Report: Original Plans For Randy Orton's WWE Return Revealed

WWE previously had big plans in the works for Randy Orton.

Orton has been out of action since the May 20 episode of Friday Night SmackDown when RK-Bro lost the Raw Tag Team Championships to The Usos in a unification match. Orton was taken out following the match in an attack from The Bloodline.

The attack was done to write Orton off TV as he is dealing with a serious back injury. WWE hoped Orton would be back in action by late 2022 and WrestleVotes told GiveMeSport that the original plan was for Orton to come back to TV and turn on Matt Riddle, dissolving RK-Bro in the process. 

Orton's back injury was more serious than first expected, however, and The Viper will reportedly be out of action at least until the end of 2022. It was noted in September there was "a lot of concern" about the severity of Orton's issue. 

During Orton's absence, Riddle has unsuccessfully challenged for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title and feuded with Seth Rollins but he now finds himself somewhat in limbo on TV ahead of his next programme. 

WrestleVotes speculated this could be because WWE assumed Orton would be back by now which is why nothing has been planned for Riddle.