Randy Orton opens up about anxiety, identity crisis, and his return to form
Known for his cold-blooded persona inside the ring Randy Orton surprised fans with a heartfelt revelation about one of the darkest chapters of his life In a candid conversation on Stephanie McMahon’s podcast What’s Your Story the WWE veteran shared his personal struggle with panic attacks anxiety and the emotional toll of a serious back injury that almost ended his career
It all began in 2022 when Orton underwent a major double spinal fusion surgery During his long recovery he feared he might never wrestle again Without the sport that had defined his life and brought him respect he felt lost Even routine things like sleeping in a new bed or getting on a flight triggered overwhelming anxiety
Sleepless nights became normal and his mind raced with worst-case scenarios He found himself pacing the backyard in the middle of the night while his family slept With five kids and a strong wife by his side Orton realized he couldn’t handle it alone I fell back into some of my old habits he admitted but luckily my wife saw what was happening and got me the help I needed
He began taking SSRIs medications commonly used to treat anxiety and depression Although he never liked how the medication made him feel he acknowledges that it helped stabilize him Now after being off them for six months Orton says he finally feels like himself again
One of the turning points in his recovery came when he met a doctor who gave him tools to understand and manage panic attacks That knowledge helped him regain control even when medication fell short I never thought I’d be talking about this publicly he said but realizing I wasn’t alone made it easier
After being sidelined for 18 months Orton made his return to WWE in late 2023 In 2024 he signed a new five-year deal with the company and he’s already thinking about extending it when the time comes His passion for wrestling hasn’t faded in fact it’s stronger than ever
Now 45 Randy Orton is more than just a legendary name in professional wrestling He is a man who faced his fears battled inner demons and came out stronger on the other side His story is a powerful reminder that even the toughest warriors fight battles no one sees and that asking for help can be the bravest move of all.