"This is the song that doesn't end..."

WWE.com has yet another update to the seemingly neverending story that is Randy Orton's back injury. Timetables ranging from a few weeks to six months to Orton needing to have a total back transplant -- okay, I made that last one up -- have been thrown around in the last 24 hours.

It seems Orton's employers may have the final word.

Per WWE.com:

"Randy suffered a herniated disc on the L4-L5 level on the left side, and that's resulting in pain and weakness down his leg," Dr. Sampson explained. "He's going to need some time off for rehab, anti-inflammatory medications and physical therapy."

The story also adds that "The Viper" could only be sidelined for a "few weeks." Sheamus is still slated to replace the former champion during the Holiday Tour stint of house shows, filling in to take on Wade Barrett in a series of Street Fights.

The whole thing is really starting to puzzle me. The Wrestling Observer reported today that Orton had been experiencing pain for a couple of weeks now which is why the WWE went ahead with what went down on this past Tuesday's taped Smackdown, due to air tomorrow (Dec. 30) so it seems there is a legitimate injury there. Orton is definitely hurting.

What confuses me is why the company would announce at last night's house that Orton would be out for six months. I can understand them wanting to generate heat for Wade Barrett who ended up cutting a standard "I put this guy on the shelf" rulebreaker promo but it would seems odd they would attach a timetable to the injury without having him seen a doctor first.

Maybe it's just a case of WWE pulling the trigger early on Orton's prognosis or maybe we're still being worked.

Right now, I'm just befuddled. No matter what, I hope Orton heals up quickly and properly.