As previously reported, WWE legend "The Viper," Randy Orton, was scheduled to appear live on the go-home episode of SmackDown for the WWE Royal Rumble on Friday, January 30, 2026, at the KAFD Financial District in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This announcement comes after WWE had promoted Orton for the previous week's episode of SmackDown, where he ultimately did not make an appearance.
Orton has since confirmed his participation in the upcoming Royal Rumble premium live event (PLE) and the go-home episode of SmackDown with a new promotional video.
In the video, Randy Orton stated, “This is Randy Orton with the WWE. I am at The Grove, and I just want to remind everybody the tickets are still on sale for the Royal Rumble coming here to Riyadh at the end of January. The tickets are still on sale for SmackDown, too. So make sure you get your tickets, and I will see you at the Royal Rumble, where I will see you with SmackDown, and I will 100 percent see you here at the only Grove.”
Orton has been absent from WWE television since the October 3, 2025, episode of Friday Night SmackDown. On that show, he teamed up with Undisputed WWE Champion "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes to face Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker, who collectively refer to themselves as The Vision. The night ended shockingly for Orton when Reed took him out with multiple Tsunami splashes.
Currently, Orton is in Saudi Arabia to attend the opening of a theme park launched by YouTube star MrBeast, which is part of WWE's ongoing relationship with the Middle Eastern country.
