Dave Meltzer has clarified the reason for Randy Orton’s WWE TV absence since WrestleMania 42, stating on Wrestling Observer Radio that the issue is the long-standing back injury Orton has been managing since his 2022 surgery.
The update came on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio after WrestleVotes had earlier described Orton’s WrestleMania 42 booking decision as “fluid” and connected to internal creative discussions. Meltzer added a separate medical explanation to the picture.
“Back injury. That’s why he’s been gone since WrestleMania and it’s probably why he didn’t win the title. He’s got a back injury and it’s significant. He’s had it for years. It almost ended his career, came back, still there and that’s why he’s been out.”
Bodyslam previously reported that Orton was originally scheduled to win the Undisputed WWE Championship from Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 42 before the plan was changed within the final weeks of the build. Fightful Select separately reported there was internal consideration of an Orton title win before WWE landed on Rhodes retaining.
Orton has been wrestling with chronic back pain for years. He underwent spinal fusion surgery in 2022 after suffering an injury in May of that year, with the operation expected to end his career. He was out of action for 18 months before returning at Survivor Series 2023. The injury has reportedly never fully gone away, with the Meltzer update confirming the issue remains “significant” and is what has kept Orton off TV since the April 25 episode of SmackDown.
Orton won the 2026 Men’s Elimination Chamber match to earn the WrestleMania 42 title shot against Rhodes. The build to the match was dominated by Pat McAfee’s storyline alignment with Orton, with McAfee’s role at one point replacing a creative pitch that had been centered on Aleister Black tormenting Orton and trying to draw out the old Apex Predator version of the character. McAfee himself promised on the April 10 SmackDown that he would leave WWE if Orton did not beat Rhodes, a promo that briefly tilted public expectations toward Orton winning.
Rhodes retained at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. He was split open by an Orton punch during the match, finished the bout with his left eye swelled shut, and was placed in concussion protocol immediately after. He was also pulled from a WWE World appearance scheduled for the Sunday after the show. Orton attacked Rhodes with the title belt and delivered a punt kick in the post-match angle, designed to move the ongoing story forward rather than close it.
Orton last appeared in person on the April 25 SmackDown and has been absent ever since. He was advertised for Backlash on May 9 as part of the reportedly planned Cody Rhodes and Jelly Roll vs Pat McAfee and Randy Orton tag match, but the match did not take place as plans changed. McAfee himself has been off WWE TV since well before Backlash. With Rhodes’ next title program now locked in against GUNTHER at Clash in Italy on May 31, the Orton return slot becomes the open variable in the SmackDown main event picture.
