Why Is WWE Snubbing Randy Orton From All the Big Events?

Randy Orton has been MIA from some of WWE’s biggest moments lately, and fans are straight-up scratching their heads.

He was missing from the Raw 25th Anniversary, SmackDown’s 25th Anniversary, the Raw Netflix Premiere, the ESPN Premiere, i.e., Wrestlepalooza, and a few other milestone shows.

The Apex Predator is a 14-time world champion with two decades of carrying the company on his back.

One would figure he’d be front and center for these history-making nights. But he was nowhere to be seen.

Even his wife, Kim Orton, called WWE out on Twitter a few months back, wondering why her husband was getting the cold shoulder from Triple H.

Randy Orton Missed John Cena’s Farewell Show

Things got even wilder with John Cena’s retirement show on December 13, 2025, at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Orton was in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, handling promo work for the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2026, so he couldn’t jet back in time.

But when WWE aired a massive tribute video montage for Cena, hyping all his epic rivalries, Randy Orton was again a no-show. Zero clips of him and the iconic rivalry between them.

The Legend Killer was Cena’s longest, most heated foe in WWE. WWE skipping him from the tribute video felt like a glaring snub, especially when lesser rivals got their shine.​

There’s no bad blood between Triple H and Orton in real life and no backstage heat. There are also no reported injuries and no suspensions linked to Orton lately. So, what’s the deal?

Fans are buzzing with theories, but no one knows the real reason why WWE and Triple H are keeping The Viper away from big events.

Is WWE saving Randy Orton for a massive Royal Rumble surprise next month, or has Triple H shifted his priority to fresh faces like Gunther while veterans simmer? Only time will tell.

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