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Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and AEW.
Randy Orton Talks Return from Injury, WWE Future
Randy Orton made a successful return to WWE at Survivor Series in November, but there was a time when it wasn't clear if he would be able to step back into the squared circle after undergoing spinal fusion surgery.
In an interview with SportsKeeda WrestleBinge (starts at :30 mark), Orton explained he would have remained involved "some way, shape or form" with WWE, possibly as a coach or on-the-road producer, if his in-ring career had ended due to the injury that required surgery.
Orton was written off television in May 2022 after RK-Bro was defeated by the Usos for the undisputed WWE tag team titles on an episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
The Viper made his long-awaited return at Survivor Series in November as the fifth member of Cody Rhodes' team in the men's WarGames match.
There has been no indication anything was ever wrong with Orton since coming back. He has worked regularly on television, most recently losing to Gunther in a controversial finish at King and Queen of the Ring on May 25.
Orton remains one of the most reliable main-event performers in WWE. His return only helped strengthen the top of their roster and it wouldn't be a surprise if he moved into some sort of backstage role, similar to Triple H and Shawn Michaels, whenever his career comes to an end.
Christian Cage Reveals AEW Contract Details
In the midst of arguably the best run of his entire career, Christian Cage figures to be a major player in AEW for a long time.
During a recent interview with Chris Van Vliet (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Christian said he believes his current contract has three years remaining on it:
"I always said that I would do it till it wasn't fun, and that was my barometer on it so, how can I not be having fun right now? It's still fun, it's still fun. I have no timeline, I signed a contract. I think I have another three years left on this contract so we'll get to the end of that and then see what happens but you know, I feel like I have a lot of knowledge. I don't know everything but I know a lot and I feel like I think (about) the business differently and I layout matches and I see matches differently than other people do. I would like to, at some point, when the time is right to obviously give back to the business that has done what it's done for me."
Christian debuted in AEW at Revolution in March 2021, two months after he was on WWE television as a surprise entrant in the Royal Rumble. He said in the same interview with Van Vliet that Jon Moxley who recruited him to AEW after learning he hadn't signed a contract with WWE following that Rumble appearance.
The signing has turned out to be one of the best moves AEW has made, particularly when Christian turned heel and formed the Patriarchy with Luchasaurus and Nick Wayne.
Christian and Adam Copeland, who debuted in AEW at WrestleDream in October, got to work a long-term program against each other for the first time in their storied careers.
Copeland's injury suffered at Double or Nothing does open the door for the duo to eventually reunite and chase the tag titles whenever he is able to return.
For the time being, though, Christian will almost certainly remain one of the best parts of AEW television as the evil leader of the Patriarchy.
Drew McIntyre Trolls CM Punk
WWE continues to do a great job of finding ways to draw out the Drew McIntyre-CM Punk feud until Punk can return to the ring.
The latest piece of the story came on X when McIntyre trolled his rival by mocking Punk, including poking fun at the recent incident when he was locked in WWE headquarters.
Drew @DMcIntyreWWELeaving WWE HQ takes basic life skills and some tricep strength 🤡 <a href="https://t.co/Rr6lnrVrFD">pic.twitter.com/Rr6lnrVrFD</a>
The situation with Punk occurred being locked in WWE headquarters occurred on the day of Backlash: France. He was on the pre-show panel and revealed afterward he got locked in the building.
The Scottish Warrior's description of needing "tricep strength" to get out is amusing since Punk is still rehabbing from a torn triceps he suffered in the Royal Rumble match.
It's still unclear when Punk will be able to return to action following the injury, but he has said it will be "soon."
An ideal scenario would be for Punk to be ready by SummerSlam since his eventual match with McIntyre is one of the most-anticipated in WWE whenever it happens.
In the meantime, McIntyre will look to regain the world heavyweight title from Damian Priest when the two square off on June 15 at Clash at the Castle: Scotland.
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