As the debut of WWE Raw on Netflix quickly approaches, it seems that one iconic WWE star will not be appearing on the show. Randy Orton, who was taken out by a piledriver from Kevin Owens on WWE SmackDown in November, will not be part of the highly anticipated debut episode. The injury occurred after their brawl prevented their scheduled match at Crown Jewel. According to Sportskeeda’s Dr. Chris Featherstone on X, Orton is not currently scheduled to appear on the January 6 debut of Raw on Netflix.
“I’ve had a bunch of people inquire about Randy Orton’s status for January 6,” Featherstone wrote. “I’ve been informed that he is currently not scheduled to be a part of the debut episode of #WWERaw on Netflix.”
Orton and Owens were originally set to face off in Saudi Arabia as part of a heated feud, sparked by Owens believing Orton was siding with his rival, WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. However, instead of the planned match, the two brawled around the arena, culminating in Owens delivering an elbow drop off a guardrail onto Orton. On the following SmackDown, Owens performed a banned move, leaving Orton injured and stretchered off. Since then, Orton has not appeared on WWE television. Meanwhile, Owens also attacked Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event with a package piledriver, resulting in Rhodes being stretchered out as well. With both Orton and Rhodes sidelined, Owens claimed the Winged Eagle championship as his own, declaring himself the “real” WWE Champion.