Randy Orton Out Of WWE Until After The Holidays Following Crown Jewel Loss

Randy Orton could miss the remainder of WWE's 2026 schedule.© NDTV Library

Randy Orton isn't expected back on WWE television until after the holiday season, according to a new WrestleVotes update carried by Fightful Select. The 14-time world champion will reportedly miss Survivor Series and WrestlePalooza, which are the remaining premium live events named in the update. His last match was the Last Man Standing contest against Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel on November 7, and he lost it. If the report holds, he stays off television through the rest of 2026, but WWE hasn't announced a return date or confirmed the schedule publicly at present.

Orton's Crown Jewel loss came after a difficult year

The update came out of a Q&A session on Fightful Select. Asked about Orton's return, the outlet said: “Randy will be back after the holidays. He will miss Survivor Series and WrestlePalooza.”

So that rules him out of Survivor Series: WarGames on November 28 and WrestlePalooza on December 12 at RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, per the report.

Orton talked about his future in a social media post on November 8. “Whether it's sooner, or later, I'll be back. Guaranteed. WWE is my home away from home. I still have more to do, and until I am unable, I will continue to keep doing it,” he wrote.

WWE's official results show Rhodes won in Riyadh after keeping Orton down for ten-count with a punt. In a Last Man Standing match, the only way to win is to keep your opponent down for a ten-count, so there are no pinfalls or submissions.

The two had also met at WrestleMania 42, which makes Crown Jewel the latest chapter in a rivalry that's been running all year.

Fightful reported that Orton was sidelined for much of 2026 with a back injury. His TV time this year mostly went to the Rhodes feud and his pursuit of a 15th WWE Championship. And the outlet added that it wasn't known how much time, if any, Orton would miss after Crown Jewel.

WWE has not confirmed the reported absence or a return date

The WrestleVotes update is still a report and not an official WWE announcement. WWE hasn't confirmed that Orton will miss either event, and it hasn't said when he's expected back. Also, nothing confirmed ties the reported break to an injury from the Crown Jewel match.

Orton has said he intends to return, but his post didn't give a timeframe. The only reported window is after the holidays, which would put his absence past the end of 2026.