It was recently announced that WWE legend "The Viper" Randy Orton will appear live on the WWE Royal Rumble go-home episode of SmackDown on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the KAFD Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This announcement follows WWE's promotion of Randy Orton for last week’s episode of SmackDown, where he ultimately did not make an appearance.
Orton has been absent from WWE television since the October 3, 2025, episode of Friday Night SmackDown. During that show, he teamed up with Undisputed WWE Champion "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes to face Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker, collectively known as The Vision. The night ended on a shocking note for The Viper, as he was taken out by Reed with multiple Tsunami splashes.
Reports indicate that Orton's recent booking has been quite lackluster. Fans have been eager for him to pursue the Undisputed WWE Title for months, but the creative team has yet to pursue this storyline despite several teases. With his advertisement for the go-home episode of SmackDown before Royal Rumble 2026, it will be interesting to see if this sets the stage for a significant storyline involving the former Legacy members as they head towards WrestleMania 42.
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.
🚨🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/fY0ZHsrppJ— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) December 10, 2025
