Randy Orton‘s absence continues, and a new report suggests that he’ll be out of action for some time to come.
“The Viper” hasn’t wrestled since the May 20 episode of WWE SmackDown, where he and Riddle lost the RAW Tag Team Championship to The Usos. Fightful Select subsequently reported that Orton had a “significant” injury, and he would likely miss the rest of 2022.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reports that Orton needed to have a fusion in his lower back, and the surgery is expected to keep him on the sidelines for the foreseeable future. It’s unclear when the surgery took place, but Orton’s wife recently posted a picture of him while he was in the hospital. Sapp cited some WWE sources who noted that, given the significance of the injury and the length of Orton’s career up to this point, the company would be “fortunate” to get him back.
Sources also indicated that, when Orton first got hurt, he insisted that he would come back. But as of this writing, there is no timetable for Orton’s return. Per the report, Orton is signed to WWE through 2024, but it’s unclear whether time could be added to the contract, or if it could potentially get frozen, due to the injury.
WrestleZone will provide more information as it becomes available.
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