JR – Randy Orton out with “shoulder issues”

Randy Orton’s absence from Monday’s Raw threw off the show and the Hell in a Cell PPV line-up, leaving Dean Ambrose without a tag partner against the Wyatts on Sunday.

Orton reportedly has a shoulder injury, which might lead to him missing the rest of 2015.

“Sorry to hear of Randy Orton’s shoulder issues but he’s had those lingering problems with his shoulder for years,” wrote Jim Ross at jrsbarbq.com. “Hopefully Randy can get it repaired in a more permanent manner even if it puts him on the sideline for a while, which isn’t a bad thing.”

Orton also missed the Mexico Tour over the weekend, where WWE fortunately had The Undertaker on the line-up to fill Orton’s void.

Orton was expected to headline some house show tours during John Cena’s planned absence from WWE. Outside of Cena being coaxed into remaining on the road, who will fill Orton’s role?

Fortunately for WWE, they have the two-week European Tour coming up that practically sells itself. After November, WWE has expanded their “Holiday Tour” marketing to the entire month of December, not just Christmas to New Year’s. WWE hopes that added marketing will make early December shows a little more special than in past years.

WWE has depth issues, and Orton’s reported absence will make that even more obvious on the European Tour B-Shows. However, it appears WWE has some beneficial scheduling to push through until Cena’s return.