Randy Orton Issues WrestleMania 41 Open Challenge

With Kevin Owens sidelined due to a neck injury, Randy Orton was left without an opponent for WrestleMania 41 — but “The Viper” said he wasn't about to sit on the sidelines. During this week’s SmackDown, Orton made it clear he still intends to compete, issuing an open challenge for Sunday’s event.

“There is no way in hell that I am sitting out this year’s WrestleMania,” Orton declared. He said this year's WrestleMania meant far too much to him, being that his father competed in the first WrestleMania and got to watch Randy debut at his first. 20 WrestleManias later, that Orton is left without an opponent doesn't sit right. He said he heard the WWE Universe at signings and in Vegas while walking the strip. A WrestleMania without Orton isn't going to work.

As such, he said that anyone who wanted to step up, he would fight. He noted he'll be there on Night 2, with his boots laced, and just the right amount of baby oil on. He'll be ready to compete and whoever shows up will fall to the three most dangerous letters in WWE -- R.K.O.

Who Is Going To Show Up To Face Orton?

Heading into Friday's show, the feeling was that perhaps SmackDown GM Nick Aldis would be Orton's opponent. Considering it was Aldis that Orton RKO'd, it would have made sense in the storyline to have Aldis put his in-ring gear on for revenge. That's still possible, but it appears WWE is taking a different approach.

Other names rumored include the recently re-signed Rusev and Aleister Black, though a new vignette for Black suggests he’ll return on the April 25 episode of SmackDown, not at WrestleMania.

With the clock ticking, all eyes are on Orton and WWE to see who steps up to face him on the Grandest Stage of Them All.