Randy Orton Advertised For Go-Home Edition Of WWE SmackDown Ahead Of Royal Rumble 2026

Randy Orton has been away from WWE television since the October 3, 2025, episode of Friday Night SmackDown, where he was taken out by The Vision.

Amid his absence, WWE is advertising Orton for the go-home episode of SmackDown ahead of the 2026 Royal Rumble in KAFD, Riyadh. The January 30, 2026, episode of SmackDown will also emanate from the same venue.

It is worth noting that WWE had advertised Randy Orton for last week’s episode of SmackDown. However, the 14-time World Champion was nowhere to be seen.

WWE is officially advertising Randy Orton for the January 30, 2026 episode of SmackDown in Saudi Arabia, the go-home show for the Royal Rumble.

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— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) December 10, 2025

Orton teamed up with Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes on the October 3 episode of SmackDown to take on The Vision’s Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker. The night ended on a brutal note for The Viper, as he was taken out by The Aus-zilla via multiple Tsunami splashes.

Randy’s booking has been quite lackluster this year. Fans have been clamoring for him to go after the Undisputed WWE Title for months, but the creative team has yet to go in that direction despite multiple teases. With him now being advertised for the go-home episode of SmackDown ahead of Royal Rumble 2026, it will be interesting to see if it sets the stage for a major storyline between the former Legacy members on the Road to WrestleMania 42.