Randy Orton Sends A Clear Message About His WWE Future After Losing To Cody Rhodes At Crown Jewel 2026

Randy Orton promises to return after losing to Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel.© NDTV Library

Randy Orton says losing to Cody Rhodes at Crown Jewel isn't the end of his WWE run. Replying to a longtime fan on X, the 14-time world champion promised he'll be back, sooner or later. He also called WWE his “home away from home”and said he's got more left to do in the ring. The message came after Rhodes beat him in a Last Man Standing match in Riyadh on November 7, where Orton couldn't answer the referee's ten-count following a decisive Punt Kick.

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.

— Randy Orton (@RandyOrton) November 8, 2026

Randy Orton Reassures WWE Fans That He Has No Plans to Walk Away From Wrestling

The fan's message was mostly about how the match finished. They wrote that seeing Orton lose to his own signature move felt like “watching the last true predator get taken down,” but they also gave Rhodes credit for earning the win.

The supporter said they'd followed Orton since 2002 and still believed he had more to give.

Orton answered with a promise, not a retirement hint:

“Whether it's sooner, or later, I'll be back. Guaranteed.”

He added, “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.”No date for a return came with it, and he didn't say what his next WWE appearance might be.

Cody Rhodes Used Randy Orton's Own Signature Move to Secure the Crown Jewel Victory

Rhodes took the match after hitting three consecutive Cross Rhodes. Earlier in the night, Orton powerbombed Rhodes through a table on the stage, and Rhodes went through the announce table after Orton moved out of the way in Riyadh.

Orton did get back up following the Cross Rhodes sequence.

But Rhodes stopped referee Charles Robinson from finishing the count and hit him with the Punt Kick, and Orton couldn't get to his feet before the ten-count ran out. That gave Rhodes the win at 27 minutes and 24 seconds.

The finish also flipped the ending of their WrestleMania 42 meeting. Back then Orton attacked Rhodes with a Punt after Rhodes retained the Undisputed WWE Championship. At Crown Jewel, Rhodes used same move to put Orton away.

Orton's reply doesn't confirm when he'll wrestle again. It does mean the Crown Jewel loss shouldn't be read as a farewell, at least going by what he's said publicly.