With WrestleMania 41 rapidly approaching and Kevin Owens officially out due to neck surgery, WWE fans are wondering: Who will Randy Orton face at WrestleMania?
From returning legends to surprise debuts, several intriguing possibilities have emerged. Let’s break down the situation and the top names in the mix.
Kevin Owens Injury: What Happened?
On the April 5th edition of SmackDown, Kevin Owens confirmed that he will undergo neck surgery, ruling him out of action indefinitely.
This unfortunate update officially cancelled his scheduled match with Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41.
Owens last wrestled at Elimination Chamber on March 1st in an unsanctioned match against Sami Zayn – a brutal contest that some believed may have led to the injury.
However, Owens himself confirmed that the injury first occurred in January and that the matches since have only aggravated it further.
You could tell that Randy Orton felt gutted for Kevin Owens
💔💔💔#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/nIuOYHhhQA
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) April 5, 2025
How Long Will Kevin Owens Be Out For?
While Owens did not specify an exact timeline, the phrase “out indefinitely” suggests a lengthy recovery.
Neck surgery is a serious procedure in pro wrestling, and similar recoveries have ranged from several months to over a year, depending on severity.
It has even put some wrestlers out of action for years, including former WWE stars Edge and Paige.
WWE have yet to release a projected return date, but it’s safe to say Owens won’t be back anytime soon.
Possible WrestleMania Opponents for Randy Orton
With Owens sidelined, WWE must pivot quickly to find a WrestleMania-worthy opponent for Randy Orton.
Here are the most talked-about possibilities:
Solo Sikoa
Perhaps the most simple solution, Orton has a history with The Bloodline and Solo Sikoa in particular, having spent the majority of 2024 feuding with them.
While it would be an underwhelming solution, it would be an easy one for WWE to conjure up.
Nick Aldis
As the current SmackDown General Manager, Aldis has had multiple tense encounters with Orton, including a recent RKO after delivering the bad news about Owens’ status.
The setup is there, and Aldis entering the ring for his first WWE match on the grandest stage would be an emotional, full-circle moment.
.@RandyOrton is in disbelief and took it out on @RealNickAldis 😱#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/M4a89Oabbv
— WWE (@WWE) April 5, 2025
Aleister Black
Cryptic smoke-filled vignettes on WWE TV have strongly hinted at Black’s return.
A WrestleMania match against Orton would be a high-profile reintroduction for Black, whose unique style and past success in NXT still resonate with fans. His “pick a fight” character fits perfectly into an open challenge scenario.
Rusev
It’s also been reported that Rusev (aka Miro) has re-signed with WWE and is set to return imminently.
While WWE likely had plans for him to return post-WrestleMania, those plans might be brought forward should they opt to reintroduce the Bulgarian Brute in a programme with Orton.
Sami Zayn
As it stands, Sami Zayn is probably the most high-profile superstar to not have plans for WrestleMania.
After essentially being written off of TV at Elimination Chamber, WWE could spin the story so that Orton accuses Zayn of hurting Owens at Elimination Chamber and costing The Viper his marquee match.
It might not be the most compelling storyline, but it gives Orton a chance to tap into his darker side while setting the stage for two top-tier performers to deliver a potential show-stealer.
Uncle Howdy
Few rivals have a history with Randy Orton as rich and layered as Bray Wyatt. Wyatt was Orton’s last major WrestleMania opponent before his release in 2021 and untimely passing in 2023.
Now, Bo Dallas has taken up the torch, reintroducing the Wyatt legacy through the eerie persona of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks – though the group hasn’t been seen since a loss to The Final Testament and Dallas’ real-life injury hiatus.
A feud between Orton and Uncle Howdy would be one of the easiest to build in a short timeframe, thanks to the wealth of past footage and storytelling between Orton and Wyatt.
This history could be used to quickly create a meaningful narrative, even with less than two weeks before WrestleMania. The only question is Dallas’ availability, as he has yet to be medically cleared.
Still, it feels inevitable that Orton and Howdy will cross paths – whether it happens in Las Vegas or sometime after.
Randy Orton needs a new WrestleMania opponent. pic.twitter.com/s5dlPTtdAw
— Wrestling News (@WrestlingNewsCo) April 5, 2025
Kevin Owens Replacements: Who Could Step Up?
Here’s a summary of the most likely Kevin Owens replacements for Randy Orton’s WrestleMania match:
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Nick Aldis
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Solo Sikoa
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Aleister Black
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Rusev
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Sami Zayn
- Uncle Howdy
