk paralyzation, I fear.
CSDX
2023-08-01 19:07:03 +0000 UTCThis is some good news. Hope he takes as much time as he needs.
Hunter Carroll
2023-08-01 19:05:58 +0000 UTC
