WWE Suspends Randy Orton

[VCXZX]

from pwinsider.com:


Although details are still sketchy at this time, PWInsider.com has learned that World Wrestling Entertainment has suspended Randy Orton for 60 days. I'm not yet sure of the reason, but I hope to have more on this story later today

I guess a violation of the Wellness Program perhaps had something to do with this?

[Kasumi]

On Wikipedia, there's something about Randy posting spoilers on some website. If it's true, that is a very dumb punishment on WWE's part. I really hope it's a work. He's one of my main reasons for watching SD!

I'll just sit here and imagine Randy being a smark though :D

[Hyper Shadow X]

I'm glad this happened to him.

[FireStarterLE]

well plans in the immediate future to make him Champion is off for now (if it's not a work) unless the plan is to give it back to Kurt then maybe have him losse it to Orton ...... but i'm really getting off on this topic ..... yeah, dumb move for WWE, it's not like their own people put spoilers up as well. It's like they're trying to make an example out of him saying "if you get caught this is what will happen"

[EinBebop]

The Smackdown preview still lists Rey defending the title against Randy this week.

[Red]

The Smackdown preview still lists Rey defending the title against Randy this week.

Because they have yet to announce it on their website, but they announced it in their mobile service, and since they're trying to push it as a great service, news may be delayed for the website.

[TheEvilClown]

As much as I was getting used to Otron what ever he did he probally deseved it.

[bigddan11]

I'm thinking they'll go through with Orton vs. Mysterio on SmackDown!, and then they'll have Orton do something there that will result in his suspension.

[Jin Kazama]

This kind of sucks, since they more than likely would have gone with a big Rey v. Orton feud for a few months, until Batista is healed.

But, even though this will never, ever happen, I can personally dream that they take the Boos at Mania as something, and put Rey in a feud with one of their top faces, Chris Benoit. The man did loose his title, why not go for a bigger one?

*sigh* It's not going to happen, though.

[hobbyfan]

Having just learned of this myself on Usenet, it seems that Orton's gone due to "unprofessional conduct". Seems his immaturity backstage got him in trouble again.

[BlackCat]

The news is finally up on their website, although they haven't changed their Smackdown preview. Like what bigddan11 said, they'll probably create a storyline for his suspension. Although Orton probably deserved it for whatever he did, I would have preferred a Mysterio v. Orton feud as well.

I can't imagine them turning Mysterio heel, so they'll probably go with the Angle rematch clause. I wouldn't mind a feud with Benoit, but he'll most likely stick with the US title.

[Mr. Pedro]

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/6215/randyphalid7ax.gif


On a more serious note, I'm nothing short of stunned that Randall seems to be sabatoging his own chances at success. I'm guessing that he either mouthed off to the wrong person (Vince, Steph, Johnny Ace), left a "present" in another gym bag or perhaps "spoiled" the result of his match with Rey on Smackdown (a la Lex Luger back in 1994 during his WWE run).

[Jin Kazama]

Randy's probably just really, really confused about his role in the company. The man was robbed out of his two, shining Wrestlemania Main Events.

He was supposed to be the main event of 'Mania 21, but after his botched face turn (to no fault of his own, the guy's a born heel), they gave it to Batista. Then he was supposed to face Batista this year in a hugely hyped feud. He did the best he possibly could depsite the Eddie factor, but they gave his moment to Rey. And this is a guy the company themselves hyped as the "Future Of The Company."

Not to say he should have acted how he did, however he did act, but the guy has to be stressed out right now.

[EinBebop]

So let's take this in another direction: What now?

Top Faces
Rey Misterio
Undertaker
Kurt Angle
Chris Benoit
Lashley

Top Heels
JBL
Booker T

??
Boogeyman

Returning soon?
Batista
Ken Kennedy

That heel side is looking pretty dang week. Kennedy could be a guy in the right place at the right time. So where does Smackdown go from here? Do we elevate? Do we turn?

[Sigma]

So let's take this in another direction: What now?

Top Faces
Rey Misterio
Undertaker
Kurt Angle
Chris Benoit
Lashley

Top Heels
JBL
Booker T

??
Boogeyman

Returning soon?
Batista
Ken Kennedy

That heel side is looking pretty dang week. Kennedy could be a guy in the right place at the right time. So where does Smackdown go from here? Do we elevate? Do we turn?
Kennedy is the future and deserves to be pushed like crazy, but he needs to be pushed in a simillar fashion to what Stone Cold and The Rock where by starting out with the U.S. Title and moving up. As far as I know Kennedy is ready to get back into the ring now and it would have been an awesome idea to put him into the money in the bank match at Mania for his return match and have him win the match, seeing Kennedy walk around with that contract would be golden. I love RVD just as much as the next guy, but the human spot machine won't be wearing world championship gold anytime soon, if at all.

[FireStarterLE]

well according to SmackDown spoilers Orton does wrestle tonight and also has a match next week

[VCXZX]

Maybe he's appealing the suspension. If he can do that.

I'd say more about Smackdown and some positives (and a few negatives) but I'll wait till friday night for my thoughts.

[Jin Kazama]

That heel side is looking pretty dang week. Kennedy could be a guy in the right place at the right time. So where does Smackdown go from here? Do we elevate? Do we turn?

