Randy Orton has spoken out on his scrapped WrestleMania match against Kevin Owens and what happens when his WWE contract expires.
After being sidelined following a Kevin Owens piledriver, Orton made his return at Elimination Chamber to get revenge on Owens. A few weeks later, a match between Orton and Owens was made official for WrestleMania 41. However, on April 4th, Kevin Owens made the announcement that due to a serious neck injury, he required surgery and would be unable to compete on the show in what was a devastating blow for the former World Champion.
Speaking with Raj Prashad of Complex, Orton admitted he was heartbroken over what happened to Owens:
“If we’re being real here, my heart breaks for Kevin,” Orton says. I think, first and foremost, I just hate that he’s gotta go through that. Even more than a physical journey he’s gotta go on to let his body heal, it’s a mental journey too. His body’s been through it, and now he’s paying that price, like he said in the ring the other day. We all pay the price at one point or another.”
It was also noted in the article that Orton has set up Owens with a second opinion on the injury with a surgeon he had worked with previously.
Randy Orton Addresses WWE Future
Assuming that Orton does compete at WrestleMania 41, this will be The Viper’s 20th match at The Show of Shows. At 45 years old and having dealt with a number of major injuries throughout his career, including a back injury that nearly brought his in-ring career to an end, Orton is aware that he is closer to the end of his career than ever before. Having recently signed a 5 year deal, Orton will turn 50 when the deal expires. Later in the interview, Orton addressed what his dream scenario would be at that point:
“I’d love to sign another five-year contract after that. I know realistically there’s gonna be a day when I gotta stop. But it’s like, I don’t even think about that because I’m having so much fucking fun right now,” Orton continues.
“Knowing that it was all taken away from me, or almost was all taken away from me. Just knowing that I can’t do it forever, it’s just every second I’m around the guys in the locker room, that camaraderie, there’s nothing like it. Every second I’m in the ring feeling the energy from those fans, there’s nothing like it. And knowing that there’s a cap on that, it just makes it easier to make sure that I’m just always enjoying this.”
Featured image: WWE
