Randy Orton has not appeared on WWE television since his tag team match at SummerSlam. He had teamed up with Jelly Roll against Logan Paul and Drew McIntyre.
The Maverick moved on from that rivalry and now targeted John Cena for going back on his word with his babyface turn. At the same time, Drew McIntyre is eyeing the Undisputed WWE Title.
Randy Orton was featured on the official WWE website and advertised for SmackDown, but was nowhere in sight. It is fairly common for the talents being subject to change; however, when it comes to major names missing in action, an official statement is rolled out. And Orton was not the only advertised name who was not showcased on the show; LA Knight was also listed in the featured superstars for the blue brand.
Knight has not competed on SmackDown for the past couple of months with his quiet shift to RAW. And currently, he is heavily involved in a feud with Seth Rollins in his bid to win the World Heavyweight Championship. A fatal four-way match for the title is set for Clash in Paris later this month.
WWE Fans Were Confused And Questioned Randy Orton’s Absence From SmackDown Despite Being Advertised
Many WWE fans were disappointed with not seeing The Viper in action on SmackDown. And many expressed confusion about Randy Orton being advertised. At the same time, with no one addressing the matter left many questions remained unanswered.
Randy Orton was advertised for tonight's show on WWE's official website, but he isn’t backstage for SmackDown.#SmackDownpic.twitter.com/lRVk1xjFLs
— WWE Vibe (@wwe_vibe) August 16, 2025
Some fans cited travel issues as a cause for his absence, but neither WWE nor Randy Orton have issued a statement on the incident.
Randy Orton challenged John Cena for the Undisputed WWE Championship at Backlash this year. Ever since his return in 2023, Orton has been vocal about taking his record one step further by becoming a 15-time World Champion.