Update on Randy Orton's WWE status ahead of SNME at MSG & creative discussions for Nikki Bella's return
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The Viper was removed from the official Fanatics Fest schedule.
‘The Viper’ Randy Orton has been absent from WWE programming since WrestleMania 42, where he lost the Undisputed title match to Cody Rhodes and attacked the Champion afterwards. Amid the ongoing absence, Orton was initially advertised for the Fanatics Fest in New York.
However, Orton’s autograph and photo-op packages were pulled from Fanatics Fest, leaving many to speculate if the Viper will likely remain absent from programming as WWE gears up for SummerSlam after Saturday Night’s Main Event in New York this weekend.
On the cancellation, WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select reports that, via their sources, Randy Orton is still expected to be in New York City, despite his scheduled autograph signings and photo opportunities being canceled. Sources connected to Fanatics are expecting him to be there as well.
The report has led to speculation of Orton’s return at SNME in Madison Square Garden on Saturday. Notably, Undisputed Champion CM Punk will team up with Cody Rhodes to take on Gunther and Sami Zayn, and WWE might have a surprise planned for fans in New York.
Creative discussions about Nikki Bella amid absence due to injury
Unlike Randy Orton, Nikki Bella’s absence is due to an injury that even forced her out of WrestleMania 42. She has been out of in-ring action since the end of March due to a severe ankle injury, and despite appearances around Mania in crutches, Bella has been absent from programming recently.
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, Nikki’s name has been brought up in recent weeks during WWE’s creative meeting, something that has not happened since she was pulled from the WrestleMania match.Within WWE, the renewed talks are being seen as an encouraging development, fueling optimism that the WWE Hall of Famer could be back sooner rather than later.
Nikki was replaced by Paige, who made her WWE return at Mania to join Brie Bella. The two managed to bag the win in the Fatal Four-way match and become the new Women’s Tag Team Champions.
Brie and Paige are now set to defend the titles against Fatal Influence (Lainey Reid & Fallon Henley) at this weekend’s Saturday Night’s Main Event. The report is going to fuel speculations of her potential return during the title match.
What is the latest update on Randy Orton amid the ongoing absence?
Although Randy Orton’s autograph and photo-op packages have been removed from Fanatics Fest, per WrestleVotes, WWE sources still expect him to be in New York City this weekend.
What is the latest update on Nikki Bella’s WWE return?
WrestleVotes also reported that Nikki Bella’s name has been brought up in creative meetings, hinting at her potential return.
When and where will the upcoming edition of SNME take place?
The 45th edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event will take place on July 18 at the iconic Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.
When and where will SummerSlam 2026 take place?
The 39th edition will air as a two-night spectacle on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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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.