Latest update on Randy Orton's injury status after Kevin Owens' attack on WWE SmackDown

(Courtesy : WWE)
Randy Orton suffered an injury during the brawl on 11/08 SmackDown
WWE legend Randy Orton recently suffered a severe injury during a brawl with his former friend Kevin Owens on the latest episode of Friday Night SmackDown. The Viper was having trouble breathing while being shifted to the ambulance.
‘The Prizefighter’ and ‘The Viper’ are involved in a fierce feud that was supposed to culminate at the Crown Jewel PLE in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. However, the match never started as the two started fighting even before the match started.
The Crown Jewel clash ended in a non-finish as the fight was never started officially. The two former friends were not finished with each other as Orton dashed into the ring and called out Owens.
Despite the attempts from security and WWE officials the two locked horns in the ring and started brawling. Similar to the brawl at Crown Jewel, The Viper was the one receiving severe damage.
The Prizefighter landed a very controversial and widely banned move, the Piledriver that caused major injury to Orton’s head and neck. The Viper was then rushed to the hospital for further treatment, with uncertainty about what had happened.
Also Read: Is ‘Piledriver’ move banned in WWE?
WWE has released an update on Randy Orton’s health
There was no clarification on Orton‘s injury as fans were waiting for an update from the Stamford-based promotion. The WWE has now provided an update via their official X platform regarding the WWE legend’s injury.
As per the tweet by the Stamford-based promotion, Orton has been diagnosed with cervical cord neurapraxia due to the beating that he took at the hands of Owens on the recent episode of SmackDown.
The promotion further stated that there is no potential timeline for The Viper to return back to the squared ring. “After last night’s brutal attack by @FightOwensFight on #SmackDown, @RandyOrton has been diagnosed with a cervical cord neurapraxia. There is no timetable for his return.” the WWE posted.
The biggest concern among WWE fans was if Orton was actually injured and if that could hinder his health. However, it seems as if the injury might be a part of ‘Kayfabe’, as the promotion might use it to build the storyline further.
The return of the Legend Killer would do huge numbers which the promotion might be aiming at and the injury has also added another layer of complexity and disdain to the feud between Owens and Orton.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.
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