Is Randy Orton Returning to WWE on SmackDown Tonight? Likely Truth Explained

Randy Orton has mysteriously been away from WWE programming since October. There are no reports about him being injured, which suggests that the creative simply doesn't have plans for him at this time.

The Viper was pictured on vacation with his family, and was seen promoting WWE alongside stars such as Liv Morgan, Grayson Waller, Omos, and Tiffany Stratton at Mr. Beast Land in Saudi Arabia. Interestingly, he is being advertised for the December 19 edition of SmackDown in Grand Rapids, which has led to members of the WWE Universe speculating about a potential return tonight.

However, it seems unlikely that Orton will return right before the holidays, since he hasn't been on television in months. Several other stars that haven't been seen on television in a while, such as Jacob Fatu and Tiffany Stratton, are also being advertised. The chances of them returning are low, and the same can be said about Orton.

A more probable return date for Orton seems to be in January, before the 2026 Royal Rumble.

Randy Orton seemingly revealed his WWE return date in Saudi Arabia

During his appearance at Mr. Beast Land, Randy Orton seemingly confirmed that he would be back in time for the Royal Rumble and the episode of SmackDown before it. In the process, he seemingly ruled out a surprise appearance in the Rumble match:

With a return confirmed in time to build up to the year's first major premium live event, it remains to be seen when Orton finally makes his comeback after months away.

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Edited by Arsh Das