Randy Orton to be replaced by 39-year-old WWE star at Survivor Series due to his injury? Potential change explored

Randy Orton is dealing with cervical cord neurapraxia and will be out indefinitely as a result of Kevin Owens' assault that ended with a Piledriver last Friday on SmackDown. It is unclear if and when the 14-time world champion will return to WWE as the company hasn't provided any timetable for his return yet.

KO should face consequences for his actions on the blue brand soon, but he will also need to deal with a superstar who will be out for revenge. And this superstar is the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.

The American Nightmare was by Orton's side when the latter was taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation, and he is expected to be on SmackDown this Friday to confront KO.

Rhodes and Owens already have unfinished business and Cody was the reason for Owen's heel turn a few weeks ago. The two squared off for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Bash in Berlin on August 31, but it was Cody's partnership with the returning Roman Reigns that forced Owens to turn on The American Nightmare after Bad Blood.

With that in mind, WWE's plan probably was to have Randy Orton and Kevin Owens have a rematch at Survivor Series on November 30, but it looks like the plan could change. Instead, it could even be an Undisputed WWE Championship bout between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens at Survivor Series: WarGames.

Based on the current tension between the two megastars, it wouldn't come as a surprise if SmackDown GM Nick Aldis added a stipulation to the match.

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When could Randy Orton return to WWE?

WWE didn't announce any timetable for Randy Orton's return following last Friday's events. Still, the expectation is that this was just a storyline and not a legitimate injury, offering the creative team a way to write him off TV for a while.

While his return remains unknown, fans could expect this to happen after Survivor Series. The next major show is Saturday Night's Main Event on December 14, and after that, it is the RAW premiere on Netflix on Monday, January 6, 2025.

WWE could bring The Viper back by that time to continue his feud with Kevin Owens, and if this happens, it should be a no-brainer that the two will collide in a match with violent implications, like an extreme rules stipulation.