Randy Orton was left sidelined for more than 18 months after suffering a serious back injury and, for quite a while, it looked like his career as a professional wrestler might be over.
Somehow, he made it back and was able to return during last year's Survivor Series: WarGames PLE. He's since wrestled regularly and arguably looks in better shape now than ever before.
Ahead of Saturday's Elimination Chamber PLE, Orton caught up with Sports Illustrated and described in detail the extent of his injury and what it took to make that long-awaited (and unlikely) comeback.
"Before I left [in May of 2022], I’d got to the point where [Matt] Riddle had done everything he could for me as a tag partner. I could barely stand for a long amount of time. Taking my kids trick-or-treating that Halloween, I would have to sit in between the houses because I just couldn’t be on my feet that long. The symptoms were just immensely painful."
"I got an MRI, the symptoms got worse, but I staved off any cortisone shots. I’d needed one for about five years, but I didn’t want to get one - once you go down that road, it’s a slippery slope. So I was going to get a cortisone shot, and I was hopeful that it would help."
"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."
"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."
Needless to say, he needed a medical miracle. Fortunately, one came and an extensive surgery allowed The Viper to step back into the ring again. In fact, Orton is better than ever and explained that he intends to keep the muscle he's gained in order to continue performing at the highest possible level.
"I had the surgery, things were going well, and I changed my diet–and I started packing on a few pounds. About six months post-surgery, I was able to do things in the gym that I hadn’t been able to do my entire 30s. I was able to start working on my glutes and my hamstrings and my lower back, and I had no pain. Man, I went from 240 pounds to 280. I’m 275 right now, and I feel f------ fantastic. I feel like I was meant to be this weight my whole life, but my frame wasn’t able to sustain it until this fusion.
"I feel like I’m right smack dab in the middle of my prime. My back started to go in my late 20s. It wasn't one powerbomb through a table, it was a slow decline that accumulated over time. Being able to do what I love, and not take a minute of it for granted, that’s my priority. And I want to do it as long as I can."
It's fantastic to see Orton back in the ring and all signs point to him sticking around for a very long time.
We'll next see him compete in this Saturday's Elimination Chamber when he battles Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, LA Knight, Kevin Owens, and Logan Paul for the chance to challenge World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins at WrestleMania.