Randy Orton, the WWE superstar, made a surprise appearance at the UFC Fight Night event in St. Louis, Missouri, this week. The Viper, fresh from his victory over AJ Styles in the 2024 King of the Ring tournament, decided to take a break from the WWE ring to support a fellow St. Louis native, Joaquin Buckley.
Orton, who has been billed from St. Louis for most of his professional career, was seen in the stands, cheering on Buckley as he faced Nursulton Ruziboev in a thrilling match. In the end, Buckley emerged victorious, winning by decision. The emotional victory was capped off with a heartwarming moment, as Buckley ran into the stands to share a celebratory hug with Orton.
The moment marked a rare instance of crossover between the worlds of WWE and UFC, made possible by the Endeavor merger. The merger has led to increased interactions between personalities from both organizations, with many WWE superstars and UFC fighters attending each other’s events.
For Orton, the UFC Fight Night event provided a brief respite from the intense competition in the King of the Ring tournament. With his next-round opponent, Carmelo Hayes, waiting in the wings, Orton will need to refocus on his WWE commitments. A victory over Hayes would set up a highly anticipated match against Tama Tonga, whom Orton has vowed to take down in revenge for The Bloodline’s injury to his partner, Kevin Owens.
As the King of the Ring tournament unfolds, Orton will need to balance his personal vendetta with the ultimate goal of emerging victorious in the tournament. The winner of the SmackDown side of the bracket will go on to face the winner of the RAW side at the upcoming King and Queen of the Ring Premium Live Event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
For now, however, Randy Orton can bask in the glow of his recent victory and the warm reception he received at the UFC Fight Night event. The Viper’s presence at the event served as a testament to the growing connections between the WWE and UFC universes, and fans can only hope for more such moments of camaraderie in the future.
