You know what they say: when in doubt, RKO everyone. And Randy Orton—legend, viper, occasional HR nightmare—just officially turned WrestleMania 41 into an “anyone can get it” situation.
On the final SmackDown before the Showcase of the Immortals, Orton made it crystal clear: he’s not missing WrestleMania. Not now. Not ever. This year marks his 20th appearance at the big dance, and with Kevin Owens sidelined due to a neck injury and upcoming surgery, Orton went full Apex Predator on the microphone and made his own booking.
No opponent? No problem. No mercy.
He told Nick Aldis—who’s taken two RKOs for his sins—that if no one else wanted the smoke, Aldis could lace up and catch these boots himself. But instead, Aldis threw him into a tag match alongside LA Knight against The Bloodline Lite (Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga). It was sweaty. It was chaotic. It solved nothing.
So Orton did what Orton does: he called his own shot. And just a day before WrestleMania Sunday, the legend declared an open challenge—inviting anyone with a pulse and the poor judgment to try him on the grandest stage of them all.
Now let’s take a moment to consider the possibilities.
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Solo Sikoa: He’s lurking, he’s loose, and he’s got nothing booked but plenty of family drama.
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Nick Aldis: Yes, he’s a GM. But so was Adam Pearce, and that man’s wrestled more matches in cargo pants than most.
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A mystery return: Could we see Riddle, Miro, Black, or some cursed blast from the past looking for a receipt?
One thing’s for sure: Randy Orton doesn’t do quiet exits. If someone answers that open challenge, they’re walking into the ring with a man who’s made a 20-year career out of punting dreams into the rafters.
WrestleMania Sunday just got venomous.