5 Best ways for Randy Orton to return to WWE

Randy Orton hasn't appeared on WWE television since WrestleMania 36. He faced Edge in a Last Man Standing match at the Grandest Stage of Them All and was defeated in a bout that lasted well over 30 minutes.

It was the longest WrestleMania match in years, but it ended with Randy Orton losing to his old tag team partner, who made his return to singles competition after 9 long years away. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, WWE has been forced to utilize a limited chunk of the roster for their weekly shows.

Since legends and part-timers rarely appear after WrestleMania, WWE likely felt that it was best to put Randy Orton aside for the time being. However, there will be a time when he will return and it's likely to be on RAW.

He's still one of the most important Superstars on the roster and here are the five best ways to bring him back:

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#5. A Brock Lesnar non-title feud

Is it time to run it back?

As you may know, Randy Orton faced Brock Lesnar in the main event of SummerSlam 2016. It was an odd match-up since Orton had been out of action for nine months and was announced as Lesnar's opponent before his UFC 200 fight against Mark Hunt.

In their SummerSlam main event, Lesnar ended up cutting Randy Orton's forehead with a series of legitimate elbows, forcing the referee to call a stop to the contest as The Viper was oozing blood.

There were two weird things about the fallout from the match. Firstly, Shane McMahon came out and was attacked as well, seemingly intending to set up a WrestleMania match that thankfully never happened. Secondly, Randy Orton vowed to get one over Lesnar but seemed to forget about it immediately after.

A non-title feud against Lesnar would likely be the best way to get both Superstars back in WWE programming.

#4. Helping to build Jinder Mahal again

Can WWE do justice to Jinder Mahal's potential?

Jinder Mahal's 2017 run as WWE Champion is considered to be a negative memory for most WWE fans. There were indeed a lot of flaws with it. For one, he went from enhancement talent to main event talent in one week and nothing was done to make him across as a believable main eventer.

The biggest problem was that WWE rushed him to the top far too quickly. One of the positives about his WWE title reign was that he presented himself as a legitimate Champion and he certainly looked like a top heel World Champion.

Randy Orton did the best he could to put Mahal over in that run, losing to him in three consecutive PPVs. Now that Mahal is back on RAW, WWE has the chance to give him a legitimate push with a slow-burning build. A feud against Orton could be a great way for him to take the next step. However, he might need a year or two to potentially reach the top again.

#3. Picking up where he left off with AJ Styles

Randy Orton and AJ Styles

Earlier this year, Randy Orton was in the midst of a rivalry with AJ Styles - picking up where they left off at WrestleMania 35. On that occasion, Styles was the face, and Orton was the heel, with The Phenomenal One picking up his third consecutive win at WrestleMania.

This time around, however, the roles were reversed. Styles had been a heel for almost half a year after reuniting with Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson to form The OC. Orton had been a face for a while and they even had a match far superior to their WrestleMania encounter.

One of the odd things about it was the fact that it ended abruptly with no conclusion. Edge returned at the Royal Rumble 2020 and the night after, Orton attacked him and turned heel, immediately ending his previous feud with Styles.

While it might require Orton (or Styles) to turn face, it might be better to pick up where they left off and have a definite conclusion to the rivalry.

#2. Targeting Kevin Owens

Randy Orton and Kevin Owens in a No DQ encounter

Despite Kevin Owens being on the roster for five years now, it's surprising that he hasn't had an actual feud with Randy Orton. The two have crossed paths multiple times, first facing off on RAW in 2015.

They had encounters later on as well, but we're curious as to why they never had a rivalry. While it would be a great WrestleMania match as well, perhaps a mid-year feud between the two would be the best way to go.

For one, Orton doesn't have to turn face. Kevin Owens will return with momentum after beating Seth Rollins in a fantastic match at WrestleMania and Orton would be a great name to welcome him back for a PPV feud or two.

Orton vs Owens sounds like a great SummerSlam encounter as well. A good way to lead to that would be a trilogy of matches culminating at The Biggest Party of the Summer. If crowds are back by then, it should get a great reaction.

#1. Drew McIntyre's next WWE Championship challenger

Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 36

This entire point is under the assumption that Drew McIntyre defeats Seth Rollins and retains the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank 2020. Since Rollins is McIntyre's first major challenger post-WrestleMania, he won't be expected to win the WWE Championship, barring a possible suspension or injury for the Scotsman.

McIntyre needs some strong heel challengers and if Rollins isn't going to be a contender for more than one PPV, then Randy Orton would be the next best option for him in the coming month or two.

It would also do wonders for McIntyre as WWE Champion if the first three successful title defenses were Big Show, Seth Rollins, and Randy Orton. For that, Orton would likely need to return on the RAW after Money in the Bank.

However, it wouldn't be surprising to see WWE extend the McIntyre-Rollins feud to more than one PPV. It would be a good way for the company to continue using a limited number of Superstars during a time like this.