How long will Randy Orton take to recover from cervical cord neurapraxia? Potential return timeline explored
Randy Orton suffered the wrath of Kevin Owens on a recent episode of WWE SmackDown when The Prizefighter delivered a devastating piledriver, affecting The Viper’s neck. The Legend Killer has now been written off the television, as the promotion announced that Randy has been diagnosed with cervical cord neurapraxia.
Additionally, WWE confirmed that the timeline for The Apex Predator's return remains unclear. The injury angle involving The Viper is surely part of the storyline, and his being written off television was pre-planned. However, for a minor consideration, if the injury reported by the company is true, Randy Orton could take around two to three weeks off.
Further, a complete recovery is expected within six to eight weeks. This is the typical recovery timeline for cervical cord neurapraxia. This means that even if the injury is real (which it most likely isn’t), The Legend Killer would only be written off TV for a maximum of eight weeks. This also affirms that a return post-Survivor Series WarGames is the most likely scenario for Orton's comeback.
Randy Orton could return on the Road to the Royal Rumble 2025 and challenge Kevin Owens, seeking vengeance for The Prizefighter’s actions. The primary reason behind placing Orton off television via this injury storyline could be to provide a logical rationale for The Apex Predator missing Survivor Series: WarGames.
Additionally, this angle will allow WWE to extend the storyline between Kevin Owens and Randy Orton for upcoming major PLEs like the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania. So, for now, the feud between Orton and Owens is seemingly paused. Fans will have to wait one or two months to see the next chapter in their story.
Randy Orton could return on a very special occasion in 2025
With the chances of Orton's next appearance in the company being in 2025, it’s possible that he could return on the RAW debut episode on Netflix, which is set to take place on January 6.
Major names like John Cena, The Rock, Roman Reigns, and more are already expected to be part of this show, which could be as significant as a premium live event.
With The Viper currently written off television, a return on the RAW Netflix debut show could indeed serve as a great stage for his comeback. Upon his appearance, Randy Orton could issue a challenge to Kevin Owens, or a brawl between the two could ensue, making the event even more memorable.