WWE/Getty Images
WWE’s Randy Orton has been sidelined indefinitely following an attack by Kevin Owens during Friday Night SmackDown, which resulted in Orton suffering a cervical cord neurapraxia.
WWE @WWE
BREAKING: After last night’s brutal attack by @FightOwensFight on #SmackDown, @RandyOrton has been diagnosed with a cervical cord neurapraxia. There is no timetable for his return. pic.twitter.com/6VhQQyTxpm
The injury to Orton occurred after Owens executed a piledriver, a banned move in WWE, on the 44-year-old who had only recently returned from a serious back injury.
WWE @WWE
⚠️⚠️⚠️
A PILEDRIVER???
Kevin Owens what is wrong with you??? Absolutely disgusting. This has gone too far. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/488iJjmLbV
The two were set to face off at WWE Crown Jewel on Nov. 2, but the match was marred after the two clashed in a wild brawl before the opening bell.
The former friends-turned-enemies clashed in a heated confrontation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which quickly escalated into a ringside brawl. The chaos spilled into the crowd, culminating with Owens sending Orton through a table.
In the first SmackDown since Crown Jewel, Owens showed no signs of forgiving his former tag-team partner and may have even sent Orton into an early retirement.
Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode below.