A top WWE star made his return to television on tonight’s episode of SmackDown, the first episode of 2026 in Buffalo.
Tonight’s show kicked off with an in-ring promo from The Miz, who grabbed a microphone to air his grievances for the year 2025, which included not facing off with John Cena on his retirement tour, and being passed up for a role in Marty Supreme.
Miz’s promo was interrupted by Randy Orton, who had been off WWE television for two months, who came to the ring and hit Miz with two RKOs before leaving.
Orton last competed on the November 3 episode of SmackDown, where he and Cody Rhodes teamed up to face Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed of the Vision ahead of the War Games match at Survivor Series.
Orton had recently been in Saudi Arabia doing promotional work for the Royal Rumble event in Riyadh later this month, which led to him not being present for John Cena’s final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
It had been reported that Orton was expected to be in Riyadh for the Rumble and the episode of SmackDown the prior night.
RANDY ORTON IS BACK!!! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rgIh0ESrMX
— WWE (@WWE) January 3, 2026
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