WWE’s Randy Orton Opens Up About Panic Attacks & Mental Health Journey

Content Warning: Discussion of anxiety, panic attacks, medication.

Former WWE Champion Randy Orton has opened up about his struggles with panic attacks and mental health issues.

With Orton being one of WWE’s most decorated stars, it can be easy to forget that he deals with similar struggles to a lot of his fans.

Speaking on Stephanie McMahon’s What’s Your Story podcast, Orton noted that prior to his spinal fusion surgery which saw him out of action from May 2022 to November 2023, he was dealing with panic attacks.

Opening up about his mental health, Orton said:

“I was having panic attacks and it was like, it started to become hard to fly, started to become hard to stay in another bed and I would be up all night and it was really rough, and I think it kind of came to a head when I had my spinal fusion and I was out for like a year and a half and it was like, here’s my identity. This is who I am.

“This is the one thing I know that I’m good at and I get respect for and I can’t do it anymore and for like six months, I was under the impression that that was it, until I met this amazing doctor, Dr. (Adam) Kanter, Newport Beach, California and he was able to perform the surgery on me so that I would be able to be an athlete again and not cut through any muscle.

Discussing taking antidepressant medication, Randy Orton continued:

“When I was younger, I felt so mentally strong and mentally tough and nothing could shake me, and I got to a dark place and I started to revert back to some of my old habits and I’ve got a wife and five kids and luckily, I was able to kind of nip it in the bud quick.

“She saw it happening and I was put on some SSRIs. It’s like a anti-depression, anti-anxiety medication, and I’ve actually been off of them for about six months and I feel like I’m myself again but I needed them for a few years.”

Stating that it’s been almost six months since he had a panic attack, and noting that this is the side of people’s lives which isn’t often talked about, he concluded:

“I didn’t know if I could do this job anymore even after I came back. My head was just going… It was playing out all the scenarios, worst-case. It was trying to go to bed at night and then not being able to lay down in bed because my mind would start going then all of a sudden, I’d get hot and I’d have to get out of bed and then I’d be like — everyone’s sleeping in the house and then I’m out walking around our yard, just taking deep breaths.

“I met an amazing doctor and she gave me pages and pages of information on how to deal with panic attacks and stuff, and I don’t know that the medication ever worked, but it made me feel not myself. So I didn’t like the medication, but I kept taking it because I thought that, well, I need to take this because if I don’t, I’m gonna have panic attacks.

“I was having ‘em anyway, and honestly, it’s been, gosh, what is it? June. It’s like coming on six months since I’ve had a panic attack. But this is like s**t people deal with and don’t talk about and maybe so and so is like, ‘It’s good to talk about’ or something but, you know, I don’t know what this is gonna do for the Randy Orton character on TV (laughs).”

We admire Orton’s honesty in sharing his experiences and wish him the best for the future.

If you’re struggling with mental health issues, information on where you can find help and support can be found at this link

Transcription via Fightful.