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Randy Orton Confirmed For WWE Return At Major Show

By Sridhar Krishnan • Published Dec 10, 2025 12:03 EST
Randy Orton

Randy Orton has been missing from WWE programming for a couple of months.

The Viper last wrestled on the October 3 episode of SmackDown, where he teamed up with Cody Rhodes in a losing cause against The Vision’s Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.

While he made a couple of appearances after SummerSlam, that was his last PLE match, as he went on to miss Clash in Paris, Wrestlepalooza, Crown Jewel, and Survivor Series.

Many fans criticized WWE for keeping one of its veteran performers away from the ring for an extended period. His wife even singled out a post on Instagram, making her displeasure known to the company’s higher-ups.

With 2025 ending in just over two weeks and no premium live events scheduled for the year, Triple H & Co. are focused on building up to the 1st anniversary of WWE’s debut on Netflix, followed by the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia.

It has already been revealed that CM Punk will defend his World Heavyweight Championship against Bron Breakker on the January 5 episode of RAW.

As for Randy Orton, he is expected to return later that month.

WWE Accidentally Reveals Randy Orton’s Return Date

During his absence from in-ring competition, Randy Orton has been enjoying a private time with his family.

Orton recently celebrated his 10th anniversary with Kim Orton, sharing an Instagram post with photos from Belize.

Meanwhile, WWE may have accidentally revealed his imminent return date, which now looks like the SmackDown taping on January 30 before Royal Rumble 2026.

Orton is a 14-time world champion, his last title win coming at the 2020 Hell in a Cell, where he defeated Drew McIntyre in a singles match.