Randy Orton joins WWE SmackDown roster

Randy Orton is now on SmackDown moving forward.

A show-long storyline on Friday saw Randy Orton choose SmackDown over Raw despite Paul Heyman’s pleas. Early in the show, it was announced that Orton was a free agent, with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis inviting Orton with the intention of making him exclusive to SmackDown. Orton had been part of the Raw roster before being sidelined with a back injury last year.

In the main event segment, both Raw GM Adam Pearce and Aldis attempted to sign Orton to their brand. Heyman came out and told Orton he wasn’t going to make his decision because The Bloodline would do it for him. Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso came out and attacked Orton until LA Knight came out for the save, brawling with Sikoa to the back. Orton then laid out Uso, threw out the Raw contract and signed with SmackDown to end the show.

Orton made his return at Survivor Series teaming with Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins, and Jey Uso to defeat The Judgment Day and Drew McIntyre inside WarGames.