Randy Orton is healing up, but we haven’t heard that he’s heading back just quite yet.
The future Hall of Famer Randy Orton has been sidelined since May 2022 with an injury that Fightful Select learned was a lower back fusion. Over the past year or so, we’ve reported some progress on his status, and we’ve learned a bit of an update. Sources within WWE creative said that as of this past week, Randy Orton had not been factored into WWE creative plans whatsoever.
We’ve heard that he’s not yet cleared for in-ring training or action, and those we’ve spoken to say that there hasn’t been an extensive conversation about what the plans will be for Orton. As of now, before in-ring training resumes, Orton is planning to make a return to the ring. However, a lower back fusion isn’t typical among pro wrestlers and is uncharted territory for many. Doctors have told Orton that wrestling in the future isn’t a good idea, but he still plans on it. He has resumed lifting, and we’ve told he’s “huge” as a result.
Orton has resumed working out, but hasn’t resumed bumping, and will likely be brought into the Performance Center to do so.
When we asked a WWE source if Orton would be returning at WWE Summerslam, they said to not count on it, and that he’d not been factored into any creative that they’d heard of. As the show got closer, we were outright told he wasn't close to being cleared.
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