WWE fans are no strangers to a slow burning mystery, but Randy Orton’s recent behavior on Raw and SmackDown has taken intrigue to a new level. In the weeks leading up to WrestleMania 42 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, cameras have repeatedly caught the veteran superstar stepping aside to make phone calls to an unnamed, unseen individual and no one in the WWE Universe seems to agree on who that person might be.
The timing is far from coincidental. Orton, long known as The Viper for his calculating and unpredictable ring style, won the 2026 Men’s Elimination Chamber Match and quickly made his intentions known. On the March 13 episode of SmackDown, he turned on former ally Cody Rhodes in a vicious attack, setting up what is now a title match for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 42. The attack was cold, deliberate and left fans with one pressing question: who, or what, is driving Orton at this stage of his career?
Whether it is a trusted advisor, a family connection or someone with a personal grudge against Rhodes, the possibilities are genuinely compelling. Here are the five most talked about suspects.
A McMahon family member
Stephanie McMahon’s surprise appearance on a recent episode of Raw instantly reignited speculation about the McMahon family’s influence behind the scenes. Her pointed remarks directed at Rhodes during that segment raised eyebrows and fueled theories that the family could be positioning itself within this high profile rivalry. While a direct line to Vince McMahon feels like a stretch given current circumstances, the involvement of someone close to that inner circle cannot be easily dismissed.
Kevin Owens
Sidelined since March 2025 following a serious neck injury, Kevin Owens has remained one of the more quietly significant figures hovering over this rivalry. Before his injury, Owens had been slated to face Orton at WrestleMania 41, and his confrontation with Rhodes at the Royal Rumble left things unresolved on multiple fronts. A phone call from someone with that kind of history and that kind of unfinished business could easily be the spark behind Orton’s sudden ruthlessness.
Ric Flair
Few names carry more weight in conversations about wrestling royalty than Ric Flair, and Orton has recently leaned into that exact theme. His suggestion that the sport has more than one royal family reads as a direct dig at the Rhodes legacy, and Flair who has deep, complicated ties to Dusty Rhodes and the broader Rhodes family story fits neatly into that narrative. With Orton chasing what would be a 15th World title reign, Flair’s wealth of experience and personal investment in both men involved makes him a genuinely plausible voice in Orton’s ear.
Bob Orton Jr.
The simplest explanation is often the most powerful one in professional wrestling. With an upcoming SmackDown set to take place in St. Louis the city both Ortons call home the idea of Randy turning to his father, Bob Orton Jr., for counsel feels both personal and dramatically satisfying. The visual contrast between the Orton and Rhodes family legacies has already been part of the storytelling, and bringing Bob Sr. into the fold would sharpen that dynamic considerably.
The Rock
It may be the longest of long shots, but dismissing Dwayne Johnson entirely would be premature. His existing history with Rhodes, combined with a known willingness to engage in WWE‘s biggest storylines when the moment calls for it, keeps his name in the conversation. A surprising alliance between two generational figures united against the current face of WWE would be exactly the kind of revelation WrestleMania season tends to produce.
The mystery deepens
With WrestleMania 42 approaching fast, WWE appears to be in no hurry to hand fans the answer. Each week adds another layer to a storyline that has already delivered one of the more genuinely surprising betrayals of the year. Whether the person on the other end of Orton’s calls turns out to be a familiar face, a returning legend or someone no one has considered yet, one thing is clear Randy Orton does not make moves without a reason, and this one is going to matter.
