More Information About Randy Orton’s Upcoming WWE Return

The latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided more information about Randy Orton’s upcoming WWE return, as it should be happening anytime now. As previously reported, Orton is currently slated to return to the company during the Feb. 16 edition of “Monday Night Raw,” which is the “go-home” show to WWE “Fastlane,” which occurs on Feb. 22.

Orton has been promoted for his return since December, when he did make two appearances at WWE Live Events before taking some time off to deal with a deviated septum. After recovering, he had been advertised for multiple “RAW’s,” “Smackdowns,” and WWE Live Events, but has yet to appear on any of them. The most shocking of Orton’s lack of appearance was during the 2015 “Royal Rumble,” where he had been advertised to be a part of the annual 30-man Over the Top Rope Battle Royal for months.

Dave Meltzer seems to think that Orton being kept off of WWE TV has something to do with creative plans for his return, which may or may not include him facing off against Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 31. He writes,

“Orton is still being advertised locally in Orlando on 2/16 with it being billed on local radio as “The Return or Randy Orton,” but radio ads are done well ahead of time. At press time, he was pulled from being advertised for all future television shows, including those as far away as March.

Generally, when someone is pulled from advertising it’s usually because there was a change in time frame from returning from an injury or a communications issue internally. Orton was also pulled from all TV advertising but remains advertised for a full house show schedule going forward.”

It will be interesting to see whether or not Orton makes his return prior to WWE “Fastlane,” at the event itself, or after it. The Undertaker is rumored to return and begin his WrestleMania feud with Bray Wyatt on Feb. 23, the night following “Fastlane,” which begs the question, would WWE have to major stars return on the same night?

Editor’s Note:
Yeah, it’s weird that Orton hasn’t returned yet. I wonder what they’re actually waiting for.