Randy Orton forecasts another six years of RKOs

“I would love to be able to go into my 50s,” said Orton.

Despite missing almost two years of action with a back injury, Randy Orton is far from finished as a pro wrestler. Speaking with self-described street journalist Adam Glyn, Orton has a long way to go before calling it a wrap.

“I would love to be able to go into my 50s. Maybe I’ll wrestle till I’m 50 and call it. And that’s 30 years. Thirty years with the same company, on top,” said Orton.

The man known as The Viper and WWE’s Apex Predator started his wrestling career in 2000. That year, he signed a deal with WWE and was sent to its developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), in Louisville, KY, where he continued his training. Two years later, he made his main roster debut on SmackDown. Since then, the 44-year-old superstar has won multiple championships, including 14 world titles.

But injuries eventually caught up to Orton, with his most serious coming in 2022, which required spinal fusion surgery. Orton was out of action until last November when he returned at Survivor Series. However, the multi-time champ said he had been hurting throughout his 30s, which didn’t faze his previous boss, Vince McMahon, when he talked to him about it.

“I was begging for time off when I was 35, and I think Vince’s quote to me was, ‘Mother Nature gets us all.’ That’s hard to hear when you’re 35. and your back hurts, and you’re busting your ass for this company,” Orton told Glyn.

Orton then complimented WWE’s new regime under Paul “Triple H” Levesque, calling it a great atmosphere dedicated to extending the shelf life of its stars. Following his surgery, Orton says he feels as good as ever and added that he doesn’t intend to take on a part-time schedule like The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels before him. Orton says he wants to be on the road at every television show, live event, and signature showcase.

Last weekend, Orton stayed true to his word as he was with WWE through its European tour, highlighted by Backlash last Saturday in Lyon, France. Orton was amazed at the response he received as fans serenaded him with his entrance theme as he came to the ring.

“Since 2009, I’ve had the same entrance song,” said Orton. “No American crowd has ever sang along to my song. They did it in France three nights in a row. Shit, we were in Bologna, Italy, and Vienna, Austria, the first two shows of the tour, and I could hear them singing there too. France, just, it was, you know, it was mind-blowing.”