Randy Orton Closing On WWE Return

Randy Orton is close to a return to action.

After failing to win the World Heavyweight Championship from Gunther, Randy Orton initially found himself fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with Kevin Owens, but that changed in October.

Owens attacked Orton backstage on SmackDown, which set up a match between the pair at Crown Jewel. However, the match never got started as they brawled throughout the arena, more intent on inflicting pain than winning a wrestling match.

The violence continued on the November 8 episode of SmackDown, where Kevin Owens hit Randy Orton with a devastating Piledriver, taking him out of action. While Owens has continued to challenge for World Championship gold in the months since, The Viper has disappeared from view. But that absence could be coming to an end.

Randy Orton Will Be Back For WrestleMania

According to a new report from Mike Johnson of PWInsider, Orton is expected to be “back in the mix” next month. In addition, he will be back in the ring in time for WWE’s upcoming pre-WrestleMania European tour.

That tour will begin on March 14 with a special edition of Friday Night SmackDown from the Olimpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain.

There had previously been suggestions that Orton would be back for the Royal Rumble, but the event came and went without him.