After an 18-month hiatus due to severe back pain, Randy Orton made a memorable return to the WWE at Survivor Series: WarGames on November 25, 2023. Fans welcomed him back with thunderous applause, showing that his appeal remains strong despite his past villainous roles.
WWE brass has clearly recognized Orton’s enduring popularity, as it’s been reported that he’s signed a substantial five-year contract with the company, keeping him around until 2029, according to Fightful Select.
Previously, Orton’s contract situation was impacted by his lengthy absence due to injury. There was speculation about potential extensions for the time he missed, but fortunately, that doesn’t seem to be the case.
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Just in time for his upcoming showdown at Bash in Berlin, where he’ll challenge Gunther for the World Heavyweight Title, this new contract comes as a great boost for Orton. After winning the title from Damian Priest in a controversial match at SummerSlam, he’s set for another major clash.
While Priest could activate his rematch option against Gunther, he seems more inclined to seek vengeance against his former allies in Judgement Day alongside Rhea Ripley. Orton holds a strong claim to the title since Gunther didn’t pin him in their recent King of the Ring tournament showdown.
Randy Orton has been part of the WWE landscape since 2000. After a brief stint in Ohio Valley Wrestling, he debuted on the main roster on March 16, 2002, albeit in a losing effort to Tommy Dreamer.
Two decades later, Orton has become a household name in wrestling, making history as the youngest world champion when he secured the World Heavyweight Championship at just 24 in 2004.
Fast forward to now, he’s racked up an impressive 14 world titles (including 10 WWE Championships and 4 World Heavyweight Championships), tying him with Triple H for the third-most championship reigns in history.
In addition to his world title accolades, Orton is a one-time Intercontinental Champion, a one-time United States Champion, and a four-time Tag Team Champion. He also won the Money in the Bank briefcase in 2013 and triumphed in the Royal Rumble twice (2009 and 2017).
If he sticks around for the full length of his new contract, Orton will have dedicated over 27 years to WWE, possibly surpassing The Undertaker’s record as the longest-serving wrestler in the company’s history.
In related news, former WWE Champion recently expressed a preference for Vince McMahon over Triple H.