Fans hoping to see Randy Orton return to WWE television will need to be patient as it’s currently not in the cards.

The former WWE Champion has been sidelined since last May and underwent fusion back surgery late last year. There has been speculation about whether Orton would be able to return.

Orton’s father, Bob Orton, previously said in a signing that his son is training, but doctors have told him that he shouldn't return to the ring.

Fightful Select reports Orton is healing up, but not enough to make a return. 

As of this week, WWE creative sources noted that Orton had not been factored into WWE creative plans whatsoever. The report noted there hadn’t been an extensive conversation about the plans for Orton.

For now, before Orton can return to the ring in front of fans, he will need to start training again in the ring, something he plans to do. Orton has resumed lifting, and they've been told he’s “huge.”

Orton is currently working out but not bumping in the ring. Regarding a potential return at SummerSlam, one source “said to not count on it and that he’d not been factored into any creative that they’d heard of.” If Orton plans an imminent return, it’s being kept quiet among the company's employees.

This is just a snippet of the story. For complete details, please visit Fightful Select at Patreon.com/Fightful.

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