What happened to Randy Orton? Reason why Cody Rhodes returned to WWE before him explained

Randy Orton is presently on hiatus from WWE. The Viper's last appearance in the Stamford-based promotion saw him being overpowered by Kevin Owens. Following this, WWE declared that Orton had suffered a cervical injury due to the attack. As of now, there is no specified timeline for the return of the Legend Killer.

However, it's noteworthy that this injury storyline is part of the narrative. In real life, the Apex Predator is currently on vacation with his family. So, it seems that Randy is taking a break from the company to spend some quality time. Regarding his WWE return, Orton is envisioned to make his comeback to the Stamford-based promotion around the Royal Rumble 2025.

In a recent episode of WWE SmackDown, Cody Rhodes mentioned the name of The Viper. This occurred when the American Nightmare confronted Kevin Owens and spoke about how Owens destroyed his mentor, the Viper. Cody stated that he wanted revenge for what happened. The rationale behind Rhodes returning before Randy Orton, despite being attacked with a package piledriver by the Viper, is that Orton is currently spending time with his family.

For those who may not know, Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens will clash in a ladder match at Royal Rumble 2025, with the Undisputed Title dangling above the ring. This makes it more likely that Orton could make his return at the upcoming Premium Live Event. Many fans believe the Viper could return as a villain and potentially betray Cody Rhodes to set up a title match against him.

Overall, fans of the veteran will only need to wait about one more month to see Randy Orton back on television.

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Will Randy Orton be part of the WWE RAW Netflix show?

WWE RAW's Netflix debut show will air on January 6, 2025. The WWE Universe is already thrilled and excited about this special event, as legendary names are set to appear. Now, the question arises: Will Randy Orton make his appearance at this event?

As of now, reports have disclosed that WWE is not currently discussing the Legend Killer's appearance at RAW Netflix's debut show.

This seemingly confirms that Randy Orton's fans may be disappointed on January 6, 2025, as the Apex Predator is unlikely to appear. Despite this, RAW's Netflix debut will indeed be one of the biggest editions of the red brand in recent times.