Report: No Creative Plans For Randy Orton's WWE Return

Randy Orton is training for a WWE return, BUT...

Randy Orton hospital
Instagram, @kim.orton01

Randy Orton has been training for a WWE return, but doctors have advised the company legend that returning to wrestling wouldn't be a good idea - and the promotion currently has no creative plans for the Viper's comeback.

Fightful Select's latest update on the long-absent veteran states that an Orton comeback is yet to be factored into WWE creative. Sources have indicated that people shouldn't count on the 43-year-old returning for Saturday's SummerSlam 2023 premium live event - and if an imminent return is in the works, it's being kept hush.

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Orton is yet to be cleared to return to the ring, having been out of action since May 2022. Although he has started working out again, to the extent that he has gotten "huge", he hasn't been bumping, which he would likely need to be brought to the WWE Performance Center for.

Randy plans on making an in-ring comeback, having not wrestled in well over a year, though "extensive conversations" on potential plans are yet to occur. In addition, doctors have advised Orton that wrestling again isn't a good idea.

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The 14-time world champion underwent back fusion surgery last year, with reports later revealing that he would be out of action for the remainder of 2022. That absence has now stretched 7 months into 2023.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.