Well, the Draft is in a few months, so there's that.

Otherwise, I guess we have Fit Finley, Fighting World Champ!

[hobbyfan]

The latest from Meltzer is that the suspension will take effect after next week's taping. The start date is 4/12, with the next taping on 4/11. I guess they did this because they'd already committed to Orton-Mysterio for this week, and Orton-Angle for next week, and couldn't weave their way out of either match. Not to spoil anything for Friday, but Orton's fate is sealed on the 4/14 show.

[The Penguin]

Oh Randy, what did you do? This is should be his year and then this happens. What does it all mean?

[bigddan11]

Well, the suspension is offically 60 days time. WWE.com has a response from Orton on their website: http://www.wwe.com/inside/news/ortonresponse

[BlackCat]

Basically, my conduct was unbecoming of a champion, which is what I will be again when I return.
It's hard to tell whether he's speaking in kayfabe or not. With the news originating on WWE.com and his continued use on Smackdown, at least until next week, why bother announce the news at all? They could've just written him out of Smackdown instead of making his suspension public. Assuming this isn't a work, what do they have to gain from all of this?

Now I'm curious on how they're going to handle his departure and Rey's new feud.

[VCXZX]

For what's it worth, Dave Meltzer says in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Randy Orton's suspension is "indefinite." and he may not be back as a result of his actions.

It must have been some incident for that to happen.

[FireStarterLE]

Prowrestling says that it may have something to do with one of the Divas. Such has what happened last time between him and another diva.

*guess not ....



The PWTorch Newsletter is reporting that Randy Orton’s suspension is due to his behavior backstage at WrestleMania 22.

The issue with Orton seems to be mostly due to his attitude about how he is a main eventer and feeling that he does not have to follow the same rules as everyone else, as opposed to doing something to someone else or his health. The word going around right now is that Orton feels he is above the rules, and has had several issues in the past backstage, mainly with female co-workers and the way he talks to them

[bigddan11]

Well, if yur an Orton fan, the latest news is not good. It appears that the suspension has been increased from 60 days to indefinite. http://www.wrestlinginc.com/v2/wi/stc/nws/2006/4/13/16973.shtml

[and2]

I'm not much of an Orton fan. WWE should have wen't old school and sack him in a tag match against either Jbl/Finlay or Holly/Finlay (or all 3). Have them stiff him up. not only would it be a lesson, but it would be better than most of his matches.

also, seeing a Stan Hansen like CFH just might make me love JBL more than I already do.

[Tapout]

I hope they get this settled and Randy is able to return to the WWE when this is over.

We don't need his infinite chinlocks of doom infesting TNA. :D

[RAINMAN]

Randy looks like hes the new warrior. And vince not gonna put up whit randy like he did whit the warrior.

[MGFanJay]

Randy isn't nuts, just immature, and he has some unique chinlocks (like the one on SD last week where he put pressure on his own head to make it even more deadly).

[Jay]

Randy's probably just really, really confused about his role in the company. The man was robbed out of his two, shining Wrestlemania Main Events.

He was supposed to be the main event of 'Mania 21, but after his botched face turn (to no fault of his own, the guy's a born heel), they gave it to Batista. Then he was supposed to face Batista this year in a hugely hyped feud. He did the best he possibly could depsite the Eddie factor, but they gave his moment to Rey. And this is a guy the company themselves hyped as the "Future Of The Company."

Not to say he should have acted how he did, however he did act, but the guy has to be stressed out right now.

Your joking right stressed out,he brings everything on hisself if he didnt have such a bad attitude backstage he would not have that so called stress.

[MGFanJay]

There is a lot of stress in main eventing WM, and being a world champion, plus, he had a close friend die in Eddie Guerrero. He's young and immature, it's easy to get overworked when you're as inexperienced as Randy in situations like that. I don't think stress was the only factor, as he's been reported to be a jerk for a long time, but it certainly could have contributed to recent issues.

[Jin Kazama]

Your joking right stressed out,he brings everything on hisself if he didnt have such a bad attitude backstage he would not have that so called stress.

I'm not saying it justifies him being a jerk, but I can see where he's coming from.

Hell, from the get-go, he's been shown as the future of the business. When he first came on, he was compared to The Rock with being a third-generation wrestler. Then he came back from injury and was placed as the focal point of Raw with the company's main guy (Triple H) and one of the best ever (Flair). He's been plastered all over the place with John Cena (Who's had two WWE Title Reigns in less than a year while Orton had one that lasted a month) as the future of the business.

If you beat something into someone's head enough, they'll start to beleive it. It's probably the root of his ego. Then to see what you're told you'll get from day-one never come? It'll screw someone up.

The problem is they want results from Orton now. And compared to most, he's still pretty new in the business. At this rate, he'll be past his prime by 35.

[The Penguin]

I really hope they don't let Randy sit and rot with this suspension. I know I wasn't ready to be completely out in the real world at his age and his job is a lot more stressing than mine. I read that some think Randy would benefit from counseling and I would be inclined to agree.

Despite what has happened here, I hope this is Randy's wake-up call and WWE allows him to come back downstairs so to speak. People can change, but they have to be given the chance to do so. It seems they've allowed Randy to get away with a lot and just now decided to do something about it.