Add as a preferred source on Google Randy Orton made a surprise return at SummerSlam on Saturday night, and fan-shot footage has since shown how WWE got The Viper to the ring without ever using the ramp.
The clip, posted by Graham “GSM” Matthews, was filmed from the stands at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, right next to the spot Orton used to get to ringside. In it, Orton is seen jogging alongside a security guard directly below the section the fan was sitting in.
Taking Orton through the crowd rather than out to the stage kept the return a genuine surprise, with no music hit and no entrance to tip fans off ahead of the run-in. He came out during the Undisputed WWE Championship match between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes, his first WWE appearance since losing to Rhodes at WrestleMania 42.
The opening came after Rhodes went for a Cody Cutter and wiped out referee Charles Robinson. With Punk on the floor, Orton hit the ring, planted Rhodes with an RKO and bailed before anyone saw him.
Punk got back in, hit the GTS and retained the title. Since Punk never saw the interference, WWE has an easy path to play off the finish on TV in the coming weeks.