WWE legend Randy Orton ‘hurting’ days before marquee WrestleMania 42 match

There are only a few hours before Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes face at WWE WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, Nevada, but the “Viper” may have suffered an injury and is “hurting.”

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer discussed Orton’s manager Pat McAfee’s recent promo during the Apr. 10 edition of Friday Night SmackDown. McAfee claimed that if Orton lost, he was done in professional wrestling.

This is a familiar trope in professional wrestling. It raises the stakes of the match by promising that one person will leave if they lose. However, it also makes the winner seem clear — more than likely, McAfee’s current WWE run is just getting started. So, he isn’t going anywhere.

Now, Meltzer is noting that Orton is “hurting,” and that opens the door to a change of plans. Fans won’t know for sure until Saturday, Apr. 18, though.

How WWE legend Randy Orton’s injury could affect his WrestleMania result

It was almost a foregone conclusion that Orton was winning at WrestleMania 42. However, the latest update about his health could complicate things. As Meltzer notes, would WWE really put the title on Orton if he’s going to take a hiatus after WrestleMania?

“We were told that Orton is hurting so there is a possibility that would change, as it would make no sense for Orton to win if he has to take time off, but McAfee’s statement came across like it’s as close to a lock as possible,” Meltzer said.

Regardless, Metlzer noted that WWE already has plans in place for Backlash, the follow-up PLE to WrestleMania in May. Orton and McAfee will take on Rhodes and Jelly Roll in a tag team match. Whether or not Orton’s current ailment affects that remains unclear.

He is set to challenge Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship in the main event of Night 1 of WrestleMania 42. Orton won the 2026 Elimination Chamber to earn the right to challenge Rhodes for the title.

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