Randy Orton to be fined for laying hands on top WWE official on SmackDown? Exploring the possibilities

Randy Orton delivered a bold RKO to top WWE official after being frustrated about potentially missing out on this year's WrestleMania.

Randy Orton to be fined for laying hands on top WWE official on SmackDown? Exploring the possibilities

Randy Orton (via WWE)

This week on SmackDown, Randy Orton made his way to the ring looking for clarity on his WrestleMania plans. With Kevin Owens announcing his injury and confirming he won’t be competing at the event, Orton’s own path to Mania now hangs in uncertainty. Frustrated by the lack of answers, The Viper took out his anger by delivering a devastating RKO to SmackDown GM Nick Aldis right in the middle.

Naturally, fans are now questioning whether The Legend Killer will face a fine for attacking Nick Aldis. But the simple answer is—no. Why? To understand that, we need to rewind to December 2023, when Orton officially joined SmackDown. On his very first night, he delivered an RKO to Aldis and was fined $50,000 the following week.

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However, Orton chose to pay double the fine back then. When Aldis asked him why, The Viper simply replied that he was paying for the next time. And on SmackDown last night, The Apex Predator finally cashed in on that promise, delivering another brutal RKO to the SmackDown GM. As a result, Aldis might not be in a position to fine The Legend Killer this time around.

Although it’s unlikely that Aldis will fine Orton again, the SmackDown GM might have another form of punishment in mind for The Viper. However, with the 14-time World Champion currently in a volatile state of mind, handling him won’t be easy. It’ll be interesting to see how things play out between the two moving forward.

Will Randy Orton miss this year’s WrestleMania?

Randy Orton currently has no confirmed plans for this year’s WrestleMania. Fans were eagerly looking forward to his feud with Kevin Owens reaching its climax at The Grandest Stage of Them All, but KO’s unfortunate injury has put those hopes to rest. Now, the big question is—will The Viper miss this year’s marquee event, or will WWE find a new path for him heading into WrestleMania?

Randy Orton
Randy Orton (via WWE)

It’s highly unlikely that The Legend Killer will miss this year’s WrestleMania. WWE has already featured Orton heavily in promotional material, and sidelining him now could lead to major backlash from fans. Plus, as a 14-time World Champion, Orton is simply too big a star to be left off The Grandest Stage of Them All.

Furthermore, WWE was reportedly aware of Owens’ injury ahead of time, which is why they’ve already teased some tense interactions between Orton, Drew McIntyre, and Cody Rhodes in recent weeks. With the unfortunate news of The Prizefighter’s departure from the card, the company could already have alternate plans in motion.

Randy Orton to turn heel and join John Cena and The Rock at WrestleMania?

Randy Orton’s WrestleMania storyline has lost significant momentum in recent weeks. At this point, a full-fledged match for The Viper seems unlikely. However, WWE could still involve him at The Show of Shows—perhaps in a surprise segment or even during the closing moments of the event. One intriguing possibility could see Orton align with John Cena, The Rock, and Travis Scott in a face-off against Cody Rhodes.

Randy Orton
Randy Orton (via WWE)

Orton and Rhodes share a deep, complicated history. While The Viper has often played the role of a protector for Cody, he’s never received a title shot from him—despite making it clear he wants one. On top of that, Rhodes has been taking credit for leading WWE, even though much of his success was built with the help and support of veterans like The Apex Predator.

Therefore, during the closing moments of the John Cena vs. Cody Rhodes match, The Legend Killer could make a surprise appearance. Cody might assume Orton is there to support him—but instead, The Viper could shock the world by delivering a devastating Punt Kick. This betrayal would signal Orton aligning himself with Cena, The Rock, and Travis Scott, creating a historic moment in Las Vegas.

Related: WATCH: Kevin Owens gets into heated confrontation with fan after making emotional announcement on SmackDown