This story was updated at 11:45 PM Eastern.
Despite a tease otherwise, Randy Orton isn’t leaving WWE anytime soon.
First reported by PWInsider’s Mike Johnson, Orton has signed a new multi-year contract with WWE. Our Dave Meltzer confirmed Orton’s signing, but couldn’t confirm the total amount of years. Recent re-signings like Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, and Mike and Maria Kanellis were all believed to be five year contracts.
Orton confirmed the news on Twitter:
The 3 most dangerous letters in sports entertainment- #RKO
just re-signed with the 3 most dominant letters in sports entertainment- #WWE
Looking forward to pi$$ing off the #WWEUNIVERSE for at least 5 more years #WWEBACKSTAGE @FS1 @WWE— Randy Orton (@RandyOrton) November 6, 2019
The 39-year-old Orton posted an Instagram photo several weeks ago next to a sign that said ‘Elite Level’ in which he tagged Cody Rhodes, Chris Jericho, and a few other. It was speculated to be a nod toward him talking to AEW when his contract was up.
Outside his training and a few matches his rookie year in St. Louis, MO, Orton has been a WWE lifer, signing his first deal back in 2001 and beginning in Ohio Valley Wrestling. It didn’t take the third generation wrestler long to be called up to the main roster as he made his TV debut in the spring of 2002.
He is a “Grand Slam” champion, having won WWE’s world titles 13 times, the tag team championship twice, the Intercontinental championship once, and the U.S. championship once.