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WWE Makes Huge Randy Orton Move Amid His Hiatus

By Gaurav Singh • Published Jul 07, 2026 08:26 EDT
Randy Orton WWE
Randy Orton (Image source-WWE.com)

Amid his absence from TV, WWE made an official big move relating to Randy Orton.

Nearly three months ago, Randy Orton was on the verge of winning the WWE Championship after he won this year’s Elimination Chamber match. The Viper challenged Cody Rhodes for the title at WrestleMania 42. After a main event filled with a lot of drama, Cody ended up retaining his Undisputed title as Randy came up short.

Randy Orton expressed his frustration after the loss and took out Cody Rhodes with a punt kick. While it looked like Randy would continue his feud with Cody, he has been on a hiatus since WrestleMania 42. Amid Randy’s time away from the ring, WWE officially filed to trademark the term ‘RKO.’

The term has been used by Randy Orton for his vicious finisher. As per the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the description for the trademark ‘RKO’ is stated as follows:

Wrestling exhibitions and performances by a professional wrestler and entertainer rendered through broadcast media including television and radio, and via the internet or commercial online service; providing wrestling news and information via a global computer network”                [H/T WrestleTalk]

Reason for Randy Orton’s WWE hiatus and his contract status

While fans were wondering why Randy Orton has been out of action since WrestleMania 42, Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer Radio reported a while ago that Orton has been dealing with a back injury for years, and he is currently out because of that:

Back injury. That’s why he’s been gone since WrestleMania and it’s probably why he didn’t win the title. He’s got a back injury and it’s significant. He’s had it for years. It almost ended his career, came back, still there and that’s why he’s been out.”

However, Randy apparently debunked Meltzer’s report, revealing that he is enjoying his summer before he comes back to win the WWE Championship the 15th time:

Lmao just milking it guys, leave me alone I’m trying to enjoy my summer before I come back and take that #15″

During an interview in April, Randy Orton had revealed that he has four years left on his current contract with the WWE and intends to stay even beyond that:

I do have four years left on my contract and maybe when that’s over, I’ll get The Undertaker schedule and pop around for WrestleMania every year and then ride until the wheels fall off, literally.”

Fans will have to wait and see when Randy Orton finally returns to WWE TV.