Alexa Bliss And Randy Orton Return At WWE Live Event

Alexa Bliss and Randy Orton both made their way back into the ring at a WWE live event on Thursday, August 13, marking notable in-ring returns for two veterans who have been away from weekly television.

Bliss teamed with Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton in a six-woman tag match, defeating Fatal Influence’s Lainey Reid, Jacy Jayne, and Fallon Henley. Notably, Bliss still had her arm wrapped during the bout — a lingering visual reminder of whatever ailment has kept her sidelined. The match was her first competitive outing since the July 10 episode of SmackDown, meaning she had been out of action for roughly five weeks before stepping back between the ropes.

Orton also returned to live-event action the same night, though specifics of his match weren’t detailed. His presence alongside Bliss on the card suggests WWE is beginning to reintegrate both names into the in-ring rotation after stretches on the shelf, likely using non-televised events as a lower-pressure setting to test the water before either is worked back into television storylines.

For Bliss, pairing with Flair and Stratton against Fatal Influence continues to position her within the thick of the SmackDown women’s division, a group that has been a hotbed of activity thanks to the ongoing rise of Jayne, Henley, and Reid as a faction. Getting Bliss back on the floor — even with her arm still taped — hints that creative sees her as part of the next chapter for that storyline rather than someone being quietly phased out during her absence.

Orton, meanwhile, has spent much of the past year dealing with the kind of injury history that makes any live-event appearance worth watching closely. The Viper working a live show doesn’t guarantee an immediate return to SmackDown or Raw, but it’s typically one of the first checkpoints WWE uses before clearing a former world champion of his standing for a bigger platform.

Neither performer’s return was accompanied by an announcement regarding a specific timetable for a televised comeback, so it remains to be seen whether either will pop up on SmackDown or Raw in the coming weeks. Live events often serve as a proving ground, letting talent shake off ring rust and let medical and creative teams gauge how a body is holding up under real match conditions before committing to weekly TV appearances.

Still, seeing both names back on a card in the same night is a good sign for WWE fans who have watched the roster deal with a rash of injuries across the main roster this year. Bliss remains one of the promotion’s most reliable veteran hands regardless of the arm wrap, and Orton’s in-ring value as a 14-time world champion means any hint of his return draws immediate attention.

Expect WWE to stay measured with both. If the live-event outings go smoothly, don’t be surprised if either Bliss or Orton — or both — resurface on television sooner rather than later.