Randy Orton is loving life in WWE after putting behind him what he was told was a career-ending back injury.

The legendary performer is in arguably his peak physical condition now, having battled back from the serious injury to end an 18-month absence with a stunning return at Survivor Series at the tail end of 2023.

WWERandy Orton and Gunther wrestled in a classic match in Berlin[/caption]

He did the hard yards to get there, however, having been told by medical professionals his career was over after pain left him unable to lace up his own boots comfortably.

The veteran spoke exclusively to talkSPORT and gave eye-watering detail as to just how unbearable the discomfort became, having already admitted the injury had left him suffering with depression.

He said: “I was in so much pain that there were times where everybody would be okay walking through the airport to get to the bus, and I was struggling. I’d have to sit down and take breaks, that’s how bad things had gotten.

“My lower back had just deteriorated to a point where all the nerves were being crushed by there not being enough space in my spinal canal. Then I had a few discs that we removing around as I would sit or do anything where I’d flex my body.

“Those slipped discs would pressure on my nerves and, I mean… if you’ve ever experienced nerve pain, it’s pretty crazy. It effects different people in different ways, but that particular part of my spine, it shut down my legs and caused my feet to go numb.

“If I was sat down, on a plane, or even sat on the couch with my family, my feet would go numb. To know I’d have to get on a plane and fly to wherever and put my boots on – which was a struggle in itself at times – it was hard physically, but the mental struggle of that period was very tough.”

With the injury arguably at its worst, Orton was a reigning tag team champion alongside Matt Riddle, whom he credits as being responsible for ‘getting me through from bell to bell’ by taking on the lion’s share of work in matches.

In May 2022, the situation had deteriorated to the point where, Orton reveals, WWE were forced to take the tag titles away from the pair to allow the former Legend Killer the chance to address the issue.

The news was, for a long time, not good. Orton adds: “There was that period of time where every doctor I went and spoke to about this fusion that I needed told me: ‘You’re done, your career is over.’

“It took me six months to find a team of doctors that could confidently tell me that they could put me back together and that I could go back into the ring and do what I love to do.

WWEOrton has been back at full throttle in WWE since his return last November[/caption]

Few wrestling stars can boast a title history as rich as that of Randy Orton

“That was a weight of the world lifted off my shoulders. I got the fusion, and then began the recovery. That was hard. Those three or four months were really tricky, but once I got out of that hole, I was able to start seeing my body get stronger, then stronger than it was previously.”

Now 44, the multi-time world champion is savouring every minute – challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship at Bash in Berlin earlier this month.

One of WWE’s most decorated performers has gone from having his career hanging by a the thinnest of threads, to looking like he could go on forever.

“Now I feel like I’m 25 again,” he went on to say.

“That’s when I went back at Survivor Series last November, and I’ve been fortunate, man, because I’ve felt great ever since.”

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