Interesting Name Favored to Face Orton at WrestleMania 41 – With Kevin Owens officially sidelined due to a neck injury that required surgery, WWE is now tasked with finding a new opponent for Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41. While the company has yet to announce a replacement, oddsmakers at BetOnline have provided insight into the leading candidates—and the top name may come as a surprise.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis is currently listed as the betting favorite to face “The Viper” at the two-night event set for April 19–20 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Aldis, a former NWA and TNA World Champion, has not wrestled for WWE but remains an active on-screen presence in his authority role.
According to BetOnline, the odds for Orton’s WrestleMania opponent are as follows (in order from most to least likely):
- Nick Aldis: 10/11
- Aleister Black: 2/1
- Solo Sikoa: 4/1
- Ludwig Kaiser: 5/1
- Goldberg: 10/1
- Rusev: 10/1
- The Rock: 10/1
- Shinsuke Nakamura: 12/1
- Brock Lesnar: 14/1
- Austin Theory: 16/1
- Braun Strowman: 20/1
- Carmelo Hayes: 20/1
- Karrion Kross: 20/1
- Xavier Woods: 20/1
- Kofi Kingston: 33/1
- Rey Fenix: 33/1
- Matt Riddle: 40/1
- Triple H: 50/1
- Ric Flair: 100/1
Originally, Orton was slated to face Owens in a highly anticipated singles match. However, with Owens now out of action for several months, WWE must pivot to a new direction. BetOnline noted that Orton, one of the most decorated veterans in WWE history, is certain to compete at WrestleMania, stating: “We know there is zero chance that a healthy Apex Predator will be sidelined for Mania.”
The inclusion of Aldis at the top of the odds chart has sparked speculation among fans. While Aldis has yet to compete in a WWE ring, his extensive wrestling résumé and leadership role on SmackDown make him a compelling option if WWE is looking to build a unique attraction match.
Names like Aleister Black, Solo Sikoa, and Ludwig Kaiser also feature prominently, with others such as Goldberg, The Rock, and Brock Lesnar making the list at longer odds. The odds also include several unexpected names such as Triple H and Ric Flair, although these appear to be more for novelty purposes.
As of now, no official replacement opponent for Randy Orton has been announced, but WWE is expected to make a decision soon with WrestleMania only days away. WrestlingAttitude.Com will provide live coverage of WrestleMania 41 on April 19 and April 20 from Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
Interesting Name Favored to Face Orton at WrestleMania 41
