WWE notes: Randy Orton, potential Day 1 change, Gabe Sapolsky

Dave Meltzer shared some WWE news and notes in this week’s edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 

Randy Orton’s back injury

Orton has been out of action with a back injury since the May 20 edition of SmackDown. His condition is said to be causing concern within the company.  

“There is a lot of concern regarding Orton’s back injury and its severity,” Meltzer wrote. 

Reports surfaced in June that if Orton’s injury required surgery he would miss the remainder of 2022. 

Potential changes to WWE Day 1

WWE is considering making some changes for the Day 1 PPV on New Year’s Day. 

“A decision will be made this week regarding the date of the Day 1 PPV show. Right now the show is scheduled for 1/1 at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. There is talk that it could be changed and the announcement would be made next week if that’s the case, although we were told that either way it would remain at the building,” Meltzer wrote. 

The Day 1 event, currently scheduled for Sunday, January 1, 2023, falls between Survivor Series on November 26, 2022, and Royal Rumble on January 28, 2023. The first-ever edition of Day 1 took place on New Year’s Day 2022 from Atlanta’s State Farm Arena. The idea was for it to become an annual event. 

Gabe Sapolsky’s new role in WWE

It was reported last week that the co-founder of ROH has returned to the company after having previously been released in January. Meltzer confirmed that Sapolsky’s new role is as a creative consultant for the main roster. 

“Gabe Sapolsky is back. He was another member of the Levesque team let go in the purge of NXT. His role is said to be as a creative team consultant for the main roster,” Meltzer wrote.