Randy Orton, a WWE superstar with over twenty years in the ring, recently addressed concerns about his health while offering advice to the popular YouTuber IShowSpeed. Known for enduring countless injuries throughout his career, Orton’s latest comments have raised questions about the potential impact on his wrestling future amid lingering health challenges.
Randy Orton Reflects on Years of Physical Toll in WWE
Throughout his extensive WWE career, Randy Orton has taken numerous physical hits, with injuries being a common struggle among wrestling superstars. Early on, Orton experienced shoulder problems, which troubled him during the initial stages of his journey. More recently, he sustained a severe back injury that sidelined him for over 18 months. This injury necessitated surgery and quite possibly endangered his future in the wrestling world. Fortunately, Orton managed to recover and return to in-ring action despite the severity of his condition.
At the Los Angeles premiere of IShowSpeed’s event, Speed Goes Pro, Orton was present and humorously evaded an RKO attempt by Speed, who wisely stopped before making the move. This event highlighted the growing crossover between WWE stars and new entertainment figures like Speed, who is well known among wrestling fans for a viral moment involving a spear from Bron Breakker during the 2025 Royal Rumble.
At 45 years old, Orton spoke candidly to WWE cameras at this event, sharing life advice with the 20-year-old Speed regarding the physical toll of wrestling on the body over time.
“If I could give Speed any advice, in another couple of decades, make sure that you’ve moved on and you’re not taking bumps like that, because it’s gonna be hard to get up in the morning – take it from me.” – Randy Orton
The Reality Behind Randy Orton’s Back Injury Struggles
In recent years, Orton has opened up about the serious nature of his back problems, revealing just how close he came to being forced out of the sport. His description painted a grim picture of the state of his lower spine just before surgery, emphasizing the pain and limitations he endured.
“My lower spine was so far gone that no shot was going to help. No ablation procedure where they burn the nerve for another six months pain-free, none of that was going to work. I had stenosis, degeneration all over my lower spine, and a slipping disc–every time I extended my spine, it would slip and press on those nerves. I couldn’t sit and take a sh– without pain shooting down my legs or my feet going numb. I couldn’t stand. There were times when I’d move and end up on the floor.” – Randy Orton
The severity of these symptoms left Orton struggling to perform even basic movements without intense pain. This physical breakdown led to consultations with specialized neurosurgeons, who seriously questioned whether Orton should continue wrestling.
“And I’m working with top-of-their-class neurosurgeons, and they’re telling me, ‘You’ve had a great career. Maybe it’s time to hang up the boots. You’ve got to think of quality of life after your career.’ That’s always been a priority for me, but hearing all this, after thinking I was going to get an epidural cortisone shot and I’d be fine, it was tough. I’ll be honest–I broke into tears.” – Randy Orton
The emotional weight of potentially ending his wrestling career was palpable for Orton, underscoring the difficult decisions athletes sometimes face when weighing their passion against long-term health.
Upcoming WWE Appearance and Career Implications
Despite these challenges, Randy Orton remains active in WWE. His next scheduled appearance is a tag team match on the October 3rd episode of WWE SmackDown, teaming with WWE Champion Cody Rhodes to face The Vision’s Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed. This match will provide fans with a glimpse of Orton’s current in-ring capabilities and offer insight into how much his health continues to influence his performance.
Orton’s candid revelations about his back injury and its aftermath highlight the often hidden dangers wrestlers endure for their profession. His warnings to younger performers like IShowSpeed highlight the importance of considering long-term health and future quality of life beyond the spectacle of wrestling.
As the WWE universe watches, the question remains whether Randy Orton can sustain his career or if these health hurdles will eventually force one of wrestling’s most enduring figures to step away from the ring sooner than expected.
.@RandyOrton had to remind EVERYONE at the premiere of Speed Goes Pro of the time @ishowspeedsui got speared by @bronbreakkerwwe 😂 pic.twitter.com/3iXWrwq0cy
— WWE (@WWE) October 1, 2025
