Randy Orton Likely To Be Out For 6 Months & Miss WWE Wrestlemania 28

It appears Randy Orton's injury at last night's SmackDown tapings from Indianapolis is legit and he could be set for a lengthy stretch on the sidelines. PWInsider.com say that the word backstage at WWE is Orton may have slipped a disc in his back that is so severe he could miss up to six months of in-ring time, which would obviously mean he would miss Wrestlemania 28 from April 1st, 2012 in Miami, Florida. Orton picked up the injury last night during the Falls Count Anywhere main event bout against Wade Barrett, perhaps during the finale when Barrett threw Orton down the stairs. WWE Insider tweeted about his injury earlier and Orton has since been removed from this week's live events. Orton was expected to be a large part of Wrestlemania and was a strong contender to win the Royal Rumble in January, believed actually to be the first candidate WWE had decided would win the event and challenge for the World Title at Wrestlemania 28. Those plans will obviously now have to change and it couldn't come at a worse time for the WWE with last year's Royal Rumble winner Alberto Del Rio also out of the 30 man match with injury along with Christian, Mark Henry clearly suffering and a lack of clear potential winners once you consider a World Title and WWE Title defence at the PPV are likely. Though what could be Orton's loss could mean a further push, ironically, for Wade Barrett. Though it is Sheamus who has replaced Orton to face Barrett on those live event cards.