Cody Rhodes recently suggested that Randy Orton‘s wrestling career is approaching its final phase while discussing his mentor ahead of their tag team match on this week’s SmackDown. The former Legacy partners are set to face The Vision’s Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed in tonight’s main event, adding intensity to the event and sparking questions about the Randy Orton wrestling future.
Uncertainty Surrounds How Long Randy Orton Will Continue Wrestling
Rhodes and Orton share a long history, with Orton serving as a mentor to Rhodes during the early stages of his WWE career. As part of the Legacy faction alongside Ted DiBiase, Rhodes began establishing himself in WWE but did not initially reach Orton’s level as a main-event star.
After spending time in the independent circuit and rising as a top babyface in AEW, Rhodes returned to WWE as a leading figure, becoming a two-time world champion and main-eventing WrestleMania, following the trail Orton once blazed. Despite this success, Rhodes expressed uncertainty about how much longer Orton will wrestle. When speaking to Pac McAfee before their tag match, Rhodes said,
“It’s Randy Orton, somebody who was a mentor to me in the game. And—no spoiler—Randy is… we don’t know how much longer Randy is going to be doing this. I don’t want that to creep up on me if we didn’t get one more good old-fashioned Mega Powers-style tag with the guy who is partially responsible for me ever getting anywhere in WWE.”
– Cody Rhodes
Orton, a veteran of over twenty years in WWE, has captured 14 world titles, earning his place as one of the sport’s legends. However, the physical toll of wrestling consistently has become apparent. At 45 years old, Orton underwent spinal fusion surgery in 2022—a procedure many feared might end his career.
Remarkably, he returned at Survivor Series in November 2023, yet he is no longer wrestling with the full-time intensity he did before the injury. Earlier this week, Orton advised YouTuber IShowSpeed on avoiding dangerous moves like Breakker’s spear, pointing out the long-term impact of such bumps by saying it makes it hard to get up the next morning.
Details About Randy Orton’s WWE Contract and Retirement Plans
As a future WWE Hall of Famer, Orton has the potential to challenge John Cena’s record of 17 world championships. While Cena is set to retire this December at age 48, Orton has not publicly addressed any immediate retirement intentions.
In fact, Orton renewed his contract last year with WWE for another five years, extending through 2029. Despite this, his lighter schedule and comments from Rhodes fuel debate about the Randy Orton wrestling future. Following his surgery and comeback, Orton expressed a desire to continue wrestling into his fifties, maintaining a full schedule as long as his body allows.
On Rhodes’
“What Do You Wanna Talk About?”
podcast earlier this year, Orton reflected on his career longevity and retirement, saying,
“I think do this for as long as I can and make sure, we brought up my wife Kim on a couple of occasions, she told me, ‘When it’s time to hang them up, I’ll let you know.’ If this is when I need to hang them up, I don’t want to go here. I don’t want to retire and have a last match and then leave the company and have another last match and another one and another one.”
– Randy Orton
WWE fans eagerly hope to see Orton claim another world championship and possibly revisit his best work as a heel character. Over the past year, he nearly secured a 15th world title, falling just short against John Cena for the WWE Championship at Backlash and losing to Gunther for the World Heavyweight Championship at Bash in Berlin last year.
Randy Orton’s Career Impact and What Lies Ahead
Randy Orton’s journey from Legacy faction member to a veteran legend has been marked by success and perseverance. His mentorship of Cody Rhodes highlights the passing of knowledge between generations in WWE. Although his spinal surgery posed a major challenge, Orton’s return demonstrated his determination to continue competing at a high level.
With a contract secured through 2029, and an expressed intention to keep wrestling as long as possible, the wrestling world watches closely to see how the Apex Predator will adapt to his evolving career. His involvement in major storylines and the respect of colleagues like Rhodes underline his lasting influence.
Tonight’s tag team match on SmackDown serves as a reminder of Orton’s role as both a mentor and competitor, and it may be one of the last chances for fans to witness him team up with Rhodes in a high-profile bout. The future may hold fewer appearances for the veteran, but his legacy in WWE is firmly established as one of the company’s most enduring and decorated stars.
