Randy Orton has been away from WWE TV since SummerSlam 2025. The Viper was last seen teaming up with country star Jelly Roll in a tag match against Drew McIntyre and Logan Paul, but things didn’t go in his favor.
Earlier this year, Orton also came close to glory in the King of the Ring tournament, where he lost in the finals to Cody Rhodes. Many fans have been asking why WWE isn’t using The Apex Predator right now. Here are the main reasons behind it.
3. WWE has no clear plan for Randy Orton
Orton is one of the most respected veterans in WWE, but the company seems unsure about his direction. Triple H brought him back earlier in 2025 after Kevin Owens had injured him with a Piledriver in late 2024. The dramatic return set up a feud with Owens, but that plan collapsed when KO got hurt before WrestleMania 41.
Since then, Orton’s character hasn’t really moved forward. Fans expected him to bring back his ruthless “Legend Killer” side, but WWE hasn’t pulled the trigger yet. Right now, it feels like Orton is stuck in limbo.
2. A heel turn against Cody Rhodes could be coming
Even though he congratulated Cody Rhodes after losing the King of the Ring finals, Orton didn’t look happy. This was his second straight year as runner-up, and at 45, he is desperate to win a 15th world title.
Orton has already warned Rhodes that if he becomes champion, he’ll be the first one to challenge him. His frustration and hunger for gold make him the perfect candidate for a heel turn. WWE could be saving him for a big feud against Cody later this year.
1. Orton’s limited schedule keeps him off TV
Like Roman Reigns, Randy Orton now works a part-time schedule. This means he only appears when WWE has something big for him. After his feud with Owens ended, Orton faced John Cena at Backlash 2025 for the Undisputed Championship but lost after interference from R-Truth.
He later competed in the King of the Ring and then lost in the celebrity tag match at SummerSlam. Since then, WWE seems to be holding him back until the right storyline comes along.
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