WWE WrestleMania 41 Match Officially Canceled
Kevin Owens announces neck surgery necessity on SmackDown, prompting match cancellation and leaving Randy Orton without a WrestleMania 41 opponent.
A significant change has impacted the WrestleMania 41 lineup as one of the anticipated matches will no longer take place due to medical concerns revealed during Friday’s SmackDown.
Kevin Owens delivered the news personally on the April 4 broadcast, confirming rumors that had circulated throughout the day. Owens disclosed that he’s been dealing with neck issues for approximately four months and now requires surgery, making it impossible to compete at WrestleMania against Randy Orton.
The situation escalated when Orton made his way to the ring moments after Owens departed. The two crossed paths without incident as Owens was leaving. Once in the ring, Orton was greeted by SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis, who officially informed him that he no longer had a match scheduled for WrestleMania.
Orton’s response was decisive – he hit Aldis with an RKO and left without saying a word. This response leaves questions about what might be next for Orton heading into WWE’s biggest premium live event.
.@RandyOrton is in disbelief and took it out on @RealNickAldis 😱#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/M4a89Oabbv
— WWE (@WWE) April 5, 2025
WWE has yet to announce whether Orton will receive a replacement opponent for WrestleMania or if he’ll be removed from the card entirely. The match removal comes during the same broadcast where other bouts were being added to the WrestleMania lineup, including the newly announced Jade Cargill versus Naomi contest.
