Mere hours before the Backlash PPV rumors have surfaced that Randy Orton will not wrestle due to injury.
With the first Smackdown Live exclusive PPV in Backlash mere hours a way, word is breaking that one of the card’s top matches is off. Apparently the Randy Orton vs. Bray Wyatt feud has been called due to an undisclosed injury suffered by Orton, although there seems to be some debate on the nature of it.
The initial reports surfaced early this afternoon, suggesting that Orton still hadn’t been cleared from his injuries suffered at the hands of Brock Lesnar as SummerSlam.
I'm being told Orton will NOT wrestle at #Backlash. Nursing an undisclosed injury. Was expected to be cleared by tonight, but didn't happen.
— r + l = james (@chillhartman) September 11, 2016
PWInsider would later confirm that report, adding that Orton hadn’t passed the “Impact Test” which is given when an athlete suffers a concussion. It took ten staples to close up the gaping wound Orton suffered to his head after the beating he took from Lesnar, and his recovery isn’t as speedy as WWE hoped, it seems.
If the match is truly off, then this would be a huge blow to a card that could use the star power. This is one of the drawbacks of the brand split in that a single injury can easily ruin an entire show as there aren’t enough superstars to fill the gaps.
That said, this would be worse for Bray Wyatt who has needed a big money feud since his own return from injury. Taking on Orton while he’s still red-hot after SummerSlam would seem to be it. But now it’s unclear what his direction. It’s also unclear if WWE will try to replace the match on the card. Perhaps give Wyatt a different opponent.
WWE has not officially made any statements yet regarding this situation, so stay tuned for more.
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