'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
According to Dave Meltzer at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, 13-time world champion Randy Orton is not with the WWE roster during this current overseas tour. It's not due to injury or any other serious reason.
It is just part of the lesser schedule that he and the WWE agreed upon some time ago.
In case you didn't know...
Orton has spent nearly all of his 18-year career within the WWE. He began wrestling professionally in 2000 around his hometown of Saint Louis, Missouri, before signing with the WWE and reporting to Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2001.
The heart of the matter...
Orton, now 38 years old, has been working the limited schedule for some time now according to Meltzer. For the most part, Orton has not worked WWE Live events since last summer, and it is unsure when he will be back on WWE television.
Overall in 2018, Orton has wrestled in 13 matches. He would win the WWE United States Championship from Bobby Roode at WWE Fastlane and carry it into WrestleMania 34 where he lost it to Jinder Mahal in a Fatal-4-Way match also involving Roode and Rusev.
He last appeared on WWE television on May 6th at the WWE Backlash pay per view where he unsuccessfully tried to regain the WWE United States Championship in a loss to Jeff Hardy.
What's next?
It's uncertain when The Viper will return to WWE television, but the WWE does return to the United States this Monday when Monday Night Raw takes place from Albany, New York.
As for Orton's SmackDown Live brand, they will head to Worchester, Massachusetts this Tuesday as the road to Money In The Bank continues.
Author's take...
For as much as Randy Orton has given to the WWE, he definitely deserves to have some time to relax when he needs it to spend time with his wife and family.
If I were to guess, I think he might return just after Money In The Bank to prepare for Extreme Rules and a potential SummerSlam feud.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
