Randy Orton is dealing with an unspecified back injury and WWE fears that he could be forced to miss all of 2022 if surgery is needed, according to Fightful Select.
Orton last wrestled on the May 20 SmackDown, teaming with Riddle in a loss to the Usos.
Orton has been dealing with the back injury for “quite some time,” Fightful says, and he “had work done” before the match against the Usos last month, though it wasn’t specified what the “work” was.
Since then, things have gotten only worse with the injury and WWE fears that Orton will be forced to undergo surgery, which would likely keep him out of action for the rest of 2022.
Orton currently isn’t factored into any of WWE’s creative plans, Fightful added. He was at one point planned to have a feud with Roman Reigns over the summer, but that’s been scrapped or put on hold for now. Riddle is scheduled to have a title match against Reigns this Friday on SmackDown